Build location for tube integrateds

Trelja, I've read good things about the Stingray but I notice it's only 20 watts per channel. Also I notice some of the SET amps only 8 watts/ch. What's up with that?

I've heard people say x watts for tube is like y watts for a SS amp. Being an electrical engineer, to me x watts is x watts. Is there something I'm missing here? I'm uncomfortable using 20 watts from the Stingray to drive speakers I'm using a 200 watt SS amp on now... unless 20 watts is not 20 watts.

regards, David

I believe the Stingray is 40 Watts in ultralinear (20 in triode). Watts is watts, but tubes clip more gracefully so they sound better than SS when the reach their power limits so tubes seem to have more useful power for the same watts.

Audio Mirror (USA)

I just lived with a Stingray for a year, (see the "tube amp for rock" post) I'm no expert....and im still sorting through it....but if I had to put my finger on what I grew to dislike.....it would be power. Prior to I lived with a 200W receiver for many years. I heard/read all the "tube watts vs ss watts" comments...and manufacturers ratings etc... Regardless...the difference in power was very apparent. Qustion is does that matter for your needs? For me and the Stingray....Jazz, blues, chamber music, vocals....very very impressive. Rock/Metal..not so much.

I had a chance to hear the Onix SP3 and Rogue Cronus at the Denver Audio show, though it was brief, I would make simliar comments on my experience that day.

Dont get me wrong, the Stingray produces beautiful sound, but I would describe as more about finesse then punch. Just my two cents, take it for what its worth.

While tube watts do have more apparent ("useable") power than comparable SS because of the clipping distortion characteristics, 40 watts of tube will not be comparable to 200 watts of SS with tough loads and low efficiencies. Although I did hear a tube versus ss demo at the Stereophile show in NYC. The tube amp was 30 watts and the ss was 200 watts. With the speakers being used, it certainly seemed like the SS was clipping at a lower volume than the tube amp. With the Klipsch I suspect 40 tube watts will be more than loud enough and just as loud as you Krell. With the Aerials you might want 60-80 watts, maybe a used VAC Avatar.