BasX Power Output - Which specs do I trust?

[bryanr]

I recently bought the BasX A3 (love it!). I am slightly confused of what the actual power specs are for this unit as the numbers don't match between the paper manual included with my unit and what's available online:

Per the physical BasX Power Amplifier User Manual:
Power Output (ALL channels driven):
150 watts RMS per channel; 20 Hz – 20 kHz; THD < 0.05%; into 8 Ohms.
Power Output (two channels driven):
175 watts RMS per channel; 20 Hz – 20 kHz; THD < 0.05% into 8 Ohms.

Per the online specifications:
Power Output (ALL channels driven):
140 watts RMS per channel; 20 Hz – 20 kHz; THD < 0.1%; into 8 Ohms.
200 watts RMS per channel; 1 kHz; THD < 1%; into 4 Ohms.
Power Output (two channels driven):
150 watts RMS per channel; into 8 Ohms.
250 watts RMS per channel; into 4 Ohms.

I'm suspecting the online numbers are correct and the manual is out of the date. Or would there some type of difference in units/measurement that I'm missing which is causing the difference in watts for 8 Ohms?

[Boomzilla]

Hi bryanr -

You're probably right about the online numbers being correct. That said, I don't think it really matters. The maximum output difference of 10WPC channel @ 8 Ohms really won't be audible. Keep in mind that your average listening level is less than one Watt (fact). Even if you're listening loudly, you're at less than 10 Watts. If you were doing a live rock concert or powering a stadium, the max output numbers would matter. For ANY home use - actually not. So don't worry, be happy!

Cordially - Boomzilla

[bryanr]

Thanks for the input. Not so much worried as must curious. I'm one of those that like to look over the manual and specs...and just wondered how the discrepancies came about. They A3 did make a huge difference on some older speakers I recently picked up at a garage sale (Athena Technologies Audition Series AS-F2) where my Yamaha TSR-700 (RX-V6A) didn't seem to be able to drive them well even in two-channel listening.

[Boomzilla]

Yes, Emotiva got to where they are today on the strength and value of their amplifiers. I love the looks of Yamaha, their sound, not so much...

[leonski]

For power to make a difference? The Usual rule of thumb is 2x. Double the power is an increase of potentially 3db. Or 1/2 the power is Minus 3db.
10db? That's a big diff and also happens to be 10x the power.

As it turns out? some amps are better into some speakers than others. But most HT speakers are moderate in this aspect so That doesnt' matter much......

WAit until the Upgrade bug hits! THAN you'll be sorry!

The difference between 'online' and 'manual' specs are not worth worry.....

[AudioHTIT]

Jun 7, 2022 15:41:18 GMT -5 bryanr said:

Thanks for the input. Not so much worried as must curious. I'm one of those that like to look over the manual and specs...and just wondered how the discrepancies came about. …

I think it’s worth pursuing, not so much because it makes a difference in your listening, but inconsistencies like that are … unprofessional, and should be corrected. Hopefully one of the Emotiva staff will notice this and put in for a fix at the next opportunity. An eMail to [e-mail] pointing out the discrepancy wouldn’t hurt either.

P.S. Welcome to the Lounge!

[KeithL]

1.

The paper manuals are printed in BIG batches - and so sometimes get out of date.

You will also notice that, as with most paper manuals, they are "subject to change due to product updates".

We're NOT going to kill a bunch more trees just to change one number.

2.

The website specs are always the most up-to-date since they can be updated "dynamically".

(Although, of course, there could conceivably occasionally be errors.)

3.

The PDF versions of the manuals, which are available for downloads, are SOMETIMES revised...

And, if so, you may be able to download an updated version of the PDF.

(There is usually a version or revision number somewhere near the bottom of one of the back pages.)

4.

It's also worth noting that sometimes numbers are just stated a bit differently...

(For example the same measurement may show "140 watts at 0.05% and 150 watts at 0.1%"... )

And sometimes the same graph can be interpreted a little differently depending on how you squint at it...

(We may literally be talking about the width of a line on a graph here.)

And sometimes the specs on a certain model will actually change a tiny bit over time or in different production runs.

And different units, even in the same batch, will be slightly different.

Or the same exact unit may even test slightly different on different days.

5.

To be fair the differences here are so slight that you really shouldn't worry much about them anyway.

There are other things that are FAR more important... and you can't read them all from a few numbers.

There are lots of things you can measure... and many you can't... and nobody publishes more than a few of the ones that are easy to measure.

The most important thing is how it sounds.

Jun 7, 2022 11:12:00 GMT -5 bryanr said:

I recently bought the BasX A3 (love it!). I am slightly confused of what the actual power specs are for this unit as the numbers don't match between the paper manual included with my unit and what's available online:

Per the physical BasX Power Amplifier User Manual:
Power Output (ALL channels driven):
150 watts RMS per channel; 20 Hz – 20 kHz; THD < 0.05%; into 8 Ohms.
Power Output (two channels driven):
175 watts RMS per channel; 20 Hz – 20 kHz; THD < 0.05% into 8 Ohms.

Per the online specifications:
Power Output (ALL channels driven):
140 watts RMS per channel; 20 Hz – 20 kHz; THD < 0.1%; into 8 Ohms.
200 watts RMS per channel; 1 kHz; THD < 1%; into 4 Ohms.
Power Output (two channels driven):
150 watts RMS per channel; into 8 Ohms.
250 watts RMS per channel; into 4 Ohms.

I'm suspecting the online numbers are correct and the manual is out of the date. Or would there some type of difference in units/measurement that I'm missing which is causing the difference in watts for 8 Ohms?

[leonski]

An example?
I bought a new camera. It came with Revision 1.01 of the firmware.
Online manual was correct for that version.

But? Fast Forward a couple years? Up to Revision 3.4 and the book (my PDF copy) is WAY off the mark on those things
which were substantially altered in firmware with updated function and capability.....

I'll look to see if the ONLINE copy has been updated and download / replace if so......