Ratio of peak to average power required, as Al said, is very
high. Amplifier's power specification alone is only useful
for listening to continuous sine-waves. Otherwise 10W
amplifier with big headroom can sound much louder than 100W
amplifier with small headroom. For instance, in class A amps
headroom is very limited. Higher output bias current would
make amplifier very big, heavy and expensive. Class AB amps
don't have this limitation - headroom can be higher.
In addition power specification are often very vague.
Continuous power of the B&O module (200ASC) in my class D
amp is 40W. FTC Power is 55W. Rowland rates it 200W while
Bel Canto rates it 300W. What is it?
high. Amplifier's power specification alone is only useful
for listening to continuous sine-waves. Otherwise 10W
amplifier with big headroom can sound much louder than 100W
amplifier with small headroom. For instance, in class A amps
headroom is very limited. Higher output bias current would
make amplifier very big, heavy and expensive. Class AB amps
don't have this limitation - headroom can be higher.
In addition power specification are often very vague.
Continuous power of the B&O module (200ASC) in my class D
amp is 40W. FTC Power is 55W. Rowland rates it 200W while
Bel Canto rates it 300W. What is it?