Mcintosh 2301 tube amplifier, how much power used from the wall?

99.9% of the current that comes into the amp ends up as heat in the room.

The good news is that the current drawn is always well below the nameplate. For example, my Decware ZMA has a max current of 3 amps at 120 v is 360W. Measured power is about 160 watts.

I have an Ayon 6C33C amp with a measured power of about 400 watts.

The power out to the speakers is relatively irrelevant to what power is consumed. If the amp is class A, it will consume the same power with volume at zero as with volume at full. Ignore the posts of people trying to relate power out watts to power in watts. I have a 4 wpc amp that consumes 200 watts.

The tubes are inside this amp which is a good sign. If they were too hot, then they couldn’t be inside. To get the high power this amp boasts, it is obviously push pull which means less heat.

Audiophiles generally don’t have the capacity to measure current from the wall. Ask for someone with a PS Audio power supply. they read instantaneous output so plug only the amp into it and you’ll get the amp load. or just measure the entire system and DAC plus streamer is probably 20W or so. Don’t include the TV if that is plugged in.

I’d guess this amp is 250 to 300 W.

Jerry

PS  Great to see ChatGPT get this one totally wrong.

@carlsbad2

Thanks for a great reply. Have you ever done biamping with tubes on the top drivers and ss for bass drivers? big challenge is finding a crossover device, and then hearing that if you use amplifiers from the same manufacturer, tube and ss, you can do it without this device. I don’t think this is really done very much but many people do it, it’s tough to find these people

I haven't done biamping and don't generallly think it is a good idea.  I have no problem with trying it but most try it and move back.

Your amp has plenty of power for just about any speaker.

The "rule of thumb" that you need an external crossover is not correct.  The internal crossovers will so the same job with 2 amps that they do with one. All you need is the ability to adjust levels to balance the 2 amps.  this can be done with a passive pre or just a volume control device on whichever amp needs to be turned down.

Volume control device? What would be an example of this?

Thank you