2. amps-preamps
  3. 127902-82864

low power tube amp

I am purchasing some new speakers. The manufacturer recommends 40w-200w for the speakers.

I am using a low power 20wpc Class A SET amp.  I worry that the low wattage may damage the speakers.

Is my concern valid?  I heard tube amp wattage is not the same as solid state.  Can someone clarify?

thanks in advance
128x128klee123
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,203 posts
 
Soft clipping tube amp is less likely to damage speakers when clipping. 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Cymbop,
Your 38 watt amplifier is able to do what it does no doubt based on high quality power supply design and transformers. Another (lesser quality) 38 watt amplifier could fail miserably with these same speakers. As you said, hook them up and just listen.
Charles
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Klee123,
A minor correction the KT 88 is a tetrode/pentode not a DHT (directly heated triode) so it would be a (SEP) single ended pentode )rather than a SET (single ended triode. Regardless,  if it is of good design, built and implementation it will sound very good. Good luck to you.
Charles
cymbop
315 posts
 
Charles,

You’d be hard-pressed to find a lesser-quality tube amp than mine!* It retailed new for a thousand bucks, with a pair of monitor speakers bundled for free.

That said, it is an over-achieving little beast. :-)

*Perhaps this sentence has never been written before on Audiogon. ;-)


charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi Cymbop.
Quality can be had for reasonable cost as your amplifier demonstrates. It couldn’t handle your speakers if it lacked good solid design and parts. High quality parts don’t always have to imply expensive. For me the true test of quality is actual performance as opposed to price tag. 
Charles
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