Amp Question
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Team Owner
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From: Charlotte NC
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Amp Question
Why is it better to have an amplifier that can put out 150 watts/channel rather than one that can put out say 45 w/channel? 
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Generally, a more powerful amp is not any better or worse than a lower powered amp.
An amplifiers rated power needs to be matched to the speakers that are going to be used with it.
For example:
Subwoofers need a lot of power to move the speaker cone to make bass.
Stock speakers or smaller speakers usually need less power to move them.
It all depends on the type of speakers used and the power they require which determines how powerful of an amp to use for the application.
An amplifiers rated power needs to be matched to the speakers that are going to be used with it.
For example:
Subwoofers need a lot of power to move the speaker cone to make bass.
Stock speakers or smaller speakers usually need less power to move them.
It all depends on the type of speakers used and the power they require which determines how powerful of an amp to use for the application.
Last edited by GKK; Oct 22, 2006 at 09:53 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 3
From: Penn Valley California
When you look at many of the pictures of setups on this forum,you will notice that systems contain multiple amps,because they do different things well.A modest output low distortion, 4-channel AB type amp may be powering the front speakers,while a high output class D mono amp or amps(which typically runs cooler but has more distortion)may be powering the rear subs,for example.Also six or eight channel amps are available,where pairs of outputs can be bridged together to"up" the output for the subs.Many times physical size of the amp may be a consideration if you wish to stash it under a seat rather than in a custom rack.Crutchfields has an excellent treatise on amps and their applications on their website.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
You can get into a lot of debate here. Generally speaking from a SQ/Decibel output standpoint (clean,clear,loud) you are better off having 150w RMS per channel than 45w RMS per channel as the amp is going to be less likely to be driven into clipping (distortion) and has more "headroom" to handle transients (loud transitions in music) more effectively without issue (read distortion).
Simply put, with proper set up a 150w amp will play louder (and cleaner generally) than a 45w amp ever will. You have to take into consideration the driver type you are using and its recommended power rating. IE 6.5" component speakers with a 100w RMS rating would play/sound better from the 150w amp than it would with the 45w amp keeping all settings the same and the amps are of equal quality.
IMO with amps you get what you pay for ... spend $150 on a 4x 50 watt amp and you will be lucky to get 4x20 clean watts. Spend $350 on the same spec and you are likely to get 4x50 or even 4x65 clean, useable watts.
Fej
Simply put, with proper set up a 150w amp will play louder (and cleaner generally) than a 45w amp ever will. You have to take into consideration the driver type you are using and its recommended power rating. IE 6.5" component speakers with a 100w RMS rating would play/sound better from the 150w amp than it would with the 45w amp keeping all settings the same and the amps are of equal quality.
IMO with amps you get what you pay for ... spend $150 on a 4x 50 watt amp and you will be lucky to get 4x20 clean watts. Spend $350 on the same spec and you are likely to get 4x50 or even 4x65 clean, useable watts.
Fej
Last edited by fej; Oct 22, 2006 at 07:54 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
Originally Posted by fej
You can get into a lot of debate here. Generally speaking from a SQ/Decibel output standpoint (clean,clear,loud) you are better off having 150w RMS per channel than 45w RMS per channel as the amp is going to be less likely to be driven into clipping (distortion) and has more "headroom" to handle transients (loud transitions in music) more effectively without issue (read distortion).
Simply put, with proper set up a 150w amp will play louder than a 45w amp ever will. You have to take into consideration the driver type you are using and its recommended power rating. IE 6.5" component speakers with a 100w RMS rating would play/sound better from the 150w amp than it would with the 45w amp keeping all settings the same and the amps are of equal quality.
IMO with amps you get what you pay for ... spend $150 on a 4x 50 watt amp and you will be lucky to get 4x20 clean watts. Spend $350 on the same spec and you are likely to get 4x50 or even 4x65 clean, useable watts.
Fej
Simply put, with proper set up a 150w amp will play louder than a 45w amp ever will. You have to take into consideration the driver type you are using and its recommended power rating. IE 6.5" component speakers with a 100w RMS rating would play/sound better from the 150w amp than it would with the 45w amp keeping all settings the same and the amps are of equal quality.
IMO with amps you get what you pay for ... spend $150 on a 4x 50 watt amp and you will be lucky to get 4x20 clean watts. Spend $350 on the same spec and you are likely to get 4x50 or even 4x65 clean, useable watts.
Fej
as usual, i agree with fej.
Supporting Tuner
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From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
I agree with Fej as well 
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Originally Posted by scott_fx
then you agree with me too then, right? 
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