Question about wpc on tube amps

I’m a big fan of tube amps, but when it comes to sheer power, watts are watts. There’s no magical "tube watts" that’s going to make 50 Watts act like 100 (etc). And as for tubes’ famed "soft clipping" -- a push/pull tube amp with feedback (typical) can clip hard too, if you push it too far.

The reason you get a mythology of "tube watts" has many facets. For one, tube amps typically have higher gain than their solid state counterparts. Sometimes much higher. Especially "per watt". So on the same volume setting (on your preamp dial), a lower powered tube amp may sound much louder. But its peak loudness will still be limited by its power rating. The gain tends to be higher thanks to high gain input tubes like 12AX7, 12AT7, 6NS7, and the lower amounts of global feedback used in tube circuits -- more feedback reduces gain and many Solid State amps use LOTS of it because it improves the spec sheet (arguably at the expense of sound quality).

Another reason for the mythology -- tube amps typically sound great to the very last watt! Solid State gear can be all over the map. Some sound bad at low volumes, others sound bad when you start to push ’em, Some sound bad at any volume 🤣

Maggies are a classic match with Rogue tube amps. You a get lot of tube power for the money, all built in the USA, and with fantastic customer service. They’re not as sweet sounding as other tube amps, but their dynamics and bass are a thing of beauty. M180s (180 Watts /ch) or Apollos (250 Watts /ch) would be perfect, but even a Stereo 100, Cronus Magnum, or Atlas Magnum would be great too (each 100 Watts /ch). When you get enough tube power -- real tube power -- it’s amazing :)

A statement such as 10 watts of tube amp power equals 100 watts of SS power is from a marketing textbook and not a physics or engineering text.

Power is consumed by a load -- a light bulb, toaster, motor, space heater... or a transducer (loudspeaker). The amplifier is simply an interface between the speaker and the wall outlet that converts the wall outlet to a lower voltage and causes the fixed  60 hz wall voltage to mimic the signal voltage and varying frequency. The only power an amplifier consumes is the wasted heat through the tubes or transistors. As far as the speaker is concerned, it matters not whether it's one or the other. If either type of amplifier can maintain voltage throughout the speaker's load impedance then both will operate identically as far as energy conversion is concerned.

watts are watts but tube amps dont really create an ear screetching nightmare when they are over driven, they just run out of steam, especially in the bass.  

for maggies there is not a tube amp in your budget that i would recommend.  

@avanti1960

+1

Tube amps also seem to sound a bit more powerful for their wattage, but the most obvious strength is when pushed. You do not want to plan for pushing your amp.

High powered amps cost lots of money, worth it if you can afford them. Just my amp have over $1200 in tubes.

Definitely start with the best tube preamp you can get. That is how I started. I would look for a used, the best you can stretch to get. It can be the center of your system for a long time.

Ah, I neglected to the heed budget of $1,000, sorry 😅

I agree with others, that’s not a budget where I’d typically recommend a tube amp, especially at the power levels needed for Magnepans. However, if it’s not a hard limit, with some patience you can get under $1500 for a used Rogue Stereo 90 (the older version of their Stereo 100). This is a GREAT amp for the money and it can exceed 100 Watts.

Avoid the temptation of cheap Chinese tube amps. Absolutely not recommended.