Would an amp with these specs drive K1000s?

[archosman]

Power of output = 12 W per channel

Frequency response = 20 - 20 kHz -/+ 1.5 dB

THD = < 1%

S/N = >85 dB

Input Impedance = 100 K Ohm

Output Impedance for speakers = 4 Ohm or 8 Ohm

Voltage of Power = 110 volt (60/50 Hz)

Anyone?

 

[darkclouds]

Surely, with power to spare. The only question would be, how do they sound? As to which speaker output to use, just try them and see what you like better, doesn't damage anything. I've tried everything from 4 ohms up to 16ohms.

 

[archosman]

I've noticed they seem to sound better being driven from speaker leads than from my RKV

 

[mkmelt]

Not necessarily. You need to know how much power the amplifier can deliver into a headphone load of 120 ohms, not a speaker load of 4 or 8 ohms. For the AKG K1000 phones you need between 3 and 10 watts of power @120 ohms. Most low to medium power solid state amplifiers that are designed for maximum power at 4 or 8 ohms are unable to provide the needed peak to peak voltage for delivering significant power into a high impedance load. Assuming the amplifier can deliver between just 0.3 and 1 watt @ 120 ohms, this is 1/10th the power needed to drive these phones to realistic levels and the output will be about half the volume needed for satisfying listening.

 

[darkclouds]

I doubt there's a speaker amp out there that can't drive the K1000 to volume. My ASL 8 watt into 8 ohms can blow your ears off with the K1000.

 

[mkmelt]

The reason your 8 watt per channel ASL amplifier is capable of driving the AKG K1000 phones to full output, while other low to medium powered amplifiers are less capable, is related to the ASL amplifier being tube based and not solid state. Tube amplifiers tend to excel at being able to provide the larger peak to peak voltages needed to deliver this level of power (3~10 watts) into a high impedance load (120 ohms). Tube amplifiers run out of current delivery capability long before they run out of voltage capability. For solid state amplifiers optimized for 4 or 8 ohm speaker loads, just the opposite is often true.

From Ohm's law: V = I * R (where V is voltage, I is current in amperes, and R is resistance in ohms), P (Power in watts) = V * I

Power can also be expressed as P = (V^2)/R ( The voltage squared divided by the resistance.)

Example: 1 watt = 2.83 volts ^2 / 8 ohms

For an impedance of 120 ohms, for 1 watt, the voltage needed is:

V = SQUARE ROOT(1 * 120), and V = 10.95 volts

For 3 watts, V = SQRT (3 *120), V = 18.97 volts

For 10 watts, V = SQRT (10 * 120), V = 34.64 volts

A solid state amplifier designed for speaker loads of 4 or 8 ohms that can provide a peak to peak voltage swing of 10.95 volts is capable of:

P = 10.95 volts ^2 / 8 ohms, P = 14.98 watts (15 watts @ 8 ohms).

A solid state amplifier that can provide a peak to peak voltage swing of 18.97 volts is capable of:

P = 18.97 volts ^2 / 8 ohms, P = 44.98 watts (45 watts @ 8 ohms).

A solid state amplifier that can provide a peak to peak voltage swing of 34.64 volts is capable of:

P = 34.64 volts ^2 / 8 ohms, P = 149.99 watts (150 watts @ 8 ohms).

A solid state amplifier rated at 100 watts @ 8 ohms needs to be able to provide a voltage swing of 28.28 volts. At 120 ohms this is the equivalent of being able to deliver 6.66 watts. So an amplifier rated at 100 watts for use with speakers can drive the AKG K1000 phones with a decent amount of power, but one rated less than about 45 watts may not be capable of delivering enough power at the higher 120 ohm impedance.

The 12 watt per channel amplifier that started this discussion is only rated for that amount of power at 4 or 8 ohms. At the 120 ohm impedance of the AKG K1000 phones, the available power will likely be less than 1 watt.

V = SQRT(12 watt * 8 ohms), V= 9.79 volts.

At 120 ohms, P = 9.79 ^ 2 / 120, P = 0.79 watt.

Even if the available peak to peak voltage was a bit higher, say 10.95 volts, the available power would still be just 1 watt.

 

[Anders]

1 Watt at 120 ohm is fine. AKG specifies max input power as 1000 mW = 1 W. And that is about 15 W at 8 ohm.

AKG K 1000 Specification

 

[mkmelt]

The 1000 mw max spec is for a test signal, so you don't overheat the voice coils and burn out the drivers. For music, figure on needing an additional 3, 6, or 9db of headroom. That would be 2, 4, or 8 watts of peak power before clipping.

 

[Anders]

Amps are usually specified in a similar way (continuous output, both channels simultaneously etc) and also have peak power.

 

[archosman]

Here's the Dared VP-16 intergrated amp I got

It wasn't that expensive so I figured what the heck. Little did I know it did this...

... at night!

About the only complaint I have is wish I had the option of turning off the blue led. So far so good.

 

[cosmopragma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by archosman Here's the Dared VP-16 intergrated amp I got It wasn't that expensive so I figured what the heck. Little did I know it did this... ... at night! About the only complaint I have is wish I had the option of turning off the blue led. So far so good.

Besides the look, how does it sound through the K1000?

 

[archosman]

Pretty good! I've been so busy at work I haven't even taken it home yet. Here are more specs. I'd take it apart and shoot some pics but I'm a little leary of shocking myself...

2005 Brand New Dared VP-16 Vacuum Tube Integrated amplifier by DARED Electronics Co. LTD. This is a pure vacuum tube amplifier. This amp is North America version, which uses 110 Volts only. Dared builds very high quality amps. This beautiful amp uses classic design utilized with two Chinese military version 6SL7 (metal based) tubes for preamp and drive stages, and with four Chinese military version 6V6GT (black glass) tubes for output stage. It produces superb sound at 12 Watts per channel with push-pull operation. Three line inputs and 8 Ohm or 4 Ohm speaker output. The 6V6GT and 6SL7 are long-time favor of most audiophiles.

The frame uses all aluminum alloys (chrome), and the side panels are solid wood. Gold plated RCA and speaker jackets. It uses high quality transformers and optimal designed board. three improvements are made for this 2005 new model:

1.The coupling capacitors are "Auricap" capacitors, USA made (world finest capacitor, click to see), and
2.The signal wires are pure silver (shield).
3.Large gold speaker binding posts (shield) (best you can get).
4. Stepped attenuator volume control.

(sorry the pictures do not show these)

So, you do not need to pay extra $150 for mods, this new model comes with these as standard. All wires of point-to-point, point-to-board, and path on the board are optimized to be shortest possible. It has good transient response and produces precisely details and very accurate sound. This one blows most $1000-amps out of the water! If you have been listening a solid-state Amp and never had listened a Tube amp before, try this one, I am sure you will like the excellent tube sonic characteristic of this amp and you may never go back to your solid-state amp. This is brand new and sealed in original box (all tubes, manual, and power cable are included in the original box). This amp will glow neon blue in dark from a single LED at frame base. It just glows beautifully in the dark.

The VP-16 uses 6V6GT power tubes, unlike VP-10 use EL84 tubes. Many audiophiles love the classic 6V6GT tube sound. Plus, VP-16 use 6SL7 as preamp and drive stage, the sound of this amp is very impressive! Although both VP-16 and VP-10 output about 12 watts per channel, I personally prefer 6V6 than EL84 tubes. Note: a great review on May issue of 2003 Stereophile Magzine (p.27 - 29) for Dared VP-10 amp. Read the review article, you will love the amps. I am sure you will love VP-16 too after listen to this one!