Topic: UnderPower??

[WAN520]

Hi Guys & Sifus,

Am thinking to change or "upgrade" my amp.., but to avoid unnecessary spending of my hard-earned money, I need to really CONFIRM that my current amp is underpower.

Here the specs about power handling for my front components > Seas Lotus Reference:

Tweeter: Short term power handling: 180 watts, Long term power handling: 80 watts.
6.5 inch Midbass : Short term power handling: 250 watts, Long term power handling: 100 watts.

May I know how do I confrim it if my amp is underpower?

1.  Amp brand & rated power will confirm this? My amp is PHD 4070 Pro, rated at 75 watts x 4 channel.
2.  You will know if your amp is underpower when you have to set your amp gain more than half? My amp gain is set to about 9 o'clock, or about 30%.
3.  Listening level at HU? I turn up volume at HU about 50% for normal listening, and about 75% for loud and kick listening.
4.  How do I check amp power by using a multimeter?

THANKS for your inputs.
 

[bafukie]

one ques to ask urself is when put aside specs etc, when u listen to ur songs, do u feel underpower or lacking?

i have run both 60rms and 200rms rated power to the same 150rms rated speaker and they have minimal diff in terms of power. remember twice the power yield a gain of 3db only. currently i am running a measly 30rms to the same comps as urs. 

[bty]

Hi Wan,
Agree with bro bafukie. I was running the same set up as yours and it was more than adequate.

I was using about 9 o'clock on the gain too.

The pro is a good and under-rated amp.

Cheers!

[WAN520]

Hi bafukie & bty, really glad to hear your replies... , great possibility that I could save my $$$ ..hehe...

Anymore inputs from other sifus please..?

[bafukie]

basics first... have u done ur amp scoping?

[WAN520]

bafukie,

Please elaborate about amp scoping, I got no idea what is it about.

Is it a process of checking your amp output power by using oscilloscope?

Who and where can do it please?

[bafukie]

its a process of maximising voltage output from ur HU and setting the sensitivity of an amplifier correctly without any of the equipment clipping. im not from kl so i cant pinpoint u to any shop. I guess most of the well known shop offers this service. Plz do it and hear the diff... u will discover that setting a system properly is not about dialing 70% of max HU NOR its about turning 1/2, 1/4 or 1/10 of ur amp gain.

[WAN520]

bafukie,

can that amp scoping be done by DIY with a multimeter? something like play 50 hz tone and get about 40 volts read at multimeter? I think i read the article somewhere, but forgot the link liao..

[craziechild]

yea.. could be done tht way... but probably cant see the possible clipping which can seen on the o-scope...

[bafukie]

a multimeter only shows how much power an amp puts out or to balance the left/right for amps with independent left/right gain. Amp scoping well, is about using oscilloscope

[hksp]

can use cheap handheld one like UT81B