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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.
digepix
timlub
2,043 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,
digepix's avatar
digepix OP
121 posts
 
The other thing I forgot to mention is that I have to sit near field < 6 ft due to being wheelchair bound and with the layout of my apartment. I don't listen too loud and with the music I listen to it's rare I push it anywhere near the clipping point.
frogman
7,494 posts
 
IMO, the only indisputable comments so far are Pubul57's:

****I have concluded that lower power versions of the same circuit sound better than those iterations with higher power if the power is sufficient to play at a volume you are satisfied with in the room you are using.****

and Tom6897's:

****Absolutes do not exist in audio only in Vodka:-)****

Digepix, to address your question specifically: If the YBA's 50 watts is
sufficient to drive your speakers EFFORTLESSLY, then wether the Krell sounds better or not with those speakers doesn't necessarily have anything to do with it's higher power rating. It may simply sound better because it's a better circuit, or a better circuit for your speakers. Or, it may sound worse; but not necessarily because of it's higher power. Yes, it's true that there is no point in buying more power than needed, but the problem is that what is "needed" is often underestimated.
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