2. amps-preamps
  3. 1328988990

Is there any truth to this question?

Will a lower powered amp that can drive your speakers, in your room, listening to the music you like sound better than using a powerful amp to avoid clipping?

Here's the scenario: Use a 50 w YBA amp to drive 86 db efficient Vandersteens in a 10 x 12 room, listening to jazz or

Will a 200 w Krell or such sound better and more effortless.

Some say buy all the power you can afford and others say the bigger amps have more component pairs ie) transistors to match and that can effect sound quality.
128x128digepix
clio09
3,362 posts
 
Last time I visited with Roger he was using the RM-10 to power his 74 dB ESL loudspeakers. We were listening at a very moderate level in his room and there were no hiccups coming from that amp that I could hear. Sometimes you can be surprised by amp/speaker combinations. I myself would think 100 watts minimum in this case, but the RM-10 easily had enough power, perhaps not to rattle the walls, but definitely comfortable listening.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,578 posts
 
Regardless of the speaker's sensitivity I have found not driving your amp too hard and having more power and headroom available is a very good thing. In my current rig a highly touted 70 watt tube amp was displaced by a Hybrid amp with 4 times the power. The more powerful amp was not taxed as much, and I think since it was not pushed, just sang with more ease and pleasure.

Extra watts and headroom can be a very good thing especially with large orchestral music and the like. Same is true for solo piano turned up to louder volumes.
timlub
2,042 posts
 
Once you have enough power to get to the volume you need, it is more Power supply and current capability, not watts per channel.
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

I have never seen one question with so many variables. If everybody chooses the variables that makes their answer correct, then nobody is wrong.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Digepix,
The general consensus from those who`ve heard or own the YBA amplifiers is they are very natural. Their strenghts are realistic tone,timbre with an organic and very 3 dimensional sound. The emphasis is on music rather than hifi pyrotechnics.They are considered exceptionally constructed with excellent transformers and parts.It seems a product built for music lovers above all else.

Gon member Defstathiou owned krell at one time but finds his YBA components much better. He found the Krell sound 'robotic and mechanical' lacking the fluidity and flow of the YBA gear, not as natural. Like you he listens to a lot of jazz but says it goes well with any type of music.With your room size and music preferences The YBA would seem more to your liking.
Best of Luck,
More to discover