Imhififan > Wolcott.
Blindjim > Thanks. Nice thoughts.
I thought they quit making these amps. I looked hard at it many years ago as a choice. I think then however, the cost was out of reach very likely as they seldom if ever appear on the used pages for sale.
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@stfoth > I often tell them not to overthink it and just order a decent Champagne, especially on a date or in a group. 95% idiot-proof.
Blindjim > thanks much. I tend to agree. I suspect this should be the ‘default’ answer for anyone who is either in doubt as to which way to upgrade, update, or just start a first audio build in terms of which amp to go with, keeping budgetary considerations in mind.
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@atmasphere > all amplifiers that are capable of acting as a voltage source are push-pull, and such amps (with rare exception) have distortion characteristics wherein the distortion actually **increases** below a certain minimum power level, typically about 5-7% of full power. So if you use a speaker that is too efficient for the amp, you will not be getting the best sound out of it.
Blindjim > thanks for the links and observations. outstanding.
Ralph, why do you have to make this affair harder,? Lol
First 5 – 7%? I’ll presume this initial area pertains directly to the scenario you presented, otherwise, isn’t the first 10 – 20% of a class AB amp where one finds Class A functionality, and many adore that area of operation.
As for Damping, referring to another article from a JBL rep I saw online written some time back, the idea of rated damping factors is nearly fantasy when viewed practically vs rated given so many factors can and do intervien altering the amps ability to actually perform damping.
I read another one from a different source but a likewise quite technically oriented soul which is more recent but collaterally confirms damping ratings as nearly superfluous when put to practice. IOW picking amps based on damping ratings is not a true key spec one should lean on too heavily or at all.
Atmas > The bottom line is that equipment matching is still very much with us and won't be going away anytime soon.
Blindjim > lovely. And after all that great technical data, it comes to that? Super. ;-))
Many thanks.
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@gdhal > anything that can be done to extend Class A amp longevity?
Blindjim > as was said, ventilation.
Better still…. control the ambient temperature better immediately about the amp. Make the joint sweater wearing listening, or place the amp into an area where its quite cold via a dedicated AC. Heat kills. Especially extensive, and extended applications of it. Also, running it only in advance of listening sessions seems a prudent course of action, and in the interim keep a signal passing thru it as no signal allows it/them to produce their excessive temps given the way they operate in signal vs no signal eff.
I mean, if a pair of class A mono is gonna run ya $20K to God knows K, maybe spending a grand or two for extra cooling aint’ such a bad idea.
It is also why I like and use the idea of placing amps into an area apart from the listening room and cooling that area independently, and use remote extenders for operation.
I simply used an adjacent room and used longer speaker cables.
Later, I enclosed off a section of the listening room so a space was allowed for everything to be in that walk in closet like area accessed by bi fold doors in the middle of a false wall.
In either case, AC cools things quite well.
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IMO The number one issue with any and all of this speculation, rhetoric, and suspense is due to the lack of proliferation of the products sought, and the likely bigger attribute deeply set into the being of the audio possessed psyche who constantly notices the grass is, or might be greener on the other side.
Often we can’t just waltz across town to listen to the apple of our eyes. Usually the ??? piece is far far away making it more a dream or fantasy than a real option.
Distance however, does not prevent one from thinking, or believing that logistically out of reach piece either ‘is’ or could be the solution!
The mind is a terrible thing!
The scenario changes drastically and becomes a real quagmire when this same fool (meaning ‘me’) decides he wants to reroute his path from the SS highway and take a more scenic glass powered state road byway instead.
‘to thine own self be true’.Nice to hear perhaps, lots harder to do. ‘Once bitten, twice shy’ comes to mind during that wrestling match with being true to myself. The shoulders which get pinned to the mat are always the ones appealing SS power. despite their simpler nature and how they can be amended, they keep losing the match.
Return bouts with SS vs Tubes are perpetuated ONLY from what is being noticed by way of a desired loudspeaker’s demands for I/E from the amp. Either in reality, or in my head.
One example that keeps turning in my head is a user account of a particular speaker and how they decided that seemingly, watts alone made the speaker perform best.
This account said on pages right her that it worked well with 300wpc. Then better with 400, much better with 500 and then its very best with 600wpc!!
Along that way, nothing was said of the better build of each amp used in that trek. Merely an annotation of the power level, or available power itself was given the ‘spotlight’. I’ve found as have many here, when an amp retials for $60K vs an amp that retials for $6K, there is usually some disparity in the quality of the sound iself, not merely their possible power outputs.
Regardless, the note on power alone keeps revolving saying look to more power… and maybe quality too. But power first!
Its very disconcerting.
Throw in the fact many amps will indeed power what ever speaker, albeit to what ever degree of efficiency or optimization, and the apparent formulae for amp selection gets twisted and convoluted a bit more.
Wanna make the selection process still more difficult? Up the ante on the purchase prices. A lot. A whole lot. To the point where you’re actually playing with, or about to play with scared money.
For the uninitiated scared money is a gambling term. It means you should not be playing in that game if you’re using the mortgage, rent or child support funding, or simply can’t afford to lose the bet. Or such a cost puts you way out of your comfort zone. This is why ya need to know the players more than the cards most of the time and one of the ideas behind this thread.
Mapman said it and so has Atmas. Despite the actual values, specs, and ratings, synergy seems to claim numerous avenues which end up at its doorstep. Synergy, like beauty is in the ear of the listener.
I will whenever possible opt for the item whose quality I perceive is greater, if the electrical compatibility needs are even close. If I can swing it financially. Even if it hurts a little at first. Even for a while. When possible.
In the end, this is all about perception, which is indeed reality, then the sound, not the optimization is key. Argue it any way possible and it always comes out the same way.
I believe with all due considerations, a set of quality amps running a set of quality speakers will yield an ‘as’ commensurate presentation.
My hat is in the ring of best sounding amp, over that of the reputed ‘right’ electrically matched amp within reason, of course for one simply can not ignore outright, the factors amps and speaker marriages need for compatibility..
