Amplifier figures of merit: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
imported>Headbomb m →Output dynamic range: clean up, replaced: ((Verhoeven CJM)) → Verhoeven CJ (3) |
imported>Natg 19 m Disambiguating links to Half-power point (link changed to Cutoff frequency) using DisamAssist. |
||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
== Bandwidth == | == Bandwidth == | ||
The [[bandwidth (signal processing)|bandwidth]] of an amplifier is the range of frequencies for which the amplifier gives "satisfactory performance". The definition of "satisfactory performance" may be different for different applications. However, a common and well-accepted metric is the [[half-power point]]s (i.e. frequency where the power goes down by half its peak value) on the output vs. frequency curve. Therefore, bandwidth can be defined as the difference between the lower and upper half power points. This is therefore also known as the {{nowrap|−3 dB}} bandwidth. Bandwidths (otherwise called "frequency responses") for other response tolerances are sometimes quoted ({{nowrap|−1 dB}}, {{nowrap|−6 dB}} etc.) or "plus or minus 1dB" (roughly the sound level difference people usually can detect). | The [[bandwidth (signal processing)|bandwidth]] of an amplifier is the range of frequencies for which the amplifier gives "satisfactory performance". The definition of "satisfactory performance" may be different for different applications. However, a common and well-accepted metric is the [[Cutoff frequency|half-power point]]s (i.e. frequency where the power goes down by half its peak value) on the output vs. frequency curve. Therefore, bandwidth can be defined as the difference between the lower and upper half power points. This is therefore also known as the {{nowrap|−3 dB}} bandwidth. Bandwidths (otherwise called "frequency responses") for other response tolerances are sometimes quoted ({{nowrap|−1 dB}}, {{nowrap|−6 dB}} etc.) or "plus or minus 1dB" (roughly the sound level difference people usually can detect). | ||
The gain of a good quality full-range audio amplifier will be essentially flat between 20 Hz to about 20 kHz (the range of normal human [[Hearing (sense)|hearing]]). In ultra-high-fidelity amplifier design, the amplifier's frequency response should extend considerably beyond this (one or more [[Octave (electronics)|octaves]] either side) and might have {{nowrap|−3 dB}} points < 10 Hz and > {{nowrap|65 kHz}}. Professional touring amplifiers often have input and/or output filtering to sharply limit frequency response beyond {{nowrap|20 Hz-20 kHz}}; too much of the amplifier's potential output power would otherwise be wasted on [[infrasonic]] and [[Ultrasound|ultrasonic]] frequencies, and the danger of AM [[radio interference]] would increase. Modern [[switching amplifier]]s need steep [[Low-pass filter|low pass filtering]] at the output to get rid of high-frequency switching noise and [[harmonic]]s. | The gain of a good quality full-range audio amplifier will be essentially flat between 20 Hz to about 20 kHz (the range of normal human [[Hearing (sense)|hearing]]). In ultra-high-fidelity amplifier design, the amplifier's frequency response should extend considerably beyond this (one or more [[Octave (electronics)|octaves]] either side) and might have {{nowrap|−3 dB}} points < 10 Hz and > {{nowrap|65 kHz}}. Professional touring amplifiers often have input and/or output filtering to sharply limit frequency response beyond {{nowrap|20 Hz-20 kHz}}; too much of the amplifier's potential output power would otherwise be wasted on [[infrasonic]] and [[Ultrasound|ultrasonic]] frequencies, and the danger of AM [[radio interference]] would increase. Modern [[switching amplifier]]s need steep [[Low-pass filter|low pass filtering]] at the output to get rid of high-frequency switching noise and [[harmonic]]s. | ||