amplifier damping factor???

[04xterra]

what does this number mean on the specs. th damping factor???? is better to have it high or low???

[splzx3]

i would guess lower but im not 100% sure

[dB Don]

I was gonna go into a huge explanation but I found Wikipedia has it in easy to understand wording.

"Damping factor describes the ability of the amplifier to control unintended movement of the speaker cone near the resonant frequency of the driver. Other things being equal, a high damping factor indicates that an amplifier will have greater control over the movement of the driver cone, particularly in the bass region near the resonant frequency of the driver."

I would also like to add that the more you load the amp down like 4,2,1 ohm the lower you go the less effective damping you will have. So naturally the bass will be tighter if you run the rated load to the amp rather than load it down to get more power from it.

[toaster]

To add to what Don is saying, usually when you drop impedance your damping factor drops at a rate of 1:1. In other words, if you have a df of 400 @ 4 ohms, then at 2 ohms it halves to 200, and so on. Damping factor has pretty much been thrown out the window with the d type amplifiers and low impedance loads. However, many audiophiles still run ab amplifiers @ 4 or even 8 ohm loads to take advantage of the highest damping factor available. It DOES make a difference.

[newls1]

the old school usamps amplifiers had VERY high DF's......if I remember right, something close to 1000 I think

[dugee81]

does this count towards situations like 4 ohms bridged? or is it affected?

[Guest]

so if the DF is low, the woofer/speaker will move more erratically?

[04xterra]

I was gonna go into a huge explanation but I found Wikipedia has it in easy to understand wording.

"Damping factor describes the ability of the amplifier to control unintended movement of the speaker cone near the resonant frequency of the driver. Other things being equal, a high damping factor indicates that an amplifier will have greater control over the movement of the driver cone, particularly in the bass region near the resonant frequency of the driver."

I would also like to add that the more you load the amp down like 4,2,1 ohm the lower you go the less effective damping you will have. So naturally the bass will be tighter if you run the rated load to the amp rather than load it down to get more power from it.

wow interesting, thanks.... so a high df number will always be better then.. got it thank you