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Myth: low-power high-efficiency

The past 6 - 8 months I have been living with very efficient speakers (~ 109dB/m/w) driven by low-power SET amps. The amps use 300B output tubes for about 7 wpc. On paper, this should be a match made in heaven. In fact, the combination is capable of wonderful nuance, subtley, harmonic richness, and tonality. It is really pleasing, especially on chamber and jazz music. Except for one thing - dynamic energy. I am not referring to loudness. It can deliver more undistorted volume than I care to listen to. I'm referring to immediacy, presence, power, and punch - the life of the music. If you go to the symphony, or live blues, than you know what I am talking about. Next week I'm taking delivery of a 90wpc PP amp, to audition in place of the SET. I need an amp that can maintain the purity of tone and harmonic texture of the SET, while delivering more power, to grab hold and take control the 15" bass driver in my horns.

I searched the archives, but have not found a similar post. Are there any other high-efficiency low-power people who moved to a higher power amp? Are you satisfied now?

Scott
skushino
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,377 posts
 
Scott-

I came to the exact conclusion you have, and feel the same about the energy and life of music comming from dynamics. I have moved from low power tube amps and horns to high power solid state and dynamic speakers, and it's in the area of dynamics where things improve the most. Horns are supposed to excel at dynamics, but I hear more with the other setup. I never did try any big power with the horns, maybe that would have been a lot more to my liking.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Size matters :-)
lacee
811 posts
 
I heard the Druids driven by a Cary 300B integrated and was not prepared for the disappointing sound. On paper and from what I had read this should have been a great match but not to my ears. It sounded lifeless ,no snap, and nowhere near the level of pleasure I get from systems that are not the present darlings of the press.
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
Scott,
As you you know from our conversations, I know exactly what you mean. While I love the intimacy conveyed from our 4W SET amp/104dB speaker setup--and will not give that up--when I switch over to the 200W SS amp that we use with the same speakers, there is a presence in the dynamics that comes with the increased power. Our 50W triode amps exhibited the same kind of baseline density and ability to respond to musical transitions that eludes the low watt SET's that I've heard. Still, I think it's all about what you want in a system, or perhaps more about the kind of mood that you're in.

As Terry Cain (of Cain & Cain speakers) says so well:
No one amp will keep a man happy long term. You need a young, firm perhaps not too articulate one you can swing from the ceiling with. And you always need a detailed and refined lower power one, the one you will never ever sell. This amp carves out the essence of tone and artistic intent, but cannot satisfy animal musical behavoir due to power limitation. With music, you cannot have too much fun. Don't let the amps get in the way. If amp -A- is complaining or not keeping up with your musical energy, just grab another and keep swinging.
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