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!
+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. |
@gs5556 Wrote:
I agree! @timintexas Wrote:
Yes! Mike
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While I agree that 10 watts of tube amp does not equal 100 watts of SS power, I'm not sure about the idea that tube amps won't work with Magnepan speakers though the small budget would be a problem unless something used can be found. Here is another Audiogon thread on the topic: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/tube-amp-for-magnepan?highlight=magnepan%2Btube%2Bamp I had always heard that it wasn't necessarily the amount of the current, but the quality of the current that makes the Magnepans sing.
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