What is the damping factor of an amplifier?

The damping factor of an amplifier is important for tight lows. So the higher the damping factor, the better? Well, kind of.
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[@floodfetter3530]

I find absolute pleasure listening to Hans provide us with his knowledge. I also completely accept my inability to understand all of the information. I listen and learn what I can, and Mr. Beekhuyzen makes it a very relaxing experience. Thanks for sharing with us Hans!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thank you sir

[@nakfan]

This is exactly the content that I like to see 👍 And Hans Beekhuyzen explains and illustrate things like no one else... A terrific video. Thanks a lot. BR, Per

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Great to hear!

[@gregoire8376]

I'm now clear why my high current amplifier works well with my low impedance Magnepan speakers. Hans told me: it delivers ship-loads (my Mom used to call it Boat-Loads) of current. Great video Thanks

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

My pleasure

[@kevinw.weiser9820]

Thank you Hans for sharing your knowledge in a way that is easy to understand. Very much appreciated! Hartelijk bedankt!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You are very welcome

[@danrey724]

Thank you for you explanation. I hope you are well!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I am!

[@jonwatchesnyc8777]

Thank you for such a clear post on a complex subject - so helpful!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You are so welcome!

[@roquesoprano913]

Congratulations Hans ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 50.000 in this especific moment you have exactly 50.000 subscribers ! Your job is very interesting and helpful ! THANK YOU SO MUCH !

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Wow, thank you

[@rickchanwk]

Simple illustration and explanation greatly benefit the great majority.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks

[@berylgreen1973]

Brilliant, Hans. Thank you.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏🏻

[@sayantanghosh3847]

Thank you sir for the video, I always wanted to learn the basics but in several documents found it complex. You described in a much simpler way, easy to understand, keep posting more, especially for audio products.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@draganjevremovic7200]

Perfect video done by a profesional. Made so an amateur like me can understand. Thank You !!!

[@presidentpotato222]

We love your videos ..

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏🏻

[@patrickmeylemans9627]

Driving a set 802d3 with a PrimaLuna (2 x37w) and I love it but you are 100% right the solid state I use with higher damping factor has more control over the lows. But sometimes the less control is nice, like with soft jazz..and specially at lower listening volumes.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

De gustibus non est disputandum (There is no accounting for taste)

[@yerrakrishna1699]

I respect your honesty and knowledge. . Thank you for sharing your knowledge. With love

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏

[@SwirlingDragonMist]

Brilliant insights!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thank you sir.

[@manardh7387]

Well done. Nice graphics.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thank you kindly!

[@jfbaquero]

Excellent explanation Hans, thanks! Greeting from Colombia.

[@leekumiega6576]

I second your comment as I learn more from his videos concerning audio than any other . Where Paul at PS audio gives simple explanations Hans gets much more technical which is what I prefer. And while Audioholics can get technical they can tend to bloviate .

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thank you both. Much appreciated.

[@ericharrelson2045]

Good one Hans.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks!

[@stanyduhayon6242]

you're simply the only best !!! you look very kind

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Wow, thank you!

[@afrancois1968]

Nice and informative video!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Glad you liked it!

[@andrewtaylor9799]

Helpful video. Thanks.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Tesseract9630]

Thanks for the clear explanation

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@unclesam5259]

Thank you! Great lecture!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You're very welcome!

[@10111175]

Great information! You sir, have my subscription

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Welcome aboard!

[@JosVerbovenBrainvoyager]

Hans, je bent een waar licht in de soms audiofiele duisternis!! Ik ben fan!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏

[@HighSEAL]

I love the video. I subscribed immediatelly to the channel. This is so nicely explained and purposefull. I stopped and am writing this on 4:23 of the video!! Well done sir!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Welcome aboard!

[@eliasroque2397]

i have several amps some with low DF and 2 with 200 and 400 DF respectively, they are all different of course, but when i switch ported speakers and closed speakers between them the differences are very noticeable, in general low DF amps like closed cabinets and high DF like ported, this is a personal experience made by the audio stuff that I have some years ago, but as far as audio is concerned, it's all very relative.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

.

[@Gem-Ex]

Great stuff.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks!

[@Fons53]

Hele goeie uitleg!!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏🏻

[@chochisnager]

Woow, muchas gracias por su experta explicación. Cuando yo estudiaba, me decían que menos de 200 era algo malo, y veo que nada más lejos de la realidad. Muchas gracias.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

El placer es mío, señor

[@thepickyaudiophile]

Nice one Hans. I have the Nautilus 805, do you know if they are also “difficult” loads?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Not as difficult as the 803's but they do need a powerful amplifier. The sensitivity is low (you need mare watts than on the average speaker for the same acoustic output).

[@ProjectOverseer]

Once again, perfectly explained, Hans. Thank you. This might explain why so many mid to high end Active systems sound better as control of the drive units is possibly more acute? btw, I could hear your woofer in the background 😅

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Yes, exactly

[@sayantanghosh3847]

I am planning to buy a pair of PSB Alpha P5 bookshelf speaker pair and a Yamaha R-N303 stereo amplifier. I need good bass response as well as clear mids and highs, hope PSB Alpha P5 is a good choice. Your video is very useful for guys like us, we need to learn in somewhat simple words.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have not reviewed the products you mention so I can't say.

[@sayantanghosh3847]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Okay. Just thought if you could a bit of insight as whether the combination would be okay for a casual but good stereo experience. I shall refer to CNet or other portals for a review on those Alpha P5's and R-N303. Thank you anyway for your response, waiting for your next video.

[@fuvat]

this is great explanation of how loudspeaker sounds. Now, I know loudspeakers magnetic movements generates electrical signal which effect amplifier output, and world will be better place for me :)

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheKhazar]

Hans, what do you think of Hegel amps that have damping factor of over 4000? (Like Hegel H190 for ex.). Thanks!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I haven’t reviewed the Hegel amps so I don’t have an opinion on them. As I said in the video, such a high damping factor as such doesn’t tell you if it’s a good sounding amp.

[@Tesseract9630]

Can you make more videos about headphones. Is it worth buying high impedance headphones.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I hate headphone listening so I am the wrong person to review them

[@Grrrr3FKAGrrrrGrrrrGrrrr]

Tight controlled bass seems to be something of an acquired taste. I have a friend who complains that my system must have something wrong with it (bass is a little dry, but clean and extended). When a mutual friend bought some new speakers with horrible box colouration, nothing below 45 Hz, and placed so as to cause slow booming honks, it was explained to me that this is "real bass". What can you say?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

there's a video on the subject coming soon.

[@tveasy5172]

You can use loudspeaker as a microphone

[@gene8933]

Hans would it be true the type of speaker would react differently to the amount of damping factor.Exsample horn loaded bass bin has hardly any cone movement a ported speeaker has large amount of movement. would a horn need less and ported more?or would it just depend on the impedence.but then again the encloser has a effect on the impeadence.nothing is ever simple is it!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Horn diaphragms might generate less voltage but since the sensitivity is far higher they are also driven by far lower.current.

[@toffe2ventil]

Whats your opinion of the Hegel Amps? They have very high damping factors, exceeding 4000 in some models..

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have no hand on experience with them.

[@toffe2ventil]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Ok, thanks for the answer Hans! Love your channel btw, you always do a good job! Greetings from Sweden

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks!

[@improbablehandle]

I haven't seen you use that oscilloscope on your desk before :-D

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I make videos for non technical viewers and will only show measurements when absolutely needed to get my point across.

[@willbrink]

Good vid. DP, like THD, and others, became a race / selling point and thus people lead to believe that 0.002% THD would sound better than 0.004% or a DP of 500 inferior to 100DP and so forth. He states a DP above 20 (!!!) has not added benefits.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I think I said that it is generally believed a DF >20 offers no benefits.

[@AkbarShirkhanloo]

Is powered speakers has damping factor?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

`Yes but since the built in amp takes care of that, it is of no consequence to you.

[@epi2045]

How significant is damping factor for a Magnepan speaker?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Never used Magnapans and never thought about it. Sorry.

[@epi2045]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you for responding regardless of not knowing the answer. You are a legend!

[@shangrilaladeda]

would there be a difference from 103db to 100db is there a big difference or no?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Well, it depends what dB's you are talking about. Watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJTMk6ipbZWaidE

[@shangrilaladeda]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Signal to Noise Ratio (below rated 1 kHz power at 8 ohms) 103 dB (A-weighted) vs Signal to Noise Ratio (below rated 1 kHz power at 8 ohms) 100 dB (A-weighted). this is the db ratings i was referring too i am kind of new to understanding audio.i will watch that video thank you

[@shangrilaladeda]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel okay I watched your video but I couldn’t find the answer to the question I asked, is there a big difference with the signal to noise ratio db ratings that I asked? Or there is no difference because I am thinking about getting an amp I would just like to know thank you for all of your experience and sharing of it

[@JerryRutten]

I miss some factors in the explanation which also have an impact on damping factor and electromagnetic damping. Loudspeaker cables and the crossover network. I think the biggest impact on the damping factor however is actually the voice coil resistance itself. Heating up the voice coil is also an extra impedance, lowers the damping factor and lowers the actual electromagnetic damping. The impact is huge (and also on passive crossovers). Suppose you have an amplifier with an extremely high damping factor, no cable resistance and no crossover. One degree Celsius (1ºC) temperature rise gives 0.4% extra resistance (depending on the material). That brings down the damping factor to 250. One degree. 10ºC brings down the damping factor to 25. 100ºC brings down the damping factor to 2.5. And at the maximum rated power and maximum temperature of the voice coil (depending on the driver): 200ºC brings down the damping factor to 1.25. 250ºC brings down the damping factor to 1 (at this point the resistance is doubled, and your passive crossover is one octave off). 300ºC brings down the damping factor to 0.83. I build and use a system with a total different strategy. As the electromagnetic damping is all over the place, I eliminated it all together. I use a power amplifier with a very high output impedance (a very low damping factor, essential a current source), so cables and voice coil temperature has no impact on the damping (frequency response, compression, etc). The actual damping is defined by EQ (Linkwitz transformation). As the damping, frequency response (and so on) are stable now I can very precisely control the frequency response of the driver. On top of that there is no thermal compression anymore (power compression), IM distortion is much lower (all the IM distortion by the inductance is eliminated) and there is much lower modulated noise (all the back-emf is eliminated). (SGR Audio has active loudspeakers, the Convex series, based on the same principle). In my opinion the damping factor is crucial for performance and stability of performance, the lower the damping factor the better 
 (an output impedance that’s at least 100 times higher than the nominal impedance of the loudspeaker/driver).

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

This video, like all my videos - is intended to give the lay man insight, not to compete with high schools. But thanks for sharing anyway.

[@JerryRutten]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I understand that it is for the lay man, but by leaving out some details, the conclusion becomes the opposite! The damping factor is crucial for performance and stability of performance, the LOWER the damping factor the better.

[@kaliprasadkandula20]

love from indian student

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

🙏🏻

[@d4dbeh]

You should absolutely never say the phrase: shitload ever again.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I did?

[@ChrisStares]

I thought it was "ship-load".

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Me too. See the close captioning