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Help Me Save A Few Bucks On New Amp Purchase

Hello,

I have been considering a new amp purchase lately but I can't seem to get past the idea of needing allot of WATTS despite having a very small listening space (12x9 now but maybe 12x15 in the future).

Currently I own a Pass Labs X250 and a pair of B&W 803 Diamond series speakers that tend to dip into the 2ohm region on occasion. Using an App on my iphone, the loudest listening session that I normally expose myself to is no more than 100db.

My speakers are rated at 90db efficiency and don't even blink during my loudest listening sessions to date, nor does the amp.

So here is my question. Given the above information how many Watts do I really need to reproduce the same SPL in my room that I currently enjoy? Part of me would like to believe that I have never used more then 30 watts RMS but I can't be sure.

My goal is to increase the SQ via the purchase of a higher end amplifier but at the same time save myself a few bucks by picking an amp that is a better match for my normal listening habits.

In the past I have always stuck to the idea that more is always better but in this game more tends to cost the same or more than a used car. In times like these sometimes a guy needs a swift kick of reality in order to save a few bucks.

Please share your ideas and thanks for any help you can provide.
eniac26
plato
1,543 posts
 
Wyred 4 Sound ST-500 or STI-500 (integrated version) -- probably just as good sounding as your amp with the same power capability but way more efficient so you'll use a lot less power out of the wall.

Alternately the W4S ST-250 is just as good sounding and provides 200 wpc @ 4 ohms... can be bought new for $1000. You'll be surprised by the excellent detail and musicality, super low noise and low electric bill.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
First, I would not change if I liked the sound of my present system. Second, there appears to be a conflict between wanting to get better sound and save money at the same time. Really good sounding lower powered amps are often quite expensive and sometimes among the most expensive [see SETs]. Changing from Class A to Class D will give you a very different kind of sound, make sure you like it first. I have used Class A in the past and may again but have serious reservations about Class D; note than when Levinson or Rowland make a Class D amp it is as big and expensive as most conventional amps; if not more so,
eniac26 OP
97 posts
 
I guess I probably should have better explained what I meant by saving a few bucks and what type of amplification I am interested in.

First, I am most interested this time around in a full Class A amp verses the A/B amp that I have now.

Second, When I mean save a few bucks I am speaking in the context of lower wattage Class A amps verses higher wattage Class A or Class/AB styles. As an example I was initially leaning towards either a Pass Labs x 350.5 or bigger since my mindset at the time was bigger is better. An amp of that size and caliber can easily run $6-10K on the used market

After thinking more about it I began to realize that I am not even using the amount of power I already have on tap so why am I looking at an X 350.5 or bigger amp.

Instead maybe what I should be looking at is a lower wattage all Class A unit. Something like a used XA30.5 or XA60.5 for example which show up on the Gon fairly often for less money then the big dog amps.

My only reservation is if these will be enough to reproduce the same perceived level of effortless power and SPL that the x250 does now. It is my understanding that an all Class A unit does tend to sound very powerful even though the max output in terms of watts tend to be less.

Hopefully this makes more sense and thanks for your responses
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