The difference between professional power amplifier and household power amplifier

'Professional power amplifier' is different from 'home power amplifier '( The same difference includes playback equipment, front-level system, speakers, etc) However, many audio industry practitioners do not really understand the essential difference between 'professional power amplifier' and power amplifier for home or entertainment. Today, Xiaoling collected some data and sorted it out, let's talk about some characteristics of 'professional power amplifier' that are different from home power amplifier, so that fans and practitioners who have just entered the audio industry have a basic understanding. I believe many audio lovers (Player-level fans) I have seen the electrical schematic diagram of professional power amplifier and household power amplifier. If only from the electrical schematic diagram, it seems that there is no obvious difference between professional power amplifier and household power amplifier. From the functional point of view, both are used to drive the speaker to play, which seems to be the same. Judging from the performance indicators, the basic performance indicators of professional power amplifier are similar to those of general household power amplifier. Although the characteristics of professional power amplifier and household power amplifier are very close or even the same from the surface of various 'naked eye' characteristics, we cannot deny what we cannot see with the naked eye, there are indeed many differences between professional power amplifier and household power amplifier. The most basic requirement of a professional power amplifier is to work continuously for a long time in a high power state, therefore, professional power amplifier requires large power margin, high reliability, small temperature rise at output stage and good circuit stability. To meet such requirements, amplifiers are different from home amplifiers in design, materials, and production. For example, the capacity of the professional power amplifier power supply is often based on the actual consumption of the amplifier, plus enough margin, so the actual capacity of the power supply part is much larger than that of the household power amplifier with the same nominal power. The high-power devices of professional power amplifier often choose specifications with higher maximum current and withstand voltage than the rated value, and the output-level radiators are also more inclined to adopt large exposed radiators or active heat dissipation methods, to facilitate heat dissipation and ensure low temperature rise during long-term work. If you look at professional power amplifier and household power amplifier with an additional output power of 500W × 2, you can clearly find that the radiator of professional power amplifier is much larger. This is because although the nominal rated output power of household power amplifier is 500 W, it often only works in the condition of smaller output power (The general average power is about 50 W). Only when the burst peak signal of some music is released can the output power of tens of Watts be reached in a short time. Therefore, the actual workload of the home power amplifier output level is very light. However, professional power amplifier with rated output power of 500W often reaches a critical state close to 'full power' in actual use, and the actual workload is heavier, therefore, the output stage of the heat is also very powerful, it is necessary to use a large radiator to ensure good heat dissipation. From the design requirements of amplifiers, home amplifiers are often used in quieter home environments, usually for music viewing and movie playback. Home HI- FIpower amplifier is more to put out the 'original sound' of music more realistically and requires that the level and details of music be restored. Therefore, home power amplifier requires higher fidelity of sound, and the sound is required to be soft, meticulous and pleasing to the ear. Professional power amplifier is often used for sound amplification in large areas and to drive professional sound box systems to play, thus requiring strong driving force, sufficient output power, clear sound and sufficient strength, from this point of view, the sound characteristics of the two are different. However, at present, some highly advanced professional power amplifier also pays more attention to the fidelity of playing sound. If it is matched with more advanced professional speakers, the sound of the release is also clear, too thin, and the sense of grade is also good. Of course, the premise of this requirement is high power and high stability. From the point of view of function setting, professional power amplifier often works with front-stage equipment such as mixer, so it is mostly pure rear-stage amplifiers. The setting of the professional amplifier is very simple, often only the power switch and the output level adjustment potentiometer on the panel (Or stepping attenuation). Because of the actual needs of professional power amplifier, it can often work in a two-channel stereo state or become a mono amplifier after 'bridging', so most professional power amplifier is equipped with a 'bridging' switch. However, there are many models of home power amplifier that are 'portable' amplifiers with front-stage amplifiers. This portable amplifier has many functions, there are often audio source trade-offs, boring controls, and various audio input interfaces. Judging from the working state of amplifiers, professional power amplifier will pay more attention to the 'efficiency' of amplifiers, so most of them are class AB, Class H and newly emerging class H amplifiers, with the development of switching power supply technology, some brands have also developed Very Good Class D power amplifier. Most household power amplifiers use class AB amplifiers, or 'highly biased class AB' amplifiers, or Class A amplifiers that basically do not consider 'efficiency, even some use dynamic bias 'super class A' amplifiers. From the point of view of output power, professional power amplifier often has a large output power, and a single output power can reach more than 1000W per channel. The rated output power of household power amplifier is mostly below 500 W. Based on the above information, we can see that professional power amplifier and home power amplifier are two different partial classes in the same class, although we don't have to specifically figure out whether a power amplifier is a professional power amplifier or a household power amplifier when purchasing power amplifier equipment, because smart businesses have honestly told us whether they are selling professional power amplifier or home power amplifier. However, as a lover or audio practitioner, these most basic knowledge points should be firmly mastered. Otherwise, how can I introduce products to customers in front of friends? !