solderdude
Grand Contributor
This would mean 100WI have done this measured the Volt at the speaker inputs (Ac of course) and clamped the current with an AC Current clamp, . It gaves me 25 Volts and 4 Amp max.
This would be 23kW... but lets assume you meant 100W then your amp would have 100% efficiency which would make it the only amp in existence that does this.Also the Power Input 230 watt was 100 Amp.
So quite obvious your measurements are incorrect and the reason is you use MUSIC as a test signal which contains peaks that are waaaayyyyy to short to be able to measure them using a regular volt- amp-meter.
It is not pointless IF the right test signals are used.But most here say this is an senseless thing.
Music is NOT such a test signal.
Music output can ONLY be measured with an oscilloscope.
And even then this will only give you the peak voltage values but at least will show you if you are near clipping levels or what voltage peaks are present.
To even measure that you will have to know your way around scopes to be able to capture such peaks (playing with single shot or setting trigger levels).
When you really want the actual power measured you will ALSO need the current clamp (or a small series resistor) and a 2-channel scope and then you would have to calculate the power levels. As impedance vary (and mostly in the lows where the most of the power goes) the power is not that important.
All you need is the voltage peak levels, not the actual currents.
They do not need power. You apply a voltage and it draws a current which will vary depending on frequency.I would know what my speakers are needing Power not know if the amp clips.
An amplifier is a voltage source with a voltage and current limit.
How much power is required (it is only about peak voltages) depends on how loud you play.
You can clip a 250W rated speaker with a 600W rated amp using music IF you play loud enough.An 600/1200 8/4 Ohm rated Amps clips not with an 250 rms rated speaker
As said a few times..... IF you want to determine what power rating you need as a minimum to reach the desired levels (which is really what you want to know) then there are ONLY 2 ways to find that out.
When using MUSIC as a test signal you will need an oscilloscope and you need to measure the peaks occurring in the music signal. From there you can CALCULATE the required continuous voltage (is power rating).
When using test signal you can use a (cheap) multimeter but you NEED to do that with a dummy load. You should not do that using speakers !!!!
You would have to buy an 8ohm (500W dummy load (or lower rated for short measurements, you only need to measure during a few seconds).
I will tell you HOW to do this but only if you have such a dummy load. DO NOT attempt this method using speakers.
Last edited: