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Power Amp Question
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:34 am
by doncolga
My amp specs at 425 watts RMS and 600 watts peak, each into 4 ohms. Going with the peak number, I figure it should provide about 49 volts total. However, I'm able to get more voltage out of it than that, and I can actually get 49 volts on 50% gain. It goes up some, but not alot when the gain is 100% up. Why am I able to get more voltage out than I expected? I thought it would just stop at 49 volts.
Re: Power Amp Question
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:02 am
by Bill Fitzmaurice
doncolga wrote:My amp specs at 425 watts RMS and 600 watts peak, each into 4 ohms. Going with the peak number, I figure it should provide about 49 volts total. However, I'm able to get more voltage out of it than that, and I can actually get 49 volts on 50% gain. It goes up some, but not alot when the gain is 100% up. Why am I able to get more voltage out than I expected? I thought it would just stop at 49 volts.
Power levels are stated at a given distortion percentage. Amps can put out much more than that rating with higher distortion. As for the gain, that's not indicative of anything, as all it does is to attenuate the incoming signal. Turn it down and the source up or vis versa and the net result is the same, though you're more likely to clip the source by running it higher. Set your limiter with the amp pots at full, then turn it down to where it needs to be for the venue.