2. amps-preamps
  3. 1370650847

Do amps have a sweet spot?

What I mean by this is do amps have an output range at which they sound better? The reason that I'm asking is that I'm now running some very small speakers (Minuet Supreme Plus) and they're probably the least demanding speakers I've had; but I've found that my setup sounds better when I have the volume turned up.

Out of curiosity, I took my Minuets to my local shop and hooked them up to an NAD C326BEE. I thought it sounded pretty darned good at "normal" listening levels. I almost bought it, but then I decided to start cranking it up to what I would call "rockin" levels and the amp started to clip. If it could have played louder, I would have bought it.

So...is it usual for an amp not to open up until you start pushing it?

My current amp is an Aragon 2004.
tonyangel

Showing 8 responses by csontos

csontos
1,311 posts
 
I was addressing Al. Sorry for the confusion.
csontos
1,311 posts
 
I have upwards of 25 amps and they all sound best when they're 'cookin'. Does that not make sense from an engineer's point of view? Or from the one buying the amp for that matter.
csontos
1,311 posts
 
I wasn't taking you to task. Just pointing out the op's query. Seems it got lost. I knew you'd come through.
csontos
1,311 posts
 
"So... is it usual for an amp not to open up until you start pushing it?"
csontos
1,311 posts
 
The general behavior of all my amps is the same whether it's a 45 wpch amp or 800 wpch amp. I don't start hearing prominent inner mid-range detail until the amp is 'cookin'. Does this not stand to reason? Why would I design an amp not to perform it's best at rated output? Nothing is perfect. The whole technology is rife with compromise.
csontos
1,311 posts
 
No. SPL's have nothing to do with it. Like I said, they all exhibit the same behavior regardless of power rating. Obviously, SPL's are going to change accordingly. But just because it's louder doesn't mean the same things aren't going to happen. Characteristically, they are the same.
csontos
1,311 posts
 
My pre amp brings a typical ss amp to rated output at about 6-7 on the dial. SPLs are obviously going to vary among different amps with different power ratings. Measured distortion is not necessarily an indicator of performance as Al pointed out.
csontos
1,311 posts
 
I stand corrected, I suppose. I also stand by my initial statement. What I meant by 'cookin', is nominally what an amp can stand without driving it into clipping which will vary depending on the dynamic range of the recording.
More to discover