Why Don't We See More High Current Electronics?


It seems that in looking around for amplifiers and integrated amps that double their power as the impedance is halved (high current), they seem to be in a minority. Is it just more costly to build good-sounding high current electronics and the market demand for them just isn't there, or what?
foster_9
Not sure how this thread deteriorated into a philosophical argument. Typical example of the audiophile niche market.

"High current" has faded as marketing buzz word. That's all. Still continues as a design philosophy. Don't make me name names. Doubling down, well that requires, along with adequate power supplies, a specific kind of circuit and feedback, which happens to be the new buzz word.

There's one brand, to remain nameless but with unusual sincerity, that only tests the amp into 4 ohm power resistors, and only at 1 kHz. They divide that by 2 for the rating into 8 ohms. They also claim stability into 2 ohms. It's a good brand and an impressive amp so I'm not disputing. Just saying that advertised ratings are not real-life, reactive loads.
One can and sometimes does hear in excess of 110 dB. It's not just the volume, but the duration and the frequency that one hears these peaks that are of concern. When it's appropriate, it's nice to have the capability. Some speaker can handle it without significant distortion.
Yeah, we've had this discussion before. Same old same old. Lots of assertions, but no supporting data. Negative feedback is bad because it causes time-domain distortion, distortions we can measure aren't important

Of course there is plenty of supporting data, and the distortions we are talking about *can* be measured, as well as heard.

high output impedance doesn't really affect frequency response linearity.

I don't know where you got that but you did not hear that from me. In fact the whole point of that paper (which now I am guessing you did not read) is that you have to **pay attention** to these things to **prevent** errors in 'frequency response linearity'.

so very high current amps are mostly for people that have more money than sense (like me).

Tube amps are for people even more skewed towards money than sense. ;-)

So, are you saying here that you have a tube amp in your future?? :)
Yes, factor in the ability to handle transients as well as the more macro dynamic/loudness aspects and the case for making sure your amp does not break a sweat doing it's job one way or another goes way up.

I'm not an expert on amp design by any stretch, but what I do know based on experience and reading tells me in my gut that this is the right approach.
So, are you saying here that you have a tube amp in your future?? :)

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I can't imagine it. ;-) But after reading your website and reading so many of your posts I wish it wasn't such a PITA to listen to what your amps, which have a design I wouldn't normally consider, would sound like compared to my Levinson amps. Unlike properly designed speaker cables, power cords, and the like, I suspect there could be audible differences, though I more strongly suspect that these differences would be coloration, not greater accuracy. Nonetheless, even a curmudgeon like me occasionally succumbs to curiosity.