<font color='#000000'>The post below ; Can't believe it was September and its already November. Cheers
Staff Member/Founder
Group: SuperAdministrator
Posts: 365
Joined: July 2002
Posted: Sep. 21 2003,15:54
All;
Unless otherwise specified, when an amplifier company lists SNR it is a full power rating. This is somewhat misleading since the listener rarely achieves such high output levels while preserving their hearing and their speakers.
To translate a rating down to 1 watt is simple. Lets take the following example:
Amp rating: 200wpc 8ohms, SNR = 112dBA (A-weighing)
We convert 200watts/8ohms to voltage by: P = V^2/R
thus: V = sqrt(V*R) = sqrt(200*8) = 40 Volts
If we wish to translate down to 1watt, you need to compare this ratio to 2.83V (1 watt into ohms).
Correction Factor = 20*log(40/28.3)
Thus: SNR @1Watt = SNR(Full Power) - Correction Factor
SNR@1watt = 112dB - 23dB = 89dB!
This is a pretty good #, not sure why the link I read on one of the Outlaw amps speced only 100dBA at full power. Perhaps it was another model.
3dB;
To answer your question, Yes SNR is not everything, but it is a very good indication of how good a system will be at resolving low level details.
I believe the fundemental point of this thread is to help people understand that the old misconception that "Separates are always better than Receivers" just isn't true any longer. I have personally discovered that the Denon AVR-5803 betters pretty much most separates solution at its price point with respect to flexibility, processing power and fidelity. If I were assembling a new home theater system it would certainly be on my list as an option to consider. Does it have a better amp section than separates? That depends on a lot of factors. Certainly there are 7CH amps out there for around $2K that may offer more power, but not all of them will do so with the same level of finesses. There are always compromises to consider, especially when dealing with a budget.
Audiouser;
I love your cable analogy with chocolate. I use that one often myself
I agree with you 100% thus why we started measuring cables to verify, or more commonly debunk manufacturers claims.
Edited by gene on Sep. 21 2003,16:09
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