2. amps-preamps
  3. 1031023566

Do I need more power?

I recently got a rogue audio tempest magnum to go with my audio physic sparks. It has a great sound, but starts to break up a bit if i turn the volume way up. The integrated amp only has 60 watts. Do I need something else with more power? Ive thought of getting a preamp, but that seems like a waste given that this is an integrated. Should I look to trade this in and start with something totally different? Should I go for separates? Get a different integrated with more power? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks a lot.
rhharris
blkadr
739 posts
 
The latest Sparks present a 4ohm load, in which case you may be clipping your amp. Maybe your thread title should mention the Sparks. You may alert other Spark owners and get advice from their experience.
sean
6,231 posts
 
Blkadr, thanks for throwing that bit of info into the fire. I was not aware of that aspect of their system and that might come into play. Since he has a "Magnum", which is supposed to be one of their "premium" models, i would assume that it should be able to drive a 5" woofer in a reasonably sized room to good listening levels. As such, I assumed that the little woofer would give out before the amp did. Sean
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elevick
2,636 posts
 
GET A SUB!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will need to go to at least 120 watts of tubepower to notice a difference and most mini monitors can not handle that much. Also, according the owner of Janis (premium sub builder), by removing all signal below 100hz, you effectively quadruple your ouput power since bass is so power hungry. Go to Circuit City, buy a velodyne with high pass in and out. See if that does the trick. If so, return the sub and find a better deal on line!
rhharris OP
5 posts
 
Hi, I'm not an expert on this, so I'm not totally sure why I understand the significance of the ohm-age. What's meant by "clipping your amp." Please 'splain?

(Also, someone just told me that 60 watts is just not enough power. Is that right?)
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
You wrote: "...(it) starts to break up a bit if I turn the volume way up." With a smallish speaker and a low-medium powered tube integrated amplifier, this is what is to be expected. You say the set-up has "great sound", which is most of what we are all aiming for, and I am glad for you. But this sort of rig is not meant for - and is not what one should get for - playing at REALLY LOUD volumes. It's just not going to be able to do it. The only things I would suggest you check (or have checked) to make sure everything's right is the output tube biasing (and the condition/age of those tubes if you didn't buy it new), and that the output transformer taps are 4-ohm rated. But again, since you think it sounds fine at normal volumes, my guess is that it's working as intended.

P.S. - "Clipping" just means the same thing as "breaking up"; it refers to the waveform getting squared-off at the top and bottom as amplitude surpasses the amp's ability to drive the load cleanly, producing obvious distortion products as a result.
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