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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
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
To my understanding the high-power and high-efficiency isn't a successfull combo.
Higher powered amplifier may deliver a noise that would be non-negligable through high-efficiency speakers.
owl's avatar
owl
139 posts
 
Scott

Intriguing development, please keep us informed of what you find. Very curious which PP amp have you decided to go with? I also second the idea of having multiple amps available to drop into the system. I've found that to be one way around the conundrum.
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,555 posts
 
Higher powered amplifier may deliver a noise that would be non-negligable through high-efficiency speakers.
We have a 200W McIntosh SS amp running with 104dB Klipschorns, and even with a tube preamp we get no noise at all. In other words, it works beautifully.

Happy, but open to experimentation.
Are we still talking audio here, Dean?
sns
4,014 posts
 
As someone stated earlier, it may depend on the tube. Try out an 845 tube. Talk about presence, immediacy, punch, life, etc. My Art Audio Carissa Signature is leagues above my prior Conrad Johnson and Cary monoblocks pp's in this regard, and this is with lower efficiency (88db) speakers!
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Boa2,
Do you have dedicated power line?
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