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Graham Slee Power Amplifier

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote morris_minor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Feb 2016 at 9:07pm
Welcome to the forum, Dave!

Graham's posts are always interesting, and it's great to see the development process "up close". The posts about what was to become the Accession phono stage were made into a series of blog posts, which make for very interesting reading Wink.
Bob

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Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V
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2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote BAK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jan 2020 at 5:47pm
Originally posted by BAK BAK wrote:

Efficiency is more important than power handling for sound quality.
It is a matter of physics.
Every time a quantity of energy is transformed from one energy form to another there is a loss of energy. The loss can be quantified by measuring the efficiency of the transformation.
With a lower efficiency transformation, less of the original information from the energy source is reproduced in the end result.
 This amounts to less of the original sound energy is reproduced in lower efficiency speakers.

The dissertation below will prove that any quality-built amplifier (like the Proprius) with greater than 20 watts rms power output is sufficient enough to drive speakers available today with very pleasing results.

 (By quality-built I mean: one that has enough current and voltage "headroom" designed-in, wide enough frequency response to not hinder delicate or powerfull sound passages, and extremely low distortion measurements at loud and quiet sound levels.)

A little-known fact is:
 In old-school electronics,
less than 1 watt rms = low power,
from 1 watt to 10 watts = medium power,
greater than 10 watts rms = HIGH POWER...(100 watts rms is extra high but was not mentioned in the reference)

This rating scheme came from early radio days.
 It was found that less than 1 watt rms was all that was needed for "personal" listening; with  headphones or a pocket radio.
 1 watt to 10 watts was needed to fill the average room with sound as with a table radio (most were between 1.5 and 5 watts).
 Greater than 10 watts rms was only needed to fill large rooms.

Average commercial speaker sensitivity today is about 85 dB @ 1 watt rms measured @ 1 meter, in short form...85 dB @ 1 w/1m. That means that you get 85 dB at 1 watt when measured with a sound pressure measurement instrument with a calibrated microphone from a distance of 1 meter directly in front of the speaker, in the center of the speaker's radiating pattern...or straight in front.

 The below is a way to approximate decibel levels.
Note: An increase in Acoustic power (dBw) is ... 10 Decibels = 10 x log of 10watts / 1watts.

Now with acoustic power you add 10 dB for every multiple of 10 watts rms... or each time you multiply the power by 10.
 If with 1 watt you get 85 dB,
 then at 10 watts you get 95 dB,
 at 100 watts you will get 105 dB!
Again with acoustic power you add 3 dB for every multiple of 2
watts rms... or each time you multiply the power by 2.
 If with 1 watt you get 85 dB,
 then at 2 watts you get 88 db (+3 dB),
 at 4 watts you get 91 dB (+3 dB),
  and at 8 watts you get 94 dB (+3 dB),

 from above, at 10 watts you get 95 dB,
 then at 20 watts you get 98 dB (+3 dB).

If you have an 8 ohm speaker capable of producing 95 dB @ 1w/1m,
 you will get 105 dB @ 10 watts / 1m,
 and then 108 dB @ 20 watts / 1m,
 and about 110 dB @ 26 watts / 1m (Proprius power @ 8 ohms),
 and 115 dB @ 100 watts / 1m.

You see from above that, if you have a higher efficiency speaker, you will get more sound measured in decibels at any
acoustic power level than you will from a lower efficiency speaker.
You will also be able to drive the higher efficiency speaker with less power to get the same amount of sound!

This is why professional sound systems use very high efficiency speaker drivers.

 Good to repeat.

Bruce
AT-14SA, Pickering XV-15, Hana EL, Technics SL-1600MK2, Lautus, Majestic DAC, Technics SH-8055 spectrum analyzer, Eminence Beta8A custom cabs; Proprius & Reflex M or C, Enjoy Life your way!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote brubacca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 2021 at 6:25pm
i'm amazed how big a small wattage amp can sound.  Although buying speakers on the high 80s efficiency can go a long way as well. I have pairs of speakers rated at 85dB and 83dB and they need some gas to get going.
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Charlie
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sylvain Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Mar 2021 at 3:43pm
Yes I concur with much of above. Proprius power BW 89db in a 4X5metre room admirably and energy to spare .....but Power is not everything but useful to be developed in Transient dynamics ........  25 Watts into 8 Ohm and Focal go down to 3 ohm at phase periods and Proprius generate over 45 Watts .....Yes and also you have two Units one attached for each Speaker ......and no waste no long cable impedance etc.. Very Neat design and very satisfactory performance in a lounge setting with 89 to 91DB speakers 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shashirao Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Feb 2023 at 4:10am
Anyone experienced the Proprius with Magnepan speakers? I am looking at pairing the Proprius with either Magnepan LRS+ or Magnepan 1.7i speakers.

If not, here are the specifications for the speakers - any thoughts?

LRS+ Specifications
Description2-Way/Quasi Ribbon
Freq. Resp.50 - 20 kHz
Rec PowerRead Frequently Asked Questions
Sensitivity86dB / 500Hz / 2.83v
Impedance4 Ohm


1.7 Specifications

Description3-Way, Full-Range, Quasi-Ribbon
Freq. Resp.40-24 kHz
Rec PowerRead Frequently Asked Questions
Sensitivity86dB/500Hz /2.83v
Impedance4 Ohm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (2) Thanks(2)   Quote Graham Slee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Feb 2023 at 5:40am
I didn't expect to see 2.83V in the sensitivity spec.

2.83V is used to develop 1 watt into 8 ohms. It's the square root of 8.

You'd use 2V for 4 ohm speakers. 2 x 2 = 4, and 4/4 = 1 watt.

Or the harder way: 2V/4 ohms = 0.5A, and 0.5A x 2V = 1 watt.

So, let's try 2.83 x 2.83 (rounded) = 8, and 8/4 = 2 watts.

Or the harder way: 2.83/4 = 0.707A, and 0.707A x 2.83V = 2 watts.

So, the sensitivity is quoted for 2 watts instead of the conventional 1 watt, hmm...

That means the sensitivity quoted as 86dB, is twice the power as for 1 watt. And twice in power is 3dB.

So the real sensitivity for 1 watt is 83dB.

The Proprius will drive them, no problem.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ernie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jun 2023 at 9:22am
So 4ohms (3.2 minimum) 88db will be no problem either? Just a bit weary of 4 ohm speakers full stop. The specs do say amps from 15 to 250watts. Looking to have a listen to some Kef R7 Meta speakers. Anybody tried them?
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