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Amp Meet Two - The Results

These are the results of the power and performance test conducted on the 7th April 2010 at the second Amplifier Meet in Peckham, London.

All power measurements are Maximum continuous output power in RMS watts* per channel, two channels driven to the threshold of clipping at 40 Hz, 1 kHz, and 10 kHz, and at loads of 8 ohm, 4 ohm and 2 ohm unless otherwise stated in the notes. Bridge power ratings are CALCULATED based on the amplifier's performance into 4R and 2R loads. 8R Bridge = 2 × 4R per channel; 4R Bridge = 2 × 2R Per channel. Inclusion of a calculated bridge rating does not necessarily mean the amp is bridgeable - PKN and Powersoft for example. "Continuous" means 5 seconds or greater - this ensured that the amplifiers were not damaged by the testing, and meant a sensible number of amplifiers could be tested in the alotted time. "Burst" (<100ms) ratings were not measured.

THD+N = Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise and is a measure of the purity of the amplifier output as well as its noise level. It was measured at the maximum power output at various frequencies and load impedances. Anything below 1% is fine, below 0.1% is better. Obscure results sometimes appear because of distortion cancellation mechanisms.

Some amplifiers were not measured at 2R because they may have been damaged by the test. Exclusion of a 2R measurement does not mean the amplifier will not withstand 2R LOUDSPEAKER loading. Sine testing into a dummy load is considerably more demanding of an amplifier.

All tests were carried out using a Bruel & Kjaer 1023 Sine wave oscillator, HP8903A Audio distortion analyser, an HP3456A true-RMS digital voltmeter, a 8/4/2R Resistive dummy load, and a Tektronix TDS210 Digital Realtime Oscilloscope.

All amplifiers were fed from the same supply, adapted according to the mains plug fitted. 32A, 16A and 13A was available.

The mains voltage was not measured on the day. This fact has caused considerable debate on internet forums and may account for the fact that some manufacturers' amplifiers performed below their stated specification. Despite the central London location of the test, the mains voltage may have been lower than normal which can affect the maximum power obtainable from an amplifier, especially toroidal and non-PFC SMPS amplifiers. We implemented mains-voltage measurements at amp meet three. We would welcome the opportunity to repeat these tests in a more tightly controlled environment in our lab. Please get in touch with us if you would like to send us an amplifier to test.

In no particular order:

Manufacturer Model Freq 8 Ohm Performance 4 Ohm Performance 2 Ohm Performance 8R Bridge Watts (Calc) 4R Bridge Watts (Calc)
Notes
Watts THD+N Watts THD+N Watts THD+N
Labgruppen COPY FP10000Q 40 Hz 1282 0.18% 1968 0.25% 880   3937 1761
Severe oscillation on top half of waveform at 2R. Amplifier buggered at 2R 40Hz. Inadequate protection. 4 channel amp, two channels driven
1 kHz                
10 kHz                
Crown IT8000 40 Hz 1006 0.90% 492 1.00%     984  
Thermal Limit at 40Hz 4R. Amplifier protecting itself against too much mains current draw. 1kHz 4R power should be considered a burst rating.
1 kHz 2026 0.12% 3930 0.15%     7860  
10 kHz 2411 0.70% 2467 0.90%     4934  
QSC PL236 40 Hz 737 0.07% 1133 0.13%     2266  
Filters Disabled, remained cold
1 kHz 744 0.16% 1239 0.40%     2479  
10 kHz 755 0.60% 1172 0.90%     2345  
QSC MX3000A 40 Hz 820 0.07% 1273 0.10%     2547  
Amp remained cold throughout
1 kHz 788 0.07% 1263 0.30%     2526  
10 kHz 726 0.07% 1172 0.09%     2345  
MC2 E25 40 Hz 603   1075       2151  
One channel Faulty, ONE CHANNEL DRIVEN. Severe crossover distortion at 10K, possible fault on working channel. Unable to measure THD because of floating grounded output.
1 kHz 603   1001       2002  
10 kHz 586   1013       2026  
MC2 E45 40 Hz 900   1511   2912   3022 5824
ONE CHANNEL DRIVEN at 2R. Unable to measure THD because of floating grounded output
1 kHz 921   1515   2772   3029 5544
10 kHz 744   1308   2469   2616 4937
Void Inf 7 Mk 1 40 Hz 952 0.30% 1451 0.50%     2903  
Not tested at 10kHz because the amp probably wouldn't have survived it.
1 kHz 952 0.50% 1526 0.80%     3052  
10 kHz                
Void Inf 8 Mk 2 40 Hz 1234 0.10% 2099 0.14%     4198  
Powered from 32A Cee-Form. Peak draw according to front panel ammeter was 47A
1 kHz 1234 0.13% 2099 0.28% 2608   4198 5215
10 kHz 1234 0.30%            
Labgruppen LAB4000 40 Hz 1140 0.10% 1273 0.08%     2547  
9 years old - csg asked me to note this
1 kHz 1186 0.40% 1172 0.05% 824 0.06% 2345 1648
10 kHz 1094 0.40% 1169 0.40%     2338  
MC2 Turbosound 1250 40 Hz 668 0.11% 1169 0.10% 1148 0.18% 2338 2296
Bad high frequency artefacts when clipping at 10kHz.
1 kHz 599 0.05% 1085 0.08% 1139 0.22% 2170 2277
10 kHz 611 0.05% 1104 0.20% 1034 0.50% 2208 2068
Peavey PV2600 40 Hz 586 0.05% 923 0.80%     1846  
Excellent clipping and limiting behaviour
1 kHz 558 0.04% 923 0.60% 1263 0.70% 1846 2526
10 kHz 563 0.09% 818 0.09%     1636  
Matrix 2U Matrix Short (Unlabeled) 40 Hz 213 0.10% 269 0.20%     538  
Amp remained cold throughout
1 kHz 205 0.09% 285 0.25%     570  
10 kHz 195 0.20% 283 0.50%     567  
Matrix 2U Matrix Long (Unlabeled) 40 Hz 433 0.10% 772 0.20%     1543  
Amp remained cold throughout
1 kHz 476 0.50% 782 0.60%     1565  
10 kHz 433 0.20% 703 0.30%     1407  
Matrix 1U Short (Unlabeled) 40 Hz 230 0.20% 318 0.30%     637  
1 kHz 221 0.20% 312 0.30%     623  
10 kHz 211 0.10% 295 0.19%     589  
Matrix XP3000 Toroidal 40 Hz 824 0.11% 1159 0.23% 1205 0.60% 2318 2410
1 kHz 763 0.10% 1120 0.22% 1333 0.60% 2240 2665
10 kHz 755 0.80% 944 1.60%     1887  
Matrix Vector 350 Toroidal 40 Hz 101 0.10% 107 0.20%     213  
1 kHz 89 0.13% 113 0.22%     225  
10 kHz 89 0.50% 95 0.70%     190  
Matrix XP5000 Switched Mode 40 Hz 915 0.80% 1069 1.60%     2138  
One channel driven at 2R due to power supply over-temperature issues. Limited power due to limiter action, which, even though disengaged, caused limiting at 4R
1 kHz 888 0.70% 1140 2.00% 1547 1.10% 2279 3094
10 kHz 860 1.20% 1082 2.70%     2163  
Matrix XP5000 Switched Mode, sample 2 40 Hz 946 1.20% 1393 2.10%     2786  
Both Channels Driven 2R - earlier version without power supply over temperature protection. Compare 2R figure above
1 kHz 820 1.20% 1354 2.00% 1097 3.00% 2708 2194
10 kHz 854 1.20% 1219 2.10%     2438  
Crown XTI4000 40 Hz 680 0.30% 1019 0.30%     2038  
DSP system disabled. 180 degree phase shift between input and output at 10kHz due to ADC/DAC anti-aliasing filters
1 kHz 689 0.12% 854 0.24%     1708  
10 kHz 594 0.50% 914 0.26%     1829  
QSC PLX3402 40 Hz 757 0.10% 1156 0.50%     2312  
Good clipping and limiting behaviour
1 kHz 748 0.13% 1222 0.20%     2445  
10 kHz 707 0.05% 1216 0.20%     2431  
Labgruppen LAB1000 40 Hz 430 0.50% 686 1.00%     1371  
Not switched-mode
1 kHz 403 0.30% 656 0.30%     1311  
10 kHz 399 0.30% 651 0.50%     1302  
Labgruppen LAB1200C 40 Hz 339 0.05% 641 0.50%     1282  
Excellent clipping and limiting behaviour
1 kHz 340 0.04% 617 0.06%     1234  
10 kHz 338 0.06% 617 0.30%     1234  
Labgruppen LAB1600 40 Hz 412 0.40% 756 0.17%     1511  
Excellent clipping and limiting behaviour
1 kHz 405 0.60% 756 0.40%     1511  
10 kHz 413 1.10% 703 0.14%     1407  

* "RMS Watts" is technically an incorrect term: see http://www.epanorama.net/documents/audio/amplifier_power.html



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