High Current Monoblocks

I think Spectron amps are switching and provide high current - is this correct? I know nothing about their sound.

But I want to throw out a general question about high current. I've always judged this solely by how wattage changes with speaker impedence. The closer the amp comes to doubling its power when impedence is halved, the better it is at not being current restricted. An amp that doubled its power with half the impedence would not be current limited, and should be a great candidate.

Are there other measures of how well an amp can deliver current while playing music? What are they?

Thanks, Peter

I would stay with something from ARC. There 'is' such a thing as synergy in a system. It's rarely achieved mixing multiple brands together. ARC spends a lot of time tweaking there designs by listening to them with other componets from there own line of product designs. Call ARC and ask their oppinion. Leonard usually handles those types of calls and is a 'straight shooter'.

Peter_s...The "Double down" criteria is a good test of a decent power supply.
Another criteria which might be more appropriate for music is "headroom". I think this word describes the ability to deliver an undistorted waveform when the peak (brief duration) voltage is well above what the amp can deliver continuously. In practice this would mean high "rail" voltages that will "sag" if a correspondingly high output voltage is required continuously. Don't like that "sag"? No problem. Just give me another $1000 for a bigger power supply,and more output transistors, but if you don't listen to continuous ear-splitting sine waves it will gain you nothing (except audiophile bragging rights).

Here's a good explanation of "high-current" (see the "best answer" at the top of this page). As I understand it, it basically means that the amp has a whole lot of idle power immediately available on tap when it is needed (as in Class A designs - read HOT). The KWA I use, as some other designs, are Class A for the the first 'X' watts and then A/B for those after. Still, it runs pretty dam hot in high-bias (around 140 degrees F). Sound is outstanding though.

Dodgealum - thanks for that clarification. I'm surprised that Lou likes the Parasounds - I've only heard those amps sounding mighty cold and sterile to my ears...never heard them with his speakers though. I've not heard the Claytons at all. Indeed, the KWA does run hot and is large. I've had the Bel Canto Ref. 1000's for a while and enjoyed them (original version), but after living with them for many months I ended up going back to tubes for the added level of presence they offered. I heard the new Ref's at CES and they sounded great there but cannot recall the speakers they were using and obviously could not compare to anything directly. Another amp I liked a whole lot is the Ayre V5Xe, which deserves consideration, it is a bit smaller than the KWA and does run cooler as I recall. Never compared the two head-to-head so couldn't comment, but enjoyed both very much. Good luck - nice speakers!

I would add the Tube Research Labs Samson monoblocks to the list you are considering. These amps are not as small as the Nuforce, Claytons, or Channel Islands amps, but they are smaller and lighter than many of the Class A behemoths such as Plinius and Pass Labs. I have an ordinary rack, and they fit comfortably in it, albeit not side by side. They run absolutely cool to the touch, and the sound is utterly astonishing--to say they have "serious control of the bottom end while being musically correct" is an understatement.

Grannyring wrote an outstanding review on these amps that I recommend and agree with. Needless to say, I'm deliriously happy with mine.

Good luck in your search!