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Tube Amps Watts vs SS amp

Can someone explain is there is a difference between the watts of a tube amp vs vSS amp, Looking to get a tube amp ,but i see that the watts are much less than the SS amps, So how do these Tubes amps with 25 -70 - wpc drive these high end speakers, I have a vintage pair of AR 9s and 2 mcintosh MC2200 amps in mono (400 WPC) to drive these ,what tube amp will power these under 3-4k new or used, Thanks 
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seigen's avatar
seigen
52 posts
 
Tube W sound more powerful than SS W because tubes distort more and higher distortion will be perceived as higher loudness even if the measured SPL is the same.


markusthenaimnut's avatar
markusthenaimnut
371 posts
 
Oh my merciful heavens. Please read Roger Sanders excellent white paper on tubes vs solid state. He explains in language anyone can understand why tubes sound different than solid state. Much of what I have read on various fora in response to questions like you have posed is amassed in his white paper. Google his website Sanders sound systems.
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,177 posts
 
With tube amps it is not all about the advertised wpc, the transformers ,power supplies are the key and the quality .
i have seen a 18 watt parallel SET amp with great monolith transformers destroy a very respectable 100 watt SS amp 
by having big high headroom transformers  that makes all the 
difference in the world.
rudolfogrease
37 posts
 
Its a long road my man. With a thousand explanation your best bet is to try it both and be the judge of it. Realistically and no offense to anyone, even audiophile guys for years and years still bonds with buying new gadgets almost every 1/4 of a year. How do you explain that? My advise to you is make the most of what you feel is good to you. If you find your component singing to you, she is the one.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
"i have seen a 18 watt parallel SET amp with great monolith transformers destroy a very respectable 100 watt SS amp"

I have seen 12wpc tube amps destroy Krell KSA-250 Class A amps before they evaporated into the thin air and never seen again...still looking...
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