Dämpfungsfaktor

Dämpfungsfaktor is a technical term commonly used in audio engineering and electronics. It refers to a measure of the ability of an amplifier to control the movement of a loudspeaker's cone, particularly at low frequencies. Essentially, it quantifies how well the amplifier can "stop" the speaker cone from vibrating after the audio signal has ended.

A higher Dämpfungsfaktor indicates a lower output impedance from the amplifier relative to the loudspeaker's impedance. This lower impedance allows the amplifier to exert greater control over the speaker cone, leading to a more precise and accurate reproduction of the sound. It helps to prevent unwanted resonances and ringing in the speaker's response, resulting in a tighter bass and clearer overall sound.

The Dämpfungsfaktor is typically calculated by dividing the nominal impedance of the loudspeaker by the output impedance of the amplifier. For example, if a loudspeaker has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms and the amplifier has an output impedance of 0.1 ohms, the Dämpfungsfaktor would be 80. While historically, very high Dämpfungsfaktoren were considered crucial, modern amplifier designs often achieve excellent control with more moderate values. The perceived benefit of extremely high Dämpfungsfaktoren can be subjective and dependent on the specific audio system and listening environment.