The frequency response is probably the most frequently found parameter in order to characterize power amplifier models. However, it can regularly be confusing and might possibly not provide a good indication of the audio quality. I am going to describe the meaning of this phrase and additionally provide a few recommendations on how to interpret it while looking for an amp.
An amplifier will magnify an audio signal that is inside the frequency response range. Usually a lower and upper frequency are provided, for instance 20 Hz - 20 kHz. This kind of spec suggests that the amplifier will be able to amplify music within that frequency range. You could think the greater the frequency response the higher quality the amplifier. That, on the other hand, will not always be. You have to look at the specifications a lot more closely to adequately understand these.
In fact, an amplifier that has a frequency response from 10 Hz to 30 kHz may actually have much lesser audio quality than an amp that offers a frequency response from 20 Hz to 15 kHz. Different makers appear to employ different ways to determine frequency response. Generally, the frequency response displays the normal working range of the amp. Within this range, the amplifier gain is essentially constant. At the upper and lower cutoff frequencies the gain is going to drop by at most 3 decibels.
Then again, the frequency response frequently is utilized in order to deceive shoppers by way of stretching out the frequency range far beyond the range where the amp still functions correctly and in addition covers up the fact that the amp might not be linear. A complete frequency response chart, however, will show whether there are any kind of peaks and valleys and also show how the frequency response is to be understood. Peaks as well as valleys might cause colorization of the audio. If possible the amp ought to have a constant amplification inside the whole frequency response with the exception of the drop off at the upper and lower limit. Apart from the frequency response, a phase response chart may also tell a great deal in regards to the functionality as well as audio quality of the amp.
You also need to look at the circumstances under which the frequency response was determined. You generally won't find any information about the measurement conditions, however, in the maker's data sheet. The fact is that lots of amplifiers are going to function differently with different speaker loads. This is mainly because that various speaker loads can cause changes to the behavior of the output power stage of the amp.
The frequency response of Class-D amps shows the biggest change with various speaker loads due to the built-in lowpass filter that removes switching noise from the amplifier's signal. The lowpass filter characteristic, on the other hand, greatly is dependent upon the attached load.
A few of the most recent digital amplifiers feed back the audio signal after the lowpass filter to compensate for this tradeoff and also to make the frequency response of the amplifier independent of the connected load. Then again, if the amplifier is not constructed properly, this kind of feedback may cause instability and also lead to loud noise being created by the amp if specific loudspeakers are connected. Different amplifiers employ transformers and offer outputs for different speaker loads. Aside from enhancing the frequency response of the amp, this technique normally additionally enhances the amplifier efficiency.
An amplifier will magnify an audio signal that is inside the frequency response range. Usually a lower and upper frequency are provided, for instance 20 Hz - 20 kHz. This kind of spec suggests that the amplifier will be able to amplify music within that frequency range. You could think the greater the frequency response the higher quality the amplifier. That, on the other hand, will not always be. You have to look at the specifications a lot more closely to adequately understand these.
In fact, an amplifier that has a frequency response from 10 Hz to 30 kHz may actually have much lesser audio quality than an amp that offers a frequency response from 20 Hz to 15 kHz. Different makers appear to employ different ways to determine frequency response. Generally, the frequency response displays the normal working range of the amp. Within this range, the amplifier gain is essentially constant. At the upper and lower cutoff frequencies the gain is going to drop by at most 3 decibels.
Then again, the frequency response frequently is utilized in order to deceive shoppers by way of stretching out the frequency range far beyond the range where the amp still functions correctly and in addition covers up the fact that the amp might not be linear. A complete frequency response chart, however, will show whether there are any kind of peaks and valleys and also show how the frequency response is to be understood. Peaks as well as valleys might cause colorization of the audio. If possible the amp ought to have a constant amplification inside the whole frequency response with the exception of the drop off at the upper and lower limit. Apart from the frequency response, a phase response chart may also tell a great deal in regards to the functionality as well as audio quality of the amp.
You also need to look at the circumstances under which the frequency response was determined. You generally won't find any information about the measurement conditions, however, in the maker's data sheet. The fact is that lots of amplifiers are going to function differently with different speaker loads. This is mainly because that various speaker loads can cause changes to the behavior of the output power stage of the amp.
The frequency response of Class-D amps shows the biggest change with various speaker loads due to the built-in lowpass filter that removes switching noise from the amplifier's signal. The lowpass filter characteristic, on the other hand, greatly is dependent upon the attached load.
A few of the most recent digital amplifiers feed back the audio signal after the lowpass filter to compensate for this tradeoff and also to make the frequency response of the amplifier independent of the connected load. Then again, if the amplifier is not constructed properly, this kind of feedback may cause instability and also lead to loud noise being created by the amp if specific loudspeakers are connected. Different amplifiers employ transformers and offer outputs for different speaker loads. Aside from enhancing the frequency response of the amp, this technique normally additionally enhances the amplifier efficiency.
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