Describe ube sound vs solid state

^^ Exactly. Thanks Al.

Al, thank you for clearing that up.
I will say that there I still have some misgivings about power rating and the ability to adapt to lower impedances of the above mentioned tube amps, as the sensitivity varies in a constant ratio to the impedance of typical loudspeakers.
To put in this context (using Al's reference to MAXIMUM power output), the more robust of the amps under discussion (and perhaps of all tube amps?); the somewhat unique Wolcott's standard 8 Ohm power rating of 180 Watts when outputting into a 2 Ohm load would be the equivalent of a 60 Watts standard 8 Ohm power rating of a high quality solid state power amp.

Hi Unsound,

Yes, it's true that some robustly designed solid state amps rated at 60 watts into 8 ohms will be able to supply 240 watts into 2 ohms, while the Wolcott's 180 watt rating into 8 ohms increases only slightly into 2 ohms, to that 240 watt value.

As I said earlier, though, as long as the amps are operated within their maximum capabilities, those maximum ratings will not be relevant to how their output power varies as a function of load impedance. What that variation will depend on is their effective output impedance ("effective" referring to the fact that feedback is taken into account), which btw equals speaker impedance divided by the amplifier's damping factor. If that output impedance is negligibly small in relation to speaker impedance, corresponding to a high damping factor, there will be essentially no variation of output power as load impedance varies, within the limits of the amp's maximum voltage, current, power, and thermal capabilities.

The extremely high damping factor of the Wolcott puts it firmly in solid state territory in that respect. And the highish damping factors of the MC's (relative to most tube amps) will have a similar effect, although to a somewhat looser approximation.

In saying all of this, btw, I'm ignoring the fact that the max power ratings of different amplifiers may not be precisely comparable, as a result of having been measured based on different standards, with different pre-conditioning warmups, different distortion levels, etc. But those are separate issues, not specifically related to tube vs. solid state.

Best regards,
-- Al

04-11-15: Almarg
If that output impedance is negligibly small in relation to speaker impedance, corresponding to a high damping factor, there will be essentially no variation of output power as load impedance varies, within the limits of the amp's maximum voltage, current, power, and thermal capabilities.

Sorry. That sentence was of course completely misstated. I meant to say that there will be essentially no difference between the tube and solid state amps in their variation of output power as a function of load impedance, as long as the amps are operated within their maximum capabilities.

Best regards,
-- Al

That maximum power output is not to be considered lightly. That uniquely(!) robust Wolcott's maximum power rating is for full stereo output. As a typical speakers sensitivity will be reduced at a greater rate than power output is increased by such an amp. At up to over $9K for the equivalent of a well designed 30 Watt per channel ss amp is cause for pause and serious thought, at least for me :-).