What is the ideal amp to speaker power ratio?
#1
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What is the ideal amp to speaker power ratio?
If I install these 110 RMS (330 peak) components Car Audio Direct - Alpine SPR-17S - Speakers will this 2 channel 250 max/4 ohm: 50w x 2 amp Car Audio Direct - Alpine MRP-T222 - Amplifier be too weak for the speakers?
Or should I buy this 4 channel 360w max/4 ohm: 100w x 2 (bridged) amp? Car Audio Direct - Alpine MRP-F242 - Amplifier
Or would this be better: Bridged 4 ohms: 150w x 2 (all figures RMS)? Car Audio Direct - Alpine MRP-F300 - Amplifier
Am I right in thinking that too low a power amp will produce clipping? Is a much higher power rating than the speakers better with the gain adjusted to avoid distortion?
Cheers
Sal (With headache )
Or should I buy this 4 channel 360w max/4 ohm: 100w x 2 (bridged) amp? Car Audio Direct - Alpine MRP-F242 - Amplifier
Or would this be better: Bridged 4 ohms: 150w x 2 (all figures RMS)? Car Audio Direct - Alpine MRP-F300 - Amplifier
Am I right in thinking that too low a power amp will produce clipping? Is a much higher power rating than the speakers better with the gain adjusted to avoid distortion?
Cheers
Sal (With headache )
#3
Peak power ratings for speakers are largely meaningless - efficiency is more important. With a sensitivity of 87db (presumably at 4 ohms, it doesn't actually say), they should be pretty easy to drive. Just about any half-decent amp will do the job.
The first amp you mention should provide ample power, 50w at 4 ohms is more than enough to drive those speakers. As for clipping, that depends on how loud you are planning to have the volume. I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem, unless you want to play music at daft levels.
Having said that, using the second amp you mention in bridged mode should give a better sound and, for £20 more, it's what I would go for.
The last amp is probably overkill, although I don't think it's too powerful for the speakers you have in mind.
The first amp you mention should provide ample power, 50w at 4 ohms is more than enough to drive those speakers. As for clipping, that depends on how loud you are planning to have the volume. I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem, unless you want to play music at daft levels.
Having said that, using the second amp you mention in bridged mode should give a better sound and, for £20 more, it's what I would go for.
The last amp is probably overkill, although I don't think it's too powerful for the speakers you have in mind.
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Peak power ratings for speakers are largely meaningless - efficiency is more important. With a sensitivity of 87db (presumably at 4 ohms, it doesn't actually say), they should be pretty easy to drive. Just about any half-decent amp will do the job.
The first amp you mention should provide ample power, 50w at 4 ohms is more than enough to drive those speakers. As for clipping, that depends on how loud you are planning to have the volume. I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem, unless you want to play music at daft levels.
Having said that, using the second amp you mention in bridged mode should give a better sound and, for £20 more, it's what I would go for.
The last amp is probably overkill, although I don't think it's too powerful for the speakers you have in mind.
The first amp you mention should provide ample power, 50w at 4 ohms is more than enough to drive those speakers. As for clipping, that depends on how loud you are planning to have the volume. I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem, unless you want to play music at daft levels.
Having said that, using the second amp you mention in bridged mode should give a better sound and, for £20 more, it's what I would go for.
The last amp is probably overkill, although I don't think it's too powerful for the speakers you have in mind.
Last edited by audioscape; 02 February 2009 at 02:12 PM.
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