Expert: Cleggsan - 11/3/2008

Question
Hi I was looking at the QSC RMX 850 and in the specs it said Voltage Gain 31.6x30db so what does that mean as far as power of sound level is concerned I'm new to this stuff and was courios.PS:is this a very powerful rating??Thanks:)

Answer
This is a professional amplifier and the voltage gain is important for the installer or system designer to know. It is a measure of the ratio of the output voltage divided by the input voltage; or the amplification.  For example, if the input voltage were 1v rms and the output it produced were 10 volts rms it would have a voltage amplification of 10.  This equates to a gain of 20 db.  Dbv is 20 times the log (to the base 10) or the output/input.

Voltage gain has nothing to do with power output.

QSC is mighty good stuff.  It is mostly used in professional applications such as high power PA, live music, dance halls, monitor amps in recording studios and the like.  And, yes, they have some following among high fidelity enthusiasts.

PS: The QSC RMX 850 produces 200w/channel into and 8 ohm load; 300w/channel into a 4 ohm load.

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