When to Amp it Up?

@ja_kub_sz You can learn a lot about the what/why of amp selection, etc. by reading the comments on member's system pages. In my case, I have changed amps a number of times over the years based usually on the desire to get a better match with a particular speaker. Relocating into a different sized space usually was the prompt. 

In terms of selection, there's no substitute for listening. Local audio clubs are a great way to meet like-minded people whose systems you can listen to with hopefully, learning your preferences along the way. Not much help these days, though!

There's plenty of truth to "synergy" especially between amps and speakers. If you don't have the luxury of in person listening, it's important to read up on first hand experiences of owners of your speakers(current or desired) and get a grip on what users have gotten the most satisfaction from using them together. The easier route is to get those recommendations from a trustworthy dealer. A few who come immediately to mind are: 

• John Rutan at Audio Connection in Verona, NJ
• Duke LeJeune at AudioKinesis, who also makes speakers
• Eric Konisberg at BEK Hifi in Allentown, PA

They all tend to focus on brands with staying power, vs. just the "latest one-hit-wonders". I think that's a great thing, often ignored. Many hifi companies don't survive for a decade or longer. For service/parts, it's a consideration and will impact resale values as you trade up over time. Nobody ever lost a ton of money buying used Vandersteen or McIntosh and selling it a few years later. If you ever talk to a dealer about an amp or speakers and they don't seem concerned with the rest of your system, that's a red flag! 

In this hobby, the best values are often from small to mid-sized companies. Chances are pretty good(with a few exceptions) that if they ever did a TV commercial or everyone at your holiday table has heard of a brand, then it's probably not going to give you as much sound/$. 

Cheers,

Spencer

If it was me I'd be looking at a loudspeaker upgrade, your current amps can serve you one more upgrade. I'm curious about what preamp you are using? 

I bought a Latino VTA ST-70 amp to dabble with tubes. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. That $1400 tube amp beat the britches off a much much higher cost SS amp that was well known w/good reviews. That 35wpc stayed in my system for 10-12 yrs. Then I got a Don Sachs Kootenay 120 @ 65wpc. It is based off Bob Latino's ST-120 but with all upgraded parts including 2 discreet power supplies. I bought it because Like you, I really liked my ST-70 sound. But I figured the upgraded parts would make a good difference in the quality of that sound. It did.

But I had a very good preamp also prior to getting a new amp. You haven't listed yours. This is a good reason to list your system on the systems page because it helps others to analyze your issues. That said, I've had amps from 35wpc to 800+wpc. The 35 wpc & 60wpc tubed sound best. In SS, a 45wpc shamed to other SS.High wattage is needed for PA's which you need to cover a parking lot or similar. Unless you have a difficult load, 60wpc is usually plenty enough to drive most speakers. Merry Christmas

Why/how do you all have the amps you have? What got you there?

I started young in the 1970's with a Kenwood integrated, then built a Dynaco ST400 power amp. Being a kid didn't really understand very well yet just how useless watts are. In fairness a lot of things back then made it harder to hear a lot of quality differences that with better speakers, cables, etc are easy to pick out today.

After college, head stuffed full of the usual blather I went looking for a better power amp. Read a ton of reviews and auditioned a slew of them before buying a McCormack DNA1. Then went looking for a good preamp, because well this is what they tell you, separates, etc etc yada yada. 

Until I heard a 60wpc Aronov tube integrated that was better in every way than the McCormack and cheaper too, way cheaper than buying a preamp, cables, etc. Separates are just hugely handicapped in reality. Seen it over and over many times since.

When the Aronov turned out to have some hidden reliability issue it started blowing fuses, and so transitioned to first a Jungson SS class A integrated (nightmare) and then Melody integrated, another KT88 tube integrated this one 50 watts.

At this point 30+ years of experience is telling me you don't need more than 60 watts (you do need speakers of at least 92dB sensitivity), tubes beat SS and integrated beats separates. 

So last year went looking to up my game and wound up buying a Raven Blackhawk. Easily the best sounding amp I have heard so far, another integrated, this time only 20W. More would be better but quality over quantity and besides you should hear how loud it can go with 98dB Tekton Moab. 

This brings up another thing learned over the years. Big companies can stay in business churning out so-so products making up the difference in advertising. Small companies however the product is their advertising and so must be not only high quality but high value as well. The best of the best it seems take this to the extreme by being sold direct. No wonder then I have gravitated to first Herron, then Tekton, Townshend, Raven. 

Not because they are tiny little companies selling direct. Because they make the best stuff I can afford to get my grubby little mitts on! 

Which brings me to Steve Deckert. Couple weeks ago put my name on the list for a Decware Zen Mystery Amp. 40 watts of end game tube power amp. 

And so it goes.

Did you hear the speakers prior to purchasing them? Just asking because it can be difficult to assess a system without an anchor component that you have  had some time with. For instance maybe it's not the amp but the speaker...

The current crop of Youtube guys are impressive in that they've build their businesses, but you won't likely get any useful advice until your knowledge is equal to or greater than theirs.  Not that hard to do.