"Watts" Versus "Current"

One last analogy that helps understand voltage vs current is that of water pressure (voltage) and flow (current). Think of a great big water reservoir up on top of a mountain and you're at the base of the mountain (yes, this is your power supply :).

Let's say you want to design the system to put out a forest fire should it get near your house. To do that you need a lot of water flow really fast. So you make sure to connect a really big pipe down to your house. Now you've got a system with high water flow (current) that will flow for a shorter time but put out a raging fire.

Conversely, let's say you need to shoot a small stream of water over a large ravine next to your house. Now you can run a smaller pipe to build up the water pressure/voltage. The water at the end of the pipe will shoot out of the pipe, over the ravine and save the endangered species from drought.

Both systems are doing work but with vastly different design parameters required for flow/current and pressure/voltage. Which is better? Well, it obviously depends on what you want to do with the water :)

As many have pointed out, this ignores resistance, impedance, capacitance, or any other kind of system feedback/overload that can impact the system. But I hope it helps to get the general idea across very simply.

thanks to all--this is helpful to non engineer types.
Pepe

Dodgealum - great question, thanks for posting. Now I finally "get" why all wpc are not created equal! BUT - someone please tell me how I can get to the next level of insight based on (most?) manufacturer specs...I see wpc ratings listed but I don't THINK I'm seeing info that would help me understand what an amp's current capacity is. Am I missing something? Bottom-line, how can we apply the info in this thread when trying to decide on possible candidates for audition or purchase.

GS5556 - great reply. Thank you for sharing. This is starting to make sense!

Great analogy from Danmyers. Most important part of his post, IMO is this "vastly different design parameters required for flow/current and pressure/voltage. Which is better? Well, it obviously depends on what you want to do with the water" IOW, depends on your speakers. Read Atmasphere's posts and white paper. Amp choice highly dependent on whether your speakers are current optimized or voltage optimized. Which strongly suggested that at least a part of "system synergy" can be predicted.