Is there such a thing as too much power?

Why is everyone assuming that the make, quality and characteristics of an amplifier are changing when going to higher power ? The question asked, did not imply that.

Given everything else being equal, there is no argument except maybe just the cost and power consumption, that going to a higher power is always better.

So, what that means is, if you have amplifier model line A, with characteristics X, if you move to a higher power amplifier with EXACTLY the same characteristics, there is NO negative. It still is amplifier with model line A, with exactly the same characteristics X, just higher power. There is not one argument here which can defend that lower power is better in this case.

Think Pass labs for example, like upgrading from an XS150 to an XS300. In this case, in fact the quality is most likely even BETTER since the latter comes with a beefier power supply.

In the case of the Porsche examples people have indicated above, that would be akin to getting the same car, still a Porsche but now with a 400 hp engine than a 180 hp engine.  I admit my first example of having a 500hp car did not emphasize that point.

Do not equate going to a higher power, with also changing the quality. The two have nothing to do with each other.

The reason the industry moved away from high efficiency has a lot to do with the large size of typical high efficiency speakers.

Not all higher efficiency speakers are all that large. Many 'full range' drivers can be quite efficient yet the cabinets are reasonable sizes.

ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL (That is the part people seem to be missing) a higher power amplifier will always be preferable. It will run less stressed and have much more headroom.

As for the higher distortion at lower levels of a power amp, even those higher levels of distortion is still well BELOW anyone's hearing so it is a moot point.

The first statement is correct. The only problem is things are never equal. The second statement is simply false- it subscribes to the idea that 0.005% THD is 'low'. Its not low if that distortion is all higher ordered harmonics, owing to the fact that the ear uses these harmonic to sense how loud a sound is. It is this simple fact that is why solid state has a reputation for brightness- that's not coming from a frequency response error, its caused by distortion. 

Why is everyone assuming that the make, quality and characteristics of an amplifier are changing when going to higher power ?

Because they often do.

Given everything else being equal, there is no argument except maybe just the cost and power consumption, that going to a higher power is always better.

The 'Given' isn't a given. One problem you can have is that higher powered amps usually also have more gain. If you put that amp on a higher efficiency loudspeaker, the noise floor can be annoying, the additional distortion (due to the amp operating below its point of lowest distortion) notwithstanding.

Do not equate going to a higher power, with also changing the quality. The two have nothing to do with each other.

In this regard your statement flies in the face of conventional wisdom which is based on experience of many many people over decades! As a manufacturer we deal with this all the time: "Don't your smaller amps sound better?" Ask any manufacturer- they will tell you they get this question often.

We are one of the very few manufacturers that make more powerful amps that actually **do** sound better than our smaller ones- this owing to how we scale up our power levels. But most solid state and nearly all tube amps sound better in their smaller embodiments, so long as the speaker allows for the lower power.

atmasphere,

" We are one of the very few manufacturers that make more powerful amps that actually **do** sound better than our smaller ones"

So, it is indeed possible to do so.  Pass Labs is another definite manufacturer in this regard.

So, at least for the 2 manufacturers above, higher power is possible & better :-)  It is only the cost that will be the negative aspect.

If you're speccing an amplifier you need to go for the amount of power that you'll actually use plus a small amount of headroom. That doesn't sound very helpful but in order to optimise your system properly you need to understand the gain structure... if you've got a 1000W system and you never turn the volume higher than 30% then you're hearing more noise than you need to because every time you attenuate you move the noise floor closer to the signal level.

This is true regardless of the quality of the components you are connecting together. If you factor in the trade offs that need to be made when designing an amplifier then you'll work out extra power will either drive cost upwards or other qualities (such as sound quality) down.

If you follow the instructions in the thread I previously linked you can work out the amount of power you use and optimise your choices. I'm happy to explain more if anyone wants.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg14jNbBb-8

No, power is your best friend.