200 to 300 wpc amp revised question


i forgot to mention in my previous question that the reason for leaving the threshold s200 at 100 wpc is that I purchased von schweikerts vr4. although i haven't even hooked them up to the threshold yet, i was told they would need 200wpc, actually in an email from von schweikert himself.
dpm2340
How often will you be listening to your system at levels that will be using 200 wpc? In my experience there are very few times that an amp is forced to work hard.

To say that the speaker has to have a 200wpc amp is plain stupid. Unless you are using this set up in a bar, most of the time you will be doing well to be pushing 50 wpc.

Under powering a speaker is generally more problematic than over-powering it. But the Threshold amp is not a poor quality low powered amp. I really can't forsee a problem mating those two pieces of gear. Von Schweikert might make a good speaker, but he gives questionable advice on powering those speakers.
I'm not familiar with these speakers but if they are current hungry the Threshold will do just fine. Don't forget that doubling the power only buys you an extra 3 dB.
I agree with the last two posters! As long as your speakers don't dip to 1 ohm and known to melt down bruiser amplifiers you will be ok. I would rather have an amplifier that gets the first few watts right. Most of us that haven't destroyed our hearing already with steady 90 db plus listening can be very happy with a 100 wpc amplifier that has decent current. The faster your amplifier can change to the needs of the music and demands of your speakers..the better it will sound. Just having an amplifier that claims tons of wattage doesn't guarantee this.

Just as an example you can take a 100 wpc digital amplifier and a 200 wpc typical analog bruiser of the same quality. The digital amplifier can be from 10 to 20 times faster in responding to the changes in the music. These are generalizations but hearing is believing!

Happy Listening!
If you're listening at levels that may cause clipping then 200 wpc is a good idea. It's better to have more than you need. I'm a firm believer in having more than I need and at present my 200wpc amp is adequate. I often listen at levels with peaks hitting mid 90's at my listening position which is about 10 feet from the speakers. The speakers sensitivity is 90db at one watt. You can easily draw 200wpc listening at loud levels when the bass is strong. More drivers are blown by not enough power is another reason.