Does using XLR cables (double voltage output) mean I can use lower powered amplifiers?


Hi

Does using XLR cables (at 4V output from most dacs) vs RCA cables (with 2V output) mean that I have doubled the gain hence I only need half the power from amplifiers?

Just as a background I am looking for tube amplifers which typically are less powerful compared to solid state amplifiers. So I was wondering if using XLR connection rather than RCA mean that I can venture into lower powered amplifiers?

Or does the voltage input from the dac not matter/affect the power that a amplifier needs to drive the speakers?

Thanks!

Regards
Ben
thegreenman
While I am not an expert the electrical aspects. I have tested and converted to XLR. Also have a lot of experience in high end audio. The simple answer is no not really. If you switch from single ended to XLR and don’t change the volume control it will get a little louder. So, technically you are using less amplification to achieve a higher sound level. First it is not a huge difference. And secondly how good an amp sounds is based on many factors, current available and how quickly it can increase output… etc. There is also the old adage that tube watts sound more powerful than solid state watts (I think this is because of midrange bloom of tubes). If you put all factors into the mix, you are not going to be able to buy say a 30 watt tube amp instead of a 60 watt… maybe a 58w instead of a 60w. Unless you are powering an incredibly efficient speakers… at the very fringes of what is possible it just will not matter. Good question though.

What is your other equipment?

All my components are tube except my streamer. Tube components tend to be more musical. Over the last fifty years tube stuff has gotten more detailed as solid state has gotten warmer and more musical converging on accuracy. To me the best tube stuff is captivating and intimate in a way other equipment is not. But it depends on what you are looking for.
Fascinating. If you wear lifts in your shoes (at twice the gas pedal travel) does that mean you have double the horsepower?
To your question: no you cannot use a lower powered amplifier.The amplifier’s maximum power rating is fixed, regardless of the interconnects used. Regards