WTF is with Damping Factor?!

[Terranova 10+ year member]

My friend won't buy an amp unless it has a kick *** damping factor. WTF? I've NEVER heard anyone on this forum or any other forum for that matter say they won't buy a very high rated amp because it doesn't have a good damping factor. Does the whole damping factor have that much of an effect on the audio?

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[DarkScorpion 10+ year member]

My friend won't buy an amp unless it has a kick *** damping factor. WTF? I've NEVER heard anyone on this forum or any other forum for that matter say they won't buy a very high rated amp because it doesn't have a good damping factor. Does the whole damping factor have that much of an effect on the audio? Jesus I want to punch this dumb a$$

It does if you're after sound quality. Head over to DIYMA if you want more info about damping factor and subwoofers - most of the people here don't care abut DF since they run their gear at 1 and 2ohm. Realistically, you most likely won't be able to hear a significant improvement in DF unless you're A-B'ing an amp powering a subwoofer at 8ohms and again at 2ohms. Either way, it's dumb to choose an amp solely based on DF...

 

[modskwod 10+ year member]

Read This thread. Now you can call your friend an idiot //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Haunz 10+ year member]

Damping factor is the ratio between the impedance of the driver and the output impedance of the amp.. It shows the ability of the amp to control the driver and fight it's back EMF...

ABX testing done by the guys at autosound2000 has shown differences in damping factors that are into the double digits (over 10) are not audible... so I'd tell your friend not to worry too much about it...

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

It's also a really easy one for manufacturers to fudge so that it looks impressive and reflects nothing real-world. Check the Zed audio website/manual for a good explanation.

 

[James Bang 5,000+ posts]

marketing pixie dust

 

[UpGradde 10+ year member]

Your friend needs help. Punch him.

 

[ejschultz 10+ year member]

Read This thread. Now you can call your friend an idiot //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

This was actually a really good read. It's well worth the time.

 

[rc10mike 10+ year member]

Ive never been happy with the sound when running amps at 1ohm.

 

[Jh8909 10+ year member]

Ive never been happy with the sound when running amps at 1ohm.

Im anal about that as well. Every system I've ever had has been at a 4 ohm final load. Just sounds better IMO

 

[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

marketing pixie dust

I remember car audio in the 80s, the bigger the number, the better the amp.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif What a crock of BS!

Also, the manufacturers cheated back in the day (imagine that). They did things like measuring the damping factor at the circuit board. Sadly, damping factor without other numbers such as frequency and impedance is about as useful as a horsepower number without a torque figure.

Lastly, if one wants cone control, get a servo drive (i.e. back EMF negative feedback controller).

 

[Drek75633 10+ year member]

Bass all sounds the same to me. I prefer numbers over sq any day though. (personally)

 

[Terranova 10+ year member]

That's great guys! Thanks for the replies. That diy thread was really awesome thanks! Now to call my friend an idiot like I have multiple times when it comes to car audio. Now he's dead set on spending $600 for some arc audio class a/b that only does 1000 watts for a sub.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

That's great guys! Thanks for the replies. That diy thread was really awesome thanks! Now to call my friend an idiot like I have multiple times when it comes to car audio. Now he's dead set on spending $600 for some arc audio class a/b that only does 1000 watts for a sub.

Arc Audio makes some badass gear. That Arc may be rated for 1000 watts, but it does well over that.

 

[Mynameismcgyver 10+ year member]

Ive never been happy with the sound when running amps at 1ohm.

Thats why I run 2600RMS at 4ohm //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif