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Same watts at 8 and 4 ohms?

I'm in the market for an integrated amp and trying to sort through tech specs. My understanding of the tech aspects of hi-fi gear is limited. Looking for some clarity in regard to watts-per-channel specs.

It is my understanding that wpc at 4 ohms is typically 1.5x -2x the wpc at 8 ohms.

But I'm seeing a number of respectable mid-fi integrateds with the same wpc for both 8 and 4 ohms. The NAD 388 is one and I think this is true for several of the Cambridge Audio units at a similar price point ($1500-$2000).

The NAD features make a point of saying " 4-ohm stable for use with a wide range of speakers". 

Would appreciate any insight to what these specs mean and what 4 ohm stable really means to me. My speakers are 4 ohm speakers.

Thanks,

George
n80
n80 OP
2,134 posts
 
@mt9894, one of my restrictions is that for these speakers to stay in the living room, the stuff driving them needs to be fairly small and discrete.

The Classe' and Bryston (which I am selling for an estate) in there now are not making my wife very happy. And it wouldn't hurt that whatever I end up choosing has a nice design factor like the Peachtree stuff.

She won't be excited about the spare look of the NAD but it would suffice in that department.
dtapo
74 posts
 
+1 for a tube integrated. But if you don’t want to deal with the quirks of a tube amp - more heat, tube replacement, etc, get either a Hegel integrated or Musical fidelity integrated. I’ve owned/own both and can highly recommend them. They both drive difficult loads and sound very enjoyable. I listen to my tube amp often, but the 2 SS amps mentioned come very close.
n80 OP
2,134 posts
 
I see the Parasound Halo 2.1 here on Audiogon for around $1700. Will consider it. It isn't small or compact but no larger than the NAD.

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,327 posts
 
Creek Evolution 100A.  About as self-effacing as they come.
erik_squires
16,898 posts
 
Hi @dsper
My main speakers are Thiel CS5’s and we have talked on other threads about how they are a difficult load as they dip close to 2 ohms and 82 dbl sensitivity. There has also been associated discussion about how more power can mean more noise.

In this regards, Pass’ point that the signal to noise in the first watt matters more than the 200th watt, and that high power amps skew their S/N ratings if measured only at full power is true. However it is not universally true that a bigger amp will have more noise at 1 watt.

Just looked at the CS5 impedance curve. Wow.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/thiel-cs5-loudspeaker-measurements-0
You definitely want a beefy solid state amp. It doesn’t have to have a lot of power, but doubling power from 8 to 4 to 2 Ohms will be recommended or the speaker will sound like the impedance curve.

One brand you may not have thought of is Sander’s Sound. Their ESL and Magtech amps are the best there is when it comes to this particular feature.


Best,
E
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