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Can tube amps play loudly?

Hello Gentlemen,

I'm in process of upgrading my current system. It's all junk...Onkyo receiver, Wharfedale speakers, etc. I've finally finished grad school and have decided it's high-time to upgrade to a quality two-channel system.

I've heard tube amps in various settings and love the way they sound. I'm strongly considering starting with one of the modified Cayins on the market (Bizzy Bee or PrimaLuna versions).

I’ll preface my question by noting that I am a total tube “newbie,” and I’m sure my question will speak volumes about my relative youthfulness. Here goes: Can tube amplifiers in this modest price range play loudly?

I realize this is dependent on the speakers and their sensitivities. What I'm looking for here is a relative ballpark estimate. There are so many good speakers on the market that I don't even know what to start looking at seriously. If I could weed some out based on their sensitivities, that would help me out a lot.

So, does anyone have any rough decibel ratings for tube amps similar to the Cayin? If so, what sensitivity are your speakers? I do realize that decibel ratings vary widely depending on amp power, speaker type, distance, etc. All I want is a rough estimate.

Any thoughts from anyone would be appreciated. I’d like to be able to narrow down my speaker choices before I start shopping seriously, because I don’t want to waste my time or a dealer’s. Plus, I’d like to know whether I can even achieve respectable volumes with tube amps on my modest budget.

Thanks!
-Chris
cds9000
slappy
903 posts
 
The DB level all depends on how much power you feed the speakers, and how efficient the speakers are.

For every 3 db increase you must double the power to some speakers. So if you want to use a lower-powered tube amp you will want some high effeciency speakers.

Here is an example, lets say the Tube amp pumps out 30wpc

If you get some speakers that have a sensitivity of 87db@1meter then...
87db @ 1w
90db @ 2w
93db @ 4w
96db @ 8w
99db @ 16w
102db @32w

So, you can get about 100-101db at 1 meter with 30w on 87db speakers. Thats a pretty decent amount of volume, but you wont be tearing down the walls.

there are always other factors to include, too many for me to even scratch the surface, but if yer looking at a tube amp it helps to go with some speakers at least 90db effeciency.

I could totally be wrong though on my math, but imn pretty suure you have to double power for every 3db increase in output
rockvirgo
587 posts
 
Tube amp distortion is easier on the ear, so the power ratings on tube gear are sometimes quoted at higher percentage distortion levels than they are for solid state. Compare carefully among tube gear brands.

Some of the most respected musical instrument amplifiers are tubed and they get plenty loud. The best ones distort richly, sweetly and beautifully.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
All guitar players prefere tube amps since they could scream louder than SS ones so do your figures...
mejames
986 posts
 
ok guess slappy didn't ditch math class too much. Hey slappy you got a speeding ticket yet in your new ride?
cds9000 OP
22 posts
 
Thanks for the help, guys. Slappy, I appreciate your detailed explanation. Those sorts of volume levels would be completely acceptable to me. In fact, I'm surprised I could get that kind of volume with relatively un-sensitive speakers.

-Chris
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