2. amps-preamps
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Is a Tube Amp Capable of High Current?

I need your help.

I have a pair of VERY inefficient speakers (Platinum Solos), but am also a big fan of tubes. I know that tubes can work with power-hungry speakers as I have done it with a pair of Magnepans...BUT...I'm not certain that it will work in this case.

The speakers are rated at 84db with a nominal impedence of 6 ohms.

I am purchasing an Audio Research D-125 which is rated at 115wpc.

I know that people always say that "tube watts" are more powerful than solid state watts, but I'm not really sure what that means. I also always hear people say that you need a "high current" amp. I've always taken this to refer to solid state, but can this be true of tube amps as well? Is the ARC D-125 high current?

I'm not a head-banger and certainly prefer quality over quantity when it comes to sound. Also, my room is not particularly huge, so that shouldn't be too big of a factor.

I need your advice. Am I setting myself up for disappointment? Does a load like this inherently require solid state amplification?

Thanks!
dan53e1

Showing 2 responses by dan53e1

dan53e1 OP
20 posts
 
Thanks Everyone!

It seems then, if I'm understanding all of this correctly, that high current is what's needed to push the power into highly resistive or low impedence loads? So if my speakers stay somewhere close to 6ohms w/o much in the way of wicked impedence curves, I should be fine with just some high wattage, correct?

The ARC amp that I'm in the process of buying weighs close to 100lbs so I'm presuming that it has the kind of HUGE output transformers that will be required.

Here's another question...If my speakers are 6 ohms, should I use the 4 ohm or 8 ohm taps? Should I be conservative and go with 4?

Thanks again for all of the insightful advice. I think I'm starting to get it.
dan53e1 OP
20 posts
 
Thank you all so much for your thoughtful and very insightful (if not, at times, a bit too technical - for me anyway) responses.

I should receive the amp late next week, if all goes well, and will report back on my experience. Upon reading through the literature on my speakers, I found that the impedence dips to 3ohms at its' lowest point, but typically operates in the 6ohm range. Connected to the 4ohm taps on the ARC amp, I would guess this should still be relatively safe...no?

My listening room is not very big but does have some HIGH ceilings. (The room is approximately 15' X 18' but the ceilings vault to about 20') I'll be anxious to see how it goes.

Thanks again all!

-Dan
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