Re: Thoughts about amplifiers at 3/4 volume.
Okay - not to belabor the point, but I was thinking some more about the input sensitivity thing. Tell me if I'm completely off my rocker here.
My speakers have program rating of 3200w @ 4 ohms. amp is rated 4000w @ ohms per channel.
Sensitivity on the iTech displays as db reduction but of course translates to input voltage.
With less power available, am I not effectively turning a 4000w amp into a 2000w amp if the setting is adjusted to -3db from -0db?
My thinking is, with the sensitivity turned down (whether I go with -3db or something more conservative like -6 or even -10 db. the amp will clip earlier.
If proper gain structure is set using full bandwidth pink noise so I never see red, I won't run into clipping short of some sort of malfunction or major accident and thus my speakers will be seeing 2000w (with -3db set) which is 1.25x RMS, well within stated guidelines.
My trig skills are rusty, so I'm not sure how to figure out what decrease in db would result in a 800 reduction which is what I would really like. I read the bit posted in this thread in the opening paragraphs of the Shure publication about setting gain structure and it seems to me if my amp power is at program rating I still have a bout 3db of room for error based on following the procedure outlined. I've known about the recommendation of 1.5x to 2x over RMS for some time but didn't know the technical explanation why.
I guess bottom line is this... does turning down my input sensitivity in effect reduce the power input into the amp and thus reduce the power output by the amp? If it does then I think I am fine and maybe I just don't have my terminology down pat. Oh, and part 2 of that would be... does the iTech really reduce the input power by the number of watts one would expect as I've outlined (3b = 1/2 power or 2x depending on your point of view) which I borrowed from the explanation of speakers' sensitivity ratings where 2x the power = 3db increase in SPL.
Thanks for bearing with a relative noob.
