Adding more power to new speakers

[Tom Brennan]

Something seldom taken into consideration when discussing amplifier power is speaker compression as power increases, many are compressing before reaching 100db output. Often the woofer starts shutting down before the tweeter resulting in a skewed tonal balance as volume increases. And sometimes the speaker is just converting power into heat rather than increased volume. So having a theoretical amount of headroom amplifier power will not necessarily result in actual headroom.

VERY few speaker manufacturers discuss compression though JBL Pro gave compression specs on some of their gear.

 

[Mr Boochie]

I like amps with good transient power and slew rate.

 

[gadget73]

Driver control has a lot more to do with output impedance and damping factor than it does with high current.

this is all kind of linked though. Damping factor is simply load impedance divided by output impedance, so high DF = low output impedance assuming any sort of normal speaker load. High current delivery also requires low output impedance.

 

[motorstereo]

Driver control has a lot more to do with output impedance and damping factor than it does with high current.

Perhaps; but the op asked about adding more power and not damping, impedance and a host of other things that would contribute to better sound.

High current amps are not necessarily high power amps...and vice versa.

Of course there's exceptions but for the most part they do go hand in hand now don't they.

 

[spark1]

Of course there's exceptions but for the most part they do go hand in hand now don't they.

Nope.

 

[Schroedinger]

It's probably worth noting that we're talking about AC devices here. The current that the speakers see is constantly alternating back and forth, and would be net zero if the speakers didn't create inductive and resistive losses that ultimately lead to motion and sound. When we talk about current capabilities we're mostly talking about the DC power supply's ability to overcome these losses.

It's also worth noting that the amplifier section itself generally has a fixed gain. It amplifies the input signal by a certain factor, then the amplified signal is attenuated back down to the desired listening volume. When we talk about how hard an amplifier is "working", the amplifier section itself is generally working 100% all the time. It reaches its limits when the power section lets it down, or when the output devices can't swing enough voltage to control the complex load of a speaker.

I'm speaking in generalities but they're all relevant to this discussion. If you feel that your amplifier is limited, you should try to understand specifically what the bottleneck is.

 

[spark1]

It's probably worth noting that we're talking about AC devices here. The speakers don't necessarily see "current", they see inductive and resistive losses. When we talk about current capabilities we're mostly talking about the DC power supply, which is only one section of an amp.

Hmm. I believe that speakers draw current.

 

[Schroedinger]

Hmm. I believe that speakers draw current.

Deleted for stupidity and irrelevance

 

[Semanon]

Edited my post to be more clear. Thought experiment: If you connect a straight, short piece of wire between the hot and neutral poles of an AC plug, how much current is it using?

OK, I’ll play. All the current?

OH, wait! Is this a Schroedinger thing? All the current and none of the current. But by observing we change the outcome?

EDIT: Can it be a screwdriver? I want it to be a screwdriver because I’ve done that and it ceases to be a thought experiment. It makes a loud noise and lots of sparks and sends a rush of adrenaline through your body. After lots ‘o current, zero current.


EDIT 2: When the electricians were upgrading equipment at a local subway station, they forgot to remove the safety strap from hot to ground when they reenergized the system. I heard the BUZZZ….BANG….POP loud from a quarter mile away.

I’m not a fan of this thought experiment. You had a point. Please carry on. I’m done carrying on.

 

[JoeESP9]

Whenever I read about how someone likes to listen at 100db+ I just laugh. I guess if you live in the country and don’t care at all about your hear go ahead and listen away

My listening levels average ~85dB (10' from speakers). However, with classical I regularly see peaks of +100dB.

Although I live in the city, my street is exceptionally quiet especially during the daytime. OTOH, when I play music, my neighbors frequently sit on my porch steps and ask for more volume. They have also been known to complain when I play something they don't like very much.

 

[Schroedinger]

You're right, it's a stupid thought experiment. Or real experiment that I might have inadvertently performed myself. Struck from the record

 

[rothwellaudio]

The current that the speakers see is constantly alternating back and forth, and would be net zero if the speakers didn't create inductive and resistive losses that ultimately lead to motion and sound.

It is net zero in as much as the amount of current flowing from the +ve speaker terminal to the -ve is exactly the same as from the -ve speaker terminal to the +ve.

 

[jayvis]

I think you guys have caused the OP to go kaput.

 

[Semanon]

I think you guys have caused the OP to go kaput.

Rabbit holes will do that.