(1) A factor defined as the rated load divided by the amplifier output impedance.
(2) The ability of an amplifier to control the motion of a loudspeaker cone after a signal disappears, i.e., its ability to defeat the natural ringing tendency of the body (cone) in motion. An amplifier with a high damping factor looks more like a kind of short circuit to the speaker, reducing its vibration when the signal stops. The damping factor of an amplifier will vary with frequency, and sometimes a manufacturer will publish a curve of damping factor vs. frequency. The effect of high damping factors is most audible at low frequencies, where the primary resonance of the woofer cone, called hangover, is reduced in level.