Vincent

I was wondering if there is a way to control the power delivered by an amp?

For example, if there is an amp capable of pushing out 100 watts RMS x 4, could you turn down the output power of that amp? Or do any amps have a feature that allows the user to do so?

I know this sounds like a stupid question, but I want to know.

elduderino

No.

DerrickM

Most amps have a gain control, which you could use to match the output level to another amp (say your sub amp to your main amp).

elduderino

But which does not control your wattage.

Dan Martin

Isn't this just a volume control? Alter the voltage or current and you alter wattage, no?

elduderino

Technically, it changes the level of signal voltage IN required to make a give voltage OUT. Hence the term "gain"...

An increase in signal power, voltage, or current by an amplifier, expressed as the ratio of output to input.

But the wattage of the amplifier, and the power it can put out, are defined by its construction, not that setting.

I guess the question should really be, why are you asking this question?

Dan Martin

He asked if there is a way to decrease the output of the amp. Decrease the input and the output will decrease.

elduderino

No, he did NOT ask about decreasing the output of an amp, Dan, he asked about decreasing the output power of an amp and gave an example of decreasing a 100W amp to some lower number.

If he had asked about making a speaker system QUIETER, of decreasing the acoustic output, then yeah, I wouldn't be answering this way, but I couldn't say that a 100W amp is a 0 watt amp just because you happen to have your mute button on your CD player : )

DerrickM

Vincent, what are you trying to do?