2ch vs 1ch RMS power ratings -indicate what?

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Read 3137 times.

SoundGame

2ch vs 1ch RMS power ratings -indicate what?
« on: 4 May 2012, 01:24 am »
In coming across and reading an older article on a Bryston 4B NRB reviewed and tested by Stereophile, I noticed that there was a difference between the maximum continuous output ratings between 1ch and 2ch. 

Normally, this would seem to be logical, as it should be easier for an amplier's power supply to drive a single channel then stereo.  But if the transformer and power supply is optimized to ensure that sufficient power is always available to the output devices to allow them to operate at their maximum continuous levels, then shouldn't there be minimal difference between the 1ch vs. 2ch maxiumum continuous output ratings?

In other words, if a given transformer/power supply can provide all the power the output devices can use - then if 1ch is driven to its maximum output then would not 2ch just multiply that output by 2, exactly?  In other words, should not an optimal design ensure that the output devices would never lack power supply up to their maximum output tolerances?


mv038856

Re: 2ch vs 1ch RMS power ratings -indicate what?
« Reply #1 on: 4 May 2012, 09:58 am »
I can't really follow your reasoning, but since all Brystons except for the zone amplifiers are at least dual-mono setups, i.e. every channel has its own power supply, one would not expect a difference between a single or all channels being driven.

Maybe the line voltage dropped when both channels were driven that day...  8)

Cheers!

Markus

SoundGame

Re: 2ch vs 1ch RMS power ratings -indicate what?
« Reply #2 on: 4 May 2012, 12:52 pm »
Sorry - I went back to look at the figures again.  They actually were very good.  The variance between the 1ch vs. 2ch output was only about 10%, which I would interpret to be a very stable power supply and as you mentioned mv038856, rail voltage.

That test in Stereophile was on a 4B-ST, and I'm sure the SST2 series are even more stable.