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What is your experience with amp power?

So I wanted to know what my fellow audiophiles feel about power.

I realize that some speakers are current hounds and need a prodigious amount of power or watts (lets say Maggies). But my question is for speakers that do not. Speakers that are easy to drive, or maybe just higher in efficiency and can be driven by a modest tube amp or even an adequate receiver. 

What is you experience with high power, high current amps ? Do your speakers sound better with more power? At low volumes, in a small or medium sized room? Do you think the quality of the music is dependent on higher powered amps?

2psyop
Post removed 
jrwaudio
357 posts
 

I have Maggie's and typically drive them with my VAC tube amp (KT88) 100 watts per side I also have two subs in my system  To me it sounds magical but at the same time, l felt something was missing When I use my other amp that puts out 500watts@8ohm 650@4ohms and 1,200 watts@1ohm plus 65 amps for 500 milliseconds the Maggie's really come alive with dynamics and inner detail  All the leading edge of the music just has much more energy even at lower levels  If I want I can bring my Maggie's to their knees  But typically I listen to music around 75 db with peaks in the low 80's  my listening position is eleven feet from my speakers It's obvious that not all speakers require lots of watts/current but l would have to say my Maggie's sure love the watts/current 

wsrrsw's avatar
wsrrsw
1,182 posts
 

Also clear as mud given the variables. W/ my speakers more zap (duel mono and very clean) added better sonic yield that's fantabulousahhhh   

Amps are like cars and there’s no substation for horse power. More horse power. More horse power = most males even the "sensible" ones

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
2,122 posts
 

@bigkidz Wrote:

And higher power sounds better at low volume and high volume is another false statement.

I agree!

Mike

bigkidz
3,439 posts
 

To be honest, there are a lot of inaccurate statements in this thread.  I am guessing that only a few people here know design and have experience in building an audio component.  For example, a lesser power amp sound as good as a more powerful power amp.  Everyone is welcome to come to our listening room in Northern New Jersey and have a listen to equipment.  Like I stated, I have a 28WPC amp powering Vandersteen Seven speakers 83db that outperforms amps with 100 to 200wpc, from class A/B, Class D, etc.  Also, Adcom back in the day made a 100wpc and a 200wpc power amplifier.  The 100wpc always sounded better.  It is not that simple to double the output wpc and make a better amp.

Happy Listening.

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