High Performance Audio Power Amplifiers

2

Overview of Global Requirements

2.1 Common formats for power amps

Audio power amplifiers are most commonly encountered in one of six formats, which exist to meet real requirements. In order of generally increasing complexity, these are:

1. A monoblock or single channel amplifier. Users are mostly audiophiles who require physical independence as well as implicit electrical isolation (cf.3); or else musicians needing clean, ‘mono’ instrument amplification (Figure 2.1).

Figure 2.1 The Otis Power Station, a monoblock all-purpose musician’s hi-fi, monitoring, PA and instrument amplifier, half-rack tu. The soft clip LED indicator is discussed ...