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Extra power or cleaner power?

I'm putting a system together and am thinking through some of the factors which might contribute to the overall sound quality. I realize that testing things out as I go is the best way, so I'm asking this question not to get advice about what to do next but to understand how folks understand and weigh these factors.

Let's start with a predicted factor -- the speakers. From the speaker description:

Anticipated speakers: Salk SS 6M
Response +/- 3db — 35Hz - 40kHz
Sensitivity — 90 db
Impedance — 8 ohms
Amplification — 50 watts (or 30wpc, tube amp)
Alignment — Front slot port
Dimensions — 9 W x 20 H x 14 D

Some (atma-sphere, decooney) have suggested on this forum that even a 60 wpc tube would be great for these speakers. So, here's my question —

Assume that I could get a very good 40 wpc tube amp to drive these speakers to sufficient listening levels (85 db at about 10 feet), for my kind of music (jazz, classical), and peaks in my (400 sq ft) listening space.

With these assumptions, the question becomes one of priorities. I could either spend additional dollars to (a) buy a more powerful amp or (b) spend that money on a power regenerator. Also assume that if I do *not* buy a regenerator, I'd still do *something* to improve the power (some kind of improvement but much less expense).

The question is: with those assumptions, what do you think would add more to the sound quality? More power or cleaner power?

Perhaps this is an impossible theoretical question to answer. If so, I'd like to know that, too!

Thanks!
hilde45
bigkidz
3,445 posts
 
OK my two cents. First off, more power does not mean better sounding obviously. I recently got a hold of the Audioquest Niagara 1200 and heard the change in a friends system. It made a very nice improvement in clarity. details, dimension, layering and placement. He uses CJ tube mono blocks in his system.

My general experience is how quiet is the amplifier to begin with? When I repair most components, I install an AC filter choke to clean up the AC. That makes an immediate impact for cheap but very effective. The dedicated lines if you can do them for a reasonable cost makes some difference in my experience but the Niagara made more of an improvement to my ears but I have not done a direct comparison as the lines were installed years ago when I updated the electric in my home.

So more watts is not the answer but filtering the AC in my opinion can have a very nice effect. Borrow one and hear it in your system for yourself first as always.

Happy Listening.


Post removed 
decooney
2,358 posts
 
@hilde45
Some (atma-sphere, decooney) have suggested on this forum that even a 60 wpc tube would be great for these speakers. So, here’s my question —

As you may recall, the future-proof savings $ suggestion was based on some of the sidebar questions you posed - and you not having to buy and upsize your amp(s) AGAIN later (thus avoiding do-over costs) , IF:

1. IF you replace smaller Salk 6s w/larger less efficient speakers, later.
2. IF you truly plan to migrate from a small to much larger room, noted.
3. To open the door to a wider range of speaker options down the road.

We also discussed the possibility you’ll like and keep the smaller Salk 6s longer term, and that a "quality" 30wpc tube amp can work just fine. And, I’d always recommend a better quality amp vs. a cheaper more powerful one.
falconquest's avatar
falconquest
1,109 posts
 
I have always been an advocate of balanced power. I use a balanced power device and my system is dead quiet. Equi-Tech pretty much wrote the book on this (among others but Equi-Tech communicates it well). In my mind this is the best method for achieving clean AC power.

http://www.equitech.com/articles/bpng.html

As for more power? Yes, more power is better than less power. The reason is not for SPL but for handling transient power demands that can create noise when your amp doesn't have enough headroom.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Please see my system and read the description. It is written not only to share my philosophy but especially intended to help people just like you. 
https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 The answers to all your questions are in there, you just have to read and study to learn. 

There is even a sense of poetry to it. You will notice for example nothing about speaker frequency response or sensitivity. Instead you will notice the phrase, "Everything either contributes or detracts, and no one single component is any more or less important than any other." One elegant sentence and already you know its not about power conditioners or regenerators or power cords for that matter. Its about finding the one thing you can change so that your system does less harm to the music. 

So then you ask, well which one then? And how do I know? And since the answer is in the music you cross all your technical questions right off the list, and all these technical answers right along with them, and go and listen. You will see.
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