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Question about wpc on tube amps

I have been kind of looking at tube amps based on what people seem to think about them.

Here is my question- whenever I look at the wpc, they are remarkably low vs. a solid state amp for the money. 

It leaves me scratching my head. Then, somewhere I read that you can't compare a tube amp with a solid state amp . Something along the lines of "10 watts of tube power equals 100 watts in a SS amp". 

What? Is this real?  Seems unlikely to me. 

Are the wildly low power ratings on the tube amps I am looking at simply due to the fact I am looking at $1,000 amps vs the bajillion dollar amps you guys buy?

Would I be better off spending the money on a tube preamp for the "tube" sound I always hear about. 

I am running Magnepan . 7's  with a Bryston amp. Since the . 7's are power hogs are tubes even a realistic thing for me in my lowish budget? 

Thanks! 

 

timintexas
gs5556
1,250 posts
 

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.

avanti1960
1,597 posts
 

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.  

 

ghdprentice
8,084 posts
 

@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.

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,223 posts
 

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.

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
2,161 posts
 

@gs5556 Wrote:

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.

I agree!

@timintexas Wrote:

Would I be better off spending the money on a tube preamp for the "tube" sound I always hear about. 

Yes!

Mike

 

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