To help you decide on an audio amp, I am going to describe the term "signal-to-noise ratio" which is commonly utilized to describe the performance of audio amplifiers. Once you have narrowed down your search by looking at a few key criteria, including the amount of output power, the dimensions of the amp as well as the price, you will still have quite a few products to choose from. Now it is time to look at a few of the technical specifications in more detail. Every amp will produce a certain level of hiss and hum. The signal-to-noise ratio is going to help compute the amount of static produced by the amplifier.
Once you have chosen a range of amplifiers, it's time to investigate some of the specs in more detail in order to help you narrow down your search to one product. The signal-to-noise ratio is a fairly key spec and explains how much noise or hiss the amp makes.
While taking a look at the amp spec sheet, you want to look for an amplifier with a large signal-to-noise ratio figure which suggests that the amplifier outputs a small level of static. Noise is produced due to several factors. One factor is that modern amplifiers all use components like transistors and resistors. Those components will produce some amount of noise. Mostly the elements which are situated at the input stage of an amp will contribute most to the overall noise. Thus suppliers typically are going to pick low-noise elements whilst developing the amp input stage.
If you favor an amp with a small level of hissing, you can look at the signal-to-noise ratio figure of the spec sheet. Many makers will publish this figure. Amplifiers with a large signal-to-noise ratio are going to output a small level of noise. Noise is generated due to a number of reasons. One reason is that modern amplifiers all utilize components such as transistors along with resistors. Those elements are going to produce some amount of noise. Typically the components that are situated at the input stage of an amp are going to contribute most to the overall hiss. Consequently producers usually are going to select low-noise elements when developing the amplifier input stage.
Most of recent power amps are digital amplifiers, also called "class-d amplifiers". Class-D amps use a switching stage which oscillates at a frequency between 300 kHz to 1 MHz. This switching frequency is also noise which is part of the amplified signal. However, recent amp specs generally only consider the hiss between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. The most common technique for measuring the signal-to-noise ratio is to set the amp to a gain that allows the maximum output swing. Subsequently a test signal is fed to the amp. The frequency of this signal is usually 1 kHz. The amplitude of this tone is 60 dB underneath the full scale signal. After that, only the hiss in the range of 20 Hz and 20 kHz is considered. The noise at other frequencies is removed via a filter. Next the amount of the noise energy in relation to the full-scale output wattage is computed and expressed in decibel.
A different convention to express the signal-to-noise ratio uses more subjective terms. These terms are "dBA" or "A weighted". You are going to spot these terms in a lot of amplifier parameter sheets. This method was designed with the knowledge that human hearing perceives noise at different frequencies differently. Human hearing is most responsive to signals around 1 kHz. On the other hand, signals under 50 Hz and higher than 13 kHz are hardly noticed. An A-weighted signal-to-noise ratio weighs the noise floor according to the human hearing and is usually higher than the unweighted signal-to-noise ratio.
Once you have chosen a range of amplifiers, it's time to investigate some of the specs in more detail in order to help you narrow down your search to one product. The signal-to-noise ratio is a fairly key spec and explains how much noise or hiss the amp makes.
While taking a look at the amp spec sheet, you want to look for an amplifier with a large signal-to-noise ratio figure which suggests that the amplifier outputs a small level of static. Noise is produced due to several factors. One factor is that modern amplifiers all use components like transistors and resistors. Those components will produce some amount of noise. Mostly the elements which are situated at the input stage of an amp will contribute most to the overall noise. Thus suppliers typically are going to pick low-noise elements whilst developing the amp input stage.
If you favor an amp with a small level of hissing, you can look at the signal-to-noise ratio figure of the spec sheet. Many makers will publish this figure. Amplifiers with a large signal-to-noise ratio are going to output a small level of noise. Noise is generated due to a number of reasons. One reason is that modern amplifiers all utilize components such as transistors along with resistors. Those elements are going to produce some amount of noise. Typically the components that are situated at the input stage of an amp are going to contribute most to the overall hiss. Consequently producers usually are going to select low-noise elements when developing the amplifier input stage.
Most of recent power amps are digital amplifiers, also called "class-d amplifiers". Class-D amps use a switching stage which oscillates at a frequency between 300 kHz to 1 MHz. This switching frequency is also noise which is part of the amplified signal. However, recent amp specs generally only consider the hiss between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. The most common technique for measuring the signal-to-noise ratio is to set the amp to a gain that allows the maximum output swing. Subsequently a test signal is fed to the amp. The frequency of this signal is usually 1 kHz. The amplitude of this tone is 60 dB underneath the full scale signal. After that, only the hiss in the range of 20 Hz and 20 kHz is considered. The noise at other frequencies is removed via a filter. Next the amount of the noise energy in relation to the full-scale output wattage is computed and expressed in decibel.
A different convention to express the signal-to-noise ratio uses more subjective terms. These terms are "dBA" or "A weighted". You are going to spot these terms in a lot of amplifier parameter sheets. This method was designed with the knowledge that human hearing perceives noise at different frequencies differently. Human hearing is most responsive to signals around 1 kHz. On the other hand, signals under 50 Hz and higher than 13 kHz are hardly noticed. An A-weighted signal-to-noise ratio weighs the noise floor according to the human hearing and is usually higher than the unweighted signal-to-noise ratio.
About the Author:
You can get helpful information on the subject of power audio amplifiers at www.amphony.com. In addition, have a look at http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PFA300-90-Watt-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B0071HZ5LE.
Comments :
0 comments to “A Number Of Guidelines In Order To Help Understand The Signal-To-Noise Ratio Of Latest Audio Amplifiers”
Post a Comment