Can You Get 1,000 WPC Out Of Regular Wall Socket?

Can an amp pull 1500 WPC from a regular household wall socket?

Not for very long, without tripping the breaker. However, it may not have to.

1500 watts per channel is a total output of 3000 watts. Assuming the amp is 95% efficient, which may be optimistic, it would draw 3000/0.95 = 3158 watts from the wall outlet to provide 1500 WPC. 3158 watts at 120 volts is 26.3 amps.

That would trip the breaker if drawn for a significant amount of time. Also, if it is drawn just occasionally, on musical peaks that are brief enough to not trip the breaker, it would probably cause the line voltage at those instants to drop by a few volts or so, depending on the length of the wiring between the outlet and the breaker panel. That voltage fluctuation might have audible consequences in some or many systems.

On the other hand, depending on speaker efficiency, listening volume, the dynamic range of the music you are listening to, and other variables, you may not actually utilize a lot of the power capability of the amp, which would reduce the amount of current that it draws from the wall outlet correspondingly.

Regards,
-- Al

Bruce (Bifwynne), note that the OP's listening room is a HUGE loft. Also, keep in mind the rule of thumb that for the volume level to be subjectively perceived as "twice as loud," ten times as much power is required. So 1500W would be subjectively perceived as only "twice as loud" as 150W.

Best regards,
-- Al

Mitch, there isn't much information provided about those amplifiers at the D-Sonic site. If you haven't already done so, I would suggest that you research and/or try to confirm with the manufacturer that they can handle the extremely low impedance of the Kappa 9.

The Kappa 9s, when used with their "extended/normal" switch in the "extended" position (which iirc seemed to be the most commonly preferred setting), go down below 0.8 ohms at multiple bass frequencies, where lots of energy is typically required. The "normal" mode is not quite as severe, but is still very challenging.

Also, I don't know what their phase angle behavior is in the bass region, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was significantly capacitive, adding to the severity of the load.

My impression is that the impedance characteristics of the Kappa 9s, rather than their inefficiency, are the main reason for their reputation as amp killers, although both factors undoubtedly contribute.

Regards,
-- Al

I see in this review of the M2-1500M a statement by D-Sonic's owner/designer that "all of our amplifiers perform per specification into sub 2-ohm impedances." That does NOT seem to me to be an encouraging sign with respect to its compatibility with the Kappa 9.

On the question of how long the rated power can be sustained, assuming that the provider of the rating is not being devious it would have to be for far longer than milliseconds, in order to comply with Federal Trade Commission requirements for amplifier power ratings. My understanding, though, is that in general Class D amplifiers cannot sustain their rated power for as long as other amplifier classes typically can. Kijanki is more knowledgeable about Class D than I am, so hopefully he will see this and chime in.

Regards,
-- Al

Thanks, Kijanki. Excellent response, as usual.

So it sounds like there are grounds for cautious optimism.

One point to note, in relation to AC current requirements: Although the subject line of the thread refers to 1000WPC, the amplifier in question is a monoblock rated at 1500W.

Best regards,
-- Al