THE SOUND OF ONE AMP CLIPPING

摘要

Keith Howard's Audio Exposed article in the June 2008 was great, but I have a suggestion for him. Try working the problem from the other end. Here's how... Take a set-up comprising CD player, a 'typical' 50-100W integrated amp, and an average loudspeaker with a genuine 89dB sensitivity (approximately) - like one of those featured in your June 2008 group test. Throw on a test CD, disconnect the speakers, then turn up the amp until it is just short of clipping (use whatever test method you have to hand, for example an oscilloscope). Make a note of the volume control level then re-connect the speakers. You now have a system that cannot clip. Play a range of commercially available CDs with the volume at the level determined above. Is it loud enough? Did you need to use a 300W amp just because of loudness concerns? The system used was 'good but not high-end' as far as the market is concerned (I don't mean to judge its sound quality). Is there a problem with amplifier power, or is it mainly a workhorse amp?