Rock Out in Style with a Power Amplifier
Power amplifier technology has changed significantly over the years, so getting the right one is critical to producing enhanced sound. However, some vintage models, such as those offered by Harman Kardon, offer similar capabilities and a real old-timey feel.
How Much Power Do I Need?
This is one of the most important specs to consider. It will determine the capabilities of your audio system and will impact sound quality.
- Power is measured in watts (W).
- For a small jazz club or auditorium, 250 to 750W produces a strong enough sound; rock music in larger venues requires 1000 to 3000W; and to give you an idea, large arenas use audio systems of with 10,000W capacity.
- Peak watts refer to the amplifier's maximum output. Continuous or RMS Watts are considered the average amplifier output.
- It's important to give yourself headroom. This means buying an amp with capacity beyond your minimum.
How Much Resistance Do I Want?
Protecting your Harman Kardon amplifier means matching power and resistance.
- Resistance is also called impedance, and it's measured in ohms. Fewer ohms mean less impedance and less resistance.
- You must match impedance output with what your speakers can handle. If speakers are rated for 4 ohms and your amplifier puts out 8, this will overload the amplifier and can cause burn out.
- Your amp will divide output across speakers. So if the amp is rated for 1500W at 4 ohms and each of your two speakers are rated for 4 ohms, each speaker will receive 750W.
How Many Channels Should I Get?
Different amps offer multiple channels. Here are some key considerations on how many you may want.
- Mono amps offer one channel, stereo amps offer two, and multi-channel amps offer more than two, usually four.
- Stereo and multi-channel are the most common, as they give you more options.
- Know the difference between stereo, bridged, and parallel modes. Stereo allows you to send different signals to two different speakers. Parallel mode means you can send one input signal to more than one speaker. And bridged mode lets you combine inputs and broadcast them over multiple speakers, thereby increasing their amplification.
What Should I Look for When I Go Vintage?
Vintage amps use tubes and produce different audio quality.
- Older amps use tubes instead of solid state circuit boards. They are often referred to as tube amps.
- Tubes help deliver a rounder sound, improving the audio quality, but they are less forgiving with speaker mismatches.
- Solid state circuits are now far cheaper, meaning many vintage models will be more expensive.