Is this 1W power amp louder than the 5W amp?

[markbr]

Hiya, I have two power amps with me:



1) TDA7052: 1W, gain is 39dB at 6V

2) TDA7056A: 5W, gain is 35.5dB at 6V



Both specifications are for 8ohm loads. Im a little confused because the 1W amp has a higher voltage gain.



Which one would sound louder from the speaker? (im using a 3" 10W speaker)



Thanks.

[d95err]

The gain has very little to do with the loudness of the output. Output power is what you need to look at.

Gain is used to bring the input signal up to the level required for the speaker signal. If the input signal is extremely low, then of course the chip may not be able to deliver full power.

[Enzo]

Power and loudness do not directly correspond, just as horsepower in a car.

Which would be faster, a vehicle with a 400 horsepower engine or one with a 150 horsepower engine? Before you say the 400hp one, maybe I should tell you the 150hp motor is in a little Porsche sports car, and the 400hp motor is in a delivery truck from a furniture store. Still think the higher power is faster?

Plug your guitar into the front of a 100 watt screaming amp like a 5150 or some Marshall. Crank it up. Deafening, and probably feeding back more than you can handle. Now plug your guitar directly into the input jack of a 1500 watt PA system power amp. Probably not as loud.

Voltage gain in a power amp is more about the sensitivity of the amp than loudness - how much signal input does it take to max out the amp.

[markbr]

Im still unsure, both power amps are from the same manufacturer. So I should chose the 5W power amp then? Am i right?

[Steve Conner]

Assuming your goal is to get maximum volume, yes, you should choose the 5 watt one, and put 3.5 + 10 log(5/1) = 10.5dB more gain ahead of it.

That's 3.5dB because of the difference in gain, plus 7dB because 5 watts is 7dB more than 1 watt.

The smaller amp might have more gain, but it won't give much more than 1 watt, no matter what input signal you stuff into it. The bigger one can give 5 watts if you just feed it more, so it'll ultimately be louder.

[markbr]

Thanks a lot, i think i understand it better now.

[Jazz P Bass]

Amplifier IC wattage

The output IC wattage rating is contingent on the circuit it is inserted in.
Of coarse there is a maximum rating for each IC.
It really depends on the power supply & the circuit topolgy.