How to tell the current from the amp


The suggestion of getting an amplifier with higher “current” vs just the high output power has been brought up many times. However, this is not an easy measurement one can tell from the product specifications alone. Can someone advise a good way to spot if an amplifier offers “high current”? Also, between tube amp, class a, a/b, and d, if there is a consistent approach to evaluate the current number? And if “current” is so important, why this is not a more easily marketable measure on the box of the product? Another one is the damping factor. Similarly, it’s very frequently brought up when recommending speaker match. Just trying to be more scientific and objective here.

dragoncave

Showing 2 responses by russ69

Just trying to be more scientific and objective here.

Good luck with that. With solid state, if an amp doubles its power at 4 ohms and can handle low impedances, no worries. On the tube amp side, tube amps usually have current reserves to run the vacuum tubes but not always. 

Dragoncave. There is no one answer that is going to give you the magic number. Welcome to audio. It's a complex topic. Experience helps. There are guys that think a 200 buck amp is going to deliver the same performance as a high end amp at multiple dollars more. That's just pure fantasy, just like everything else you buy, quality costs money.