true power
true power
02-12-2011, 05:52 AM
#2
Use a clamp and DMM. Use the clamp to check for A.C. amperage from the speaker power + line and the DMM on AC volts and check the voltage across the speaker power wires. Helps if they both have peak hold. Any meters will do but fluke is the best.
Simply multiply the numbers together and you get your RMS @ that frequency. Divide them two numbers and you will get your rise in ohms.
Simply multiply the numbers together and you get your RMS @ that frequency. Divide them two numbers and you will get your rise in ohms.
Last edited by DeadlySones; 02-12-2011 at 05:54 AM.
02-12-2011, 09:13 AM
#3
Define *true power*, then tell me why you think that is a valid definition and measure of an amplifier's performance and sound quality. If you don't know what you are asking for then any method or number you get is meaningless to you.
02-12-2011, 09:15 AM
#4
Use a clamp and DMM. Use the clamp to check for A.C. amperage from the speaker power + line and the DMM on AC volts and check the voltage across the speaker power wires. Helps if they both have peak hold. Any meters will do but fluke is the best.
Simply multiply the numbers together and you get your RMS @ that frequency. Divide them two numbers and you will get your rise in ohms.
Simply multiply the numbers together and you get your RMS @ that frequency. Divide them two numbers and you will get your rise in ohms.
I love it... some product always has to be the best. Fluke is good. but there are many products at much lower prices for the average car audio enthusiast that will do the job nicely.
02-12-2011, 11:23 AM
#5
What does sound quality have to do with the question? He's trying to determine power, nothing more. Determining the power of the amp to me is an excellent measure of the amp's performance. But who knows, maybe the name is the best thing to go off of when determining the worth of an amp.
As for the testing method, at a given frequency probably means sine waves.
And rise is box rise, which is the impedance the amp is actually seeing ie the reactive load vs the nominal load.
Fluke is the best.
As for the testing method, at a given frequency probably means sine waves.
And rise is box rise, which is the impedance the amp is actually seeing ie the reactive load vs the nominal load.
Fluke is the best.
Last edited by fresh1; 02-12-2011 at 11:26 AM.
02-12-2011, 04:16 PM
#6
What does sound quality have to do with the question? He's trying to determine power, nothing more. Determining the power of the amp to me is an excellent measure of the amp's performance. But who knows, maybe the name is the best thing to go off of when determining the worth of an amp. .
What if my amp puts out 50 watts at .1%thd. Is it better than an amp that puts out 100watts at 1% distortion? How do I tell how much my amp is distorting? Please tell me for sure.. because I want just the one right answer...there is always a right answer isn't there?
oh so.. the impedance changes depending on what box the speaker is in? Yes I agree with that. Does this mean now that I need to get specs for my amp with every speaker box? Or is there one, just one.. standard way of measuring amp power that I can use to compare every amp? The manufacturers agree on this standard method right?
02-12-2011, 05:14 PM
#8
So...an amp that measures 100 watts into 4 ohms is better than an amp that gives 75 watts into 8 ohms? What if I put a real speaker load on it and not a 4 or 8 ohm resistor? What if my amp puts out 30 watts continuous but can provide 6db over that for short burts? Which is better?
What if my amp puts out 50 watts at .1%thd. Is it better than an amp that puts out 100watts at 1% distortion? How do I tell how much my amp is distorting? Please tell me for sure.. because I want just the one right answer...there is always a right answer isn't there? ?
What if my amp puts out 50 watts at .1%thd. Is it better than an amp that puts out 100watts at 1% distortion? How do I tell how much my amp is distorting? Please tell me for sure.. because I want just the one right answer...there is always a right answer isn't there? ?
oh so.. the impedance changes depending on what box the speaker is in? Yes I agree with that. Does this mean now that I need to get specs for my amp with every speaker box? Or is there one, just one.. standard way of measuring amp power that I can use to compare every amp? The manufacturers agree on this standard method right?
Oh, zoomer, can you please tell all of us how you measure the sound quality of the amp? Is that in pounds? Or maybe cubic metres? Gotta be cubic metres.
OP, do what DeadlySones said, borrow a clamp if you need to, and if the meters don't have peak hold then just have someone on hand with a good memory.
