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Tube Amps Watts vs SS amp

Can someone explain is there is a difference between the watts of a tube amp vs vSS amp, Looking to get a tube amp ,but i see that the watts are much less than the SS amps, So how do these Tubes amps with 25 -70 - wpc drive these high end speakers, I have a vintage pair of AR 9s and 2 mcintosh MC2200 amps in mono (400 WPC) to drive these ,what tube amp will power these under 3-4k new or used, Thanks 
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gregdude
222 posts
 
I'm not an engineer but it's my understanding that if 2 amps are of equal gain they'll be equally loud at equal wattage output. Meaning that you'll likely be ok with a lower wattage tube amp vs a ss that you rarely ever use all those reaerve watts
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rbstehno
1,430 posts
 
I liked my tube amp but it didn't drive my woofers as well as a SS amp does. I tried the different ohm settings and the 4 ohm was better than the 8 ohm, still wasn't to my liking. Amp had 4-kt120 tubes.
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
@mijostyn : My Sanei 560A  SET with 2A3 tubes can easily drive my Klipsch Heresy's to 90 - 100+ db! A mere 3.5 wpc! Horses for courses! 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
But I agree that for most speakers of 80 - 90 db sensitivity a good 50 - 100 wpc amp (SS or tube) will be more useful! Beyond that, more power is just wasted in the typical home at average listening levels!
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