| Buying audio equipment can be daunting if you don't | | | | you need per channel from your amp or receiver, all |
| know your way around. Who are you suppose to | | | | depends on your speakers.YOU WANT SPEAKERS |
| trust? The salesman? He'll say everything you want to | | | | THAT SOUND LIKE THEY`RE SPEAKING TO |
| hear just for a piece of the commission.Amps: Do you | | | | YOU!The sensitivity of speakers is rated in DeciBel |
| know what (amps) really means for instance? | | | | Sound Pressure Level (dB SPL), at 1 metre (3.3 ft.) |
| Everybody seems to think they know what it means, | | | | distance, and at 1 watt of power. In other words, the |
| the expression having been around for so long. | | | | higher the number the louder the speaker. This is what |
| Unfortunately, few know the true definition. In audio, | | | | dictates the power you need from your amplifier for a |
| there's three types of power; peak power, RMS | | | | proper listening level and pleasure. In fact, everytime |
| power, and last but not least, music power. So let's get | | | | you double the wattage, you add 3 dB to the loudness |
| to it!In consumer electronics everything is measured by | | | | of a speaker.Example: If you have a speaker that's |
| specs, but when shopping for audio equipment, it's also | | | | rated at 90 dB sensitivity, and you feed it 2 watts, it will |
| a good idea to go listen before buying. However, since | | | | be 92 dB loud. If you feed it 4 watts, then it will be 94 |
| in today's high technology systems, it's somewhat hard | | | | dB loud and so on at a listening distance of 3.3 ft. |
| to buy a bad system (unless you go very cheap) so I | | | | Factor in the loudness rop-off at a 10 foot distance |
| wouldn't worry about it too much. The most common | | | | (about - 10 dB) and you can see why just 1 watt is |
| problem for bad output is connectivity (attaching your | | | | plenty loud. As a further example, a 250 watt home |
| cables or wiring).With this segment, we will be your | | | | theater receiver will output about 101 dB, and a 500 |
| guide in understanding all of the meaningless terms that | | | | watt receiver will output about 104 dB.In general it's a |
| tend to confuse consumers when it comes to buying a | | | | good idea to get an amp that is a bit more powerful |
| good to excellent home theater audio | | | | than the max rating of your speakers. Why? Because, |
| system.CHOOSING AN AMP!A good amp should be | | | | not enough power can cause your speakers to blow! |
| heavy (not on the scale) but heavy in deliverance. In | | | | In other words, you should have more power in your |
| other words, a high current amplifier is much better | | | | amp than you really need. If your speakers have a |
| than one that isn't! It will generally give you a much | | | | max rating of 80 watts, your amp should be about 100 |
| crispier sound at a given power rating, and won't | | | | watt RMS per channel. But, don't use much bigger as |
| distort the sound until you reach a very high level.As an | | | | you'll have the same effect of blowing |
| example, a 500 watt high current amp is better than a | | | | yourspeakers.Now, we have Hz (hertz). Hertz is the |
| 500 watt regular current amplifier. I don't need to tell | | | | frequency response. It is the ability to replicate sounds |
| you that most all well known manufacturers make high | | | | at different frequencies. It is usually stated as a |
| end receivers or amps. | | | | minimum and a maximum value in Hz and usually with |
| | | | the +/- dB rating.Example: if you have a rated |
| WHAT IS POWER RATING?How does one | | | | frequency of 50 - 20,000 Hz +/- 3 dB, this simply |
| compare peak, RMS, and music (all in watts)? Let's | | | | means that the speaker is 3 dB louder or quiter at |
| begin with RMS power, which means Root Mean | | | | different frequencies between 50 to 20,000 Hz. The + |
| Square, and is the most conservative rating. You'll | | | | - dB rating is important, since without it, it could be |
| understand as we explain further. The important thing | | | | anything including being totally inaudible (no sound). You |
| is that the RMS ratng be indicated on the equipment, | | | | absolutely need that dB rating, and the smaller it is the |
| since it signifies a quality manufacturer. I remember | | | | better it is. So in general, aspeaker that creates 50 Hz |
| many years ago many of my friends and I buying | | | | sound is going to be much more expensive than a |
| Marantz because the RMS (20 RMS per channel) | | | | speaker that creates 65 Hz sound, even though both |
| was indicated and was, and still is, an excellent amp. (It | | | | speakers can attain 20,000 Hz.You are now a pro in |
| can also be called 'continuous | | | | understanding the workings of audio, and no salesman |
| averagepower').When you're comparing, what you're | | | | will ever be able to fool you in your purchase of audio |
| looking for is an 8 ohm reading or load. Don't buy any | | | | equipement. Armed with this information, you can |
| less. If you see that a manufacturer only quotes, in his | | | | generally buy online without any problems as long as |
| specs, peak power only withoutRMS, be weary. | | | | you read the specs with the offer. All you need to do |
| Furthermore, if you see words like 'music power', run | | | | is remember that the output of your receiver or amp in |
| away!Peak power is double the RMS. Peak Music | | | | RMS wattage has to be somewhat stronger than |
| Power Output (PMPO) is a term used by smart | | | | your speakers can take, but not that much |
| salesmen when trying to sell you small wattage | | | | ~~~~~~~ |
| speakers that can be made to sound like 100 watt | | | | Do your homework on home theater audio and |
| speakers. Stay away from these types of | | | | speaker systems, especially the wireless home theater |
| speakers.Remember, as I learned in IT school, that | | | | systems before you buy. You want the sound to give |
| volts X amps = watts. So how many watts RMS do | | | | you joy that will last last forever! |