Why not horns?

"Perhaps we equate loudness with distortion and respond by playing louder when the distortion is absent." - Macrojack

I've found this to be absolutely true in my own experience. Even with dynamic drivers. These days I've have to be conscious of the volume from time to time to make sure I'm not going overboard.

P.S. can someone show me where to figure out how to quote others in this thread properly. Instead of cut and paste. Thanks!!

Prdprez & Herman,

I'm not particularly familiar with the BAT solid state amplifiers, but if indeed the only relevant difference between configurations that offer, for example, 300W into 8 ohms and 150W into 8 ohms is that output circuits are paralleled, then my guess is as follows:

I would guess that both configurations are either designed with the same internal voltage rails and output voltage swing capability, or are designed such that those parameters can be easily selected internally between two values corresponding to the two configurations. In the lower powered (non-paralleled) configuration, the 150W rating (which represents continuous MAXIMUM power delivery into 8 ohms, at a specified distortion level) is limited by either current capability or by heat dissipation considerations, or both.

In that situation, paralleling the output circuits would double the continuous MAXIMUM power rating. However, the amount of power delivered into a given load, for a given input signal and gain, would be identical for both amplifiers as long as the voltage, current, power, and thermal limits of the lower powered amp are not exceeded.

Regards,
-- Al

Macrojack, you've got a lot of nerve. You asked why not horns? We answered because horns have a characteristic sound that we don't care for. You asked for specifics. We provided them. You periodically bring up the same complaints that our responses aren't helpful. Well "thems the answers". You dismiss our responses as being ignorant. Well in as much as we might not have the same exact experiences and responses as you, you don't have the same experiences and responses as us. We are no more ignorant than you. You expect us to research the writings of your one and only guru, unfortunately, as you seem to be attached at the hip with him, unless you turn around, your blocking the light on any chance of an open dialogue. Perhaps you are the one that doesn't get it. Neither of us said, that it was impossible to get good sound from horns. What we said, is that based upon our experience, we see more promise elsewhere. Perhaps you should start a new thread for horn enthusiasts only. More importantly, perhaps you should learn to stay on subject without insulting those that disagree with you, as that is the most disagreeable thing of all.

Almarg: Thank you so much. You've explained it so much more eloquently that I. Indeed, the operative word I've been neglecting is MAXIMUM. And you are correct, the primary differences are current capability and heat dissipation.
I didn't anticipate these distinctions to have made a difference in an Avantgaurd Trio but it did. Why? Who knows for sure? To which my guess was that the amp with higher maximum power capability (based on current) handled even small impedance variations with more grace.

Thanks again for your input.

Almarg...... upon consideration I'm convinced you are correct.

All three of my examples have listed specs of 26dB gain. This equates to 400W, correct? (under ideal circumstances)
Yet the other specs are listed as 150W and 300W. The maximum wattage is not specified for paralleling the largest amp (VK-600m) So we can probably assume that it tops out at 400W maximum (still 26dB gain) with overkill ability on the current side.
All they are doing is adding more power supply and more heat dissipation.

Thanks again for your contribution. This probably wasn't the best example to illustrate my original point. ugh! haha.