DrCassette's Workshop - RMS output power - measuring, analyzing - TDA2052 amp chip

In this video we measure the RMS output power of a TDA2052 amplifier chip and take a look at the data sheet to see if the reality meets the theory.
What a long title! If you have a better idea, please post it in a comment :)

[@briant333]

Very good and detailed vid. This proves it always pays to read the datasheets carefully when designing amplifiers and other circuits.

[@FPapiSalOC]

I like that Creative 52X cdrom brings back memories.

[@EzeeLinux]

Great video. Wattage ratings on amps are so vague these days... There's a movement in tube amps to go back to the accurate measurements for RMS and use high efficiency speakers instead of pumping 100's of watts into complicated crossover networks that suck up a lot of the actual ppower. I say it's about damn time, too. :)

[@DrCassette]

Of course people buying tube based amplifiers are knowledgeable enough to know that these units can never ever put out 1500 watts or whatever. The average consumer doesn't know anything about that, he just looks at the number and chooses the highest one. What surprised me a lot is the fact that even data sheets, documentation the average consumer never gets to see, now include such fantasy values. A total waste of time, because the engineer designing an amplifier will find out about it all eventually anyway...

[@EzeeLinux]

DrCassette The whole world of audio is full of people who actually believe their own BS. Just pick up any of the trade magazines and read a few articles and you'll see what I''m talking about. It has gotten to the point where I just think it's funny and I read this stuff and laugh. :)

[@DrCassette]

Joe Collins I used to read Audio / HiFi magazines for a few years, I know what you are talking about. Eventually I got sick of all the bla bla, when they fell in love with an amplifier or whatever that so absolutely clearly had quality issues, was badly designed etc. I haven't read any of those magazines in years. I do know that the chief editor of one was fired at some point because people just quit reading the magazine because it was all just high end voodoo :P

[@fridayscout3303]

Some concepts are not quite correct: 1) The Stand-by function (and also the Mute function) in this IC is not completely useless. It may be useless to you on the bench, but for battery operated products the standby function can reduce idle power consumption and hence battery life. And the mute function is also essential for reducing the power-on pop-sound. 2) The maximum current for TDA2052 is now 6 Amps, much higher than 3 Amp of TDA2030A or even 5 Amp of TDA2050. That means this IC can drive better low impendence loads. That is the major advance. 3) The music power measurement standard is not invented by Chinese, and audio products from US, Japan and many other countries are quoting music power or PMPO, I have many Japan audio products quoting PMPO, especially back in the 80's or 90's, during their hay days. So why only "preferably Chinese" is highlighted are "doing it" in your video? What are you implying? Is that some kind of stereotype? 4) The "cheap alligator clip wires" may be having 0.68Ω is just unbelievably high or I will say many cheap things should be better than that. I guess it is pure bad luck to have these cables.

[@poolio333]

cool video,electronic myth busters.

[@SaderStel]

Great video, just a little tip for next time to be more precise, when you make measurements like that keep in mind when you load any passive power supply voltage will drop, so with 1A there I bet was that few volt drop that got you 16W and not 17W :P In those data things they always give you measurements in exact voltage no matter the load. Still you got great results, thanks for a nice video ^.=.^

[@umajunkcollector]

16 gauge speaker wire is usually more than adequate. But for a good sub at 100+ watts, 12 ga is necessary if less than ten meters length..

[@umajunkcollector]

So looks to be a nice little 30 Watt stereo amplifier, that you can run all day long at about 10-30 watts. That's plenty of power. Many of those sub woofer amps are way over rated. 30 watts RMS is pretty loud. (unless you're in an auditorium). I often judge an amp by the size of the power supply in it.

[@nickcollins7568]

Excellent video. Well explained. I would take all stated power outputs with a degree of disbelief. I wish manufactures would take a more honest approach. They don't fool me.

[@BenHelweg]

I do see that the supply voltage can take up to 26v, so I guess you'd get a bit more out of t by running closer to that?

[@DrCassette]

Correct, more supply voltage results in higher output power, however this is limited by the IC's power dissipation abilities.

[@dealio82]

Agree many manufacturers put a lot of bull shit on the datasheet....when u have a closer look then u can really see what the chip really can do... why can't they be like last time TRUTHFUL about the chips capability

[@TheVintage99]

That standby mode could be used instead of a speaker relay.

[@DrCassette]

No. The purpose of the speaker relay is to keep the speakers turned off while the amplifier stabilizes from the power-on process. Also, speaker relais usually are part of a speaker protection circuit, if something goes wrong, they shut off. You better don't expect those chips to go into standby mode when they are just in the process of blowing up ;)

[@TheVintage99]

Of course it's better to use relay, I just meant to avoid that bang noise when you turn it on.

[@DrCassette]

TheVintage99 Still wrong. The bang noise is caused by the power-on process. You will get the bang also when powering up fom standby.

[@anirbannaskar7665]

Please try uploading a video on STK amplifiers too! :)

[@DrCassette]

Anirban Naskar The STK type hybrid amplifiers are considerably more complicated to built. So I don't think that's going to happen...

[@emolatur]

+DrCassette The datasheets for some of them do include an example circuit, which I've seen applied in a couple of commercial products. They're somewhat DIY-friendly in that sense at least.

[@DrCassette]

emolatur I know those circuits. That's why I know that they are more complicated to build. More external components are required.

[@fer40466]

falta la prueba de audio?????????????????

[@DrCassette]

If you want a reply, write in English.

[@DrCassette]

+GTI1dasOriginal Don't worry, I know how to use the Google translator. The point is, now we both have wasted our time because of the laziness of the person above.

[@internationalsc]

Hi DrCassette. check out this homemade 8ohm dummy load for audio amps. Built with a water heater element. Interesting. High Power 8 Ohm Dummy Load For Audio Amplifiers

[@OneRoomShed]

Nicely done. Years ago I remember seeing a car amp that was rated at 800 watts RMS. That's what it said on the box. I laughed at the guy because I saw the amp only had a 5 amp fuse. China made crapola.