Topic: Power output using different loudspeakers

[qguy]

Speaker A, 5 way, 15 inch subwoofer, 12 inch woofer, 8 inch midbass, 5 inch mids, 1 tweeters, 8 ohms, 86 dB
Speaker B, 5 inch Single driver, 8 ohms, 95 dB

If the volume of the tube amp is at 9 position for both loudspeakers, is the tube amp working harder when using Speaker A ?

I know the concept of sensitivity where every 3dB difference requires twice the power, so there is no need to include this in your response

[uvax]

No. Since both speakers are rated at 8 ohms they should be drawing roughly the same amount of power.

[alvinbaronsia]

i think it depends on which driver has the lowest ohm dip...

Do you have impedance measurements?

[meat_eater]

Depends on which speaker has a more linear impedance response. Assuming speaker A  has a roller coaster like dips and peaks, then A would be harder.

Now if A had a fairly benign load (like some Dynaudio), then A would be easier.

[jeff29jeff2002]

I agree with sir UVAX, the speaker impedance is what is being sensed by the amplifier as its load. The lower it is, the heavier load would it be for the amplifier.  The speaker draws the same power from the amplifier.

The sensitivity (db rating) represents another thing. It gives you an abstract picture of how a speaker produces sound pressure at a given power from the amplifier. The higher sensitivity (db rating) the higher sound pressure it will produce to speaker with a lower sensitivity rating at the same Power Output from the amplifier. In your situation, I would expect, Speaker B with 95db rating would produce more sound pressure than Speaker A at the same amplifier setting.

Unless, the real speaker impedance is not indicated, then the result would be different.

Just my theoretical expectations, let us know the actual result.

[JojoD818]

The answer to this relies on the impedance response graph of both speaker system.

This should go away after you had a few glasses of wine tho.

[qguy]

Bwahahahaha

This should go away after you had a few glasses of wine tho.

[tony]

power ratings in any amplifier is based on sine waves, after all there is no other way but to use sine waves....

but who listens to sine wave? no one..

so when listening to music, power ratings based on sine waves takes on another meaning, another dimension...

we have tested a 1000 watt power amp into an 8 ohm dummy load, but listening to real music on a real set of speakers, we could not push the amp to past 150 watts without hurting our ears....

so as long as you are able to get the spl you desire, there is no need to over think this...

[tony]

here is another take, a tube power amp to me seems to be more powerful subjectively than an comparable ss amp of the same power rating....but this is just me...

[tony]

I agree with sir UVAX, the speaker impedance is what is being sensed by the amplifier as its load. The lower it is, the heavier load would it be for the amplifier.  The speaker draws the same power from the amplifier.

The sensitivity (db rating) represents another thing. It gives you an abstract picture of how a speaker produces sound pressure at a given power from the amplifier. The higher sensitivity (db rating) the higher sound pressure it will produce to speaker with a lower sensitivity rating at the same Power Output from the amplifier. In your situation, I would expect, Speaker B with 95db rating would produce more sound pressure than Speaker A at the same amplifier setting.

Unless, the real speaker impedance is not indicated, then the result would be different.

Just my theoretical expectations, let us know the actual result.

i agree, it is not the power of the amp, but the demands of the speakers consistent with desired spl that determines what power is drawn from the amp...

[tony]

Speaker A, 5 way, 15 inch subwoofer, 12 inch woofer, 8 inch midbass, 5 inch mids, 1 tweeters, 8 ohms, 86 dB
Speaker B, 5 inch Single driver, 8 ohms, 95 dB

If the volume of the tube amp is at 9 position for both loudspeakers, is the tube amp working harder when using Speaker A ?

I know the concept of sensitivity where every 3dB difference requires twice the power, so there is no need to include this in your response

speaker B is the easier load...

[JojoD818]

Too many takes...

Just carefully choose a good bottle of wine and this will all go away my friend...

[tony]

that is the point jojod, just use them and enjoy the music.....cheers...

[JoeyGS]

Kampay! ..... and everybody happy!