I don't know about ya'll, but I am tired of some amps being rated "conservatively" and some being "way over-rated." Some companies rate there products at XXXX Watts rms at like 16V+. Most people are not going to run that much voltage so they get screwed. A lot of times the websites do not even post a voltage, they just say its "3000 WATTS RMS!!!!" It makes it hard on a person that is really trying to find the best deal on an excellent amplifier. This new rating system that I stumbled across is what I think the answer to this problem. I want ya'll to check it out and tell me what ya'll think.

http://jbl.com/car/support/AUTOMEDIA_CEA2006.pdf

 

Kewl! Bout time the standards returned to ' apples to apples. '

 

I've heard people scoff about the new standard and just didn't pay attention... reading that now I think I know why.. lol..

First problem is its voluntary... amp manufacures could already list specs to other standards that tell you the same stuff....

If I designed a standard for power output I would include:

Continuous RMS power and maximum RMS power into resistive and reactive loads (with specified test signal) at 12.5 & 14v (plus higher volatage if desired)

there.. thats like 6-9 pieces of info that will tell you everyhing about power output...

The change stating S/N ratio sounds pointless... as does the difference in compairing damping factor....

uhh, when was the last time someone saw a car amp with an output impedance approaching even 1ohm let alone 4...

I give the new rating a C-

[ October 05, 2004, 11:29 PM: Message edited by: Haunz ]

 

No doubt you are correct Huanz, there are definately some holes in it's design. The fact that it would be a standard for amplifier manufactures is the "pro" that I was aiming upon emphasising. If those things in which you have mentioned were fixed, or amended, the idea behind having a set standard is undoubtedly a good one.

 

An IHF reative load will emulate a voice coil... This is what many dynamic ratings are based on...

It gives a good picture of how stable the amp really is and what it can put out below nominal rated load....

 

I'm not %100 sure why resistive tests are used.. But its probably because its easier to do a continuous RMS test with a dummy load rather then a coil....

Not that continuous RMS output means a whole lot either (after all most of us dont use our amps to play test tones into resistors)

But its a spec I like to see... Its also the basic spec most reputable manufacurers seem to use...