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Are most budget & mid range amps under-powered?

I've been reading some articles by a speaker manufacturuer about how under-powered most modern amps are for the speakers they have to drive.
The basis was that for "true hifi", a system needs to be able to achieve unclipped peaks of 105dB at the listening position, often about three meters away. For 90dB/Watt @1M speakers like mine, this means I need an amp capable of over 125W per channel, which is a lot more than my NAD 50W/channel amp can manage.
The same peak from 87dB/Watt speakers would need a 250W/channel amp.
Does this sound right to you guys, and does it mean many amplifier manufacturers are under-powering their amps?
carl109

Showing 1 response by jalapenos

jalapenos
81 posts
 
Dont get hung up on power ratings. there is no set rating system for maufacturers and, as such, the specified power output is useless in determining an amps capability. In fact, some find lower powered amps to sound better than their big watt competitors. The difference is all in an amplifiers topology and design.

You speakers are pretty efficient in my book, I wouldn't be overly concerned that your amp is under-powered...
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