Is there such a thing as too much power?

You can never have too much power. Full stop.

However, do not confuse power with ’loudness’. The latter is measured on a logarithmic scale. That means to get a tone twice as loud, you need 10 times the power (approx). A 100 watt amp is only twice as loud as a 10 watt amp.

However, also note that the supply of an amp, especially how quickly it can source current, almost exclusively determines the impactfulness and the transient response.

A good amp usually has power supply rated at about 2 times the power for class AB and at least 3 times as much for class A (Pass Labs).

In addition, a lower power amp will almost certainly clip much sooner than a higher power amp. So, to get a good higher power amp, its supply must be ready for the instant square wave response.

So in summary.... no you can never have too much power.

It is almost like a car. Would you rather have a 500hp car which you do not stress, or a 150hp car which is almost always working at its limit.

I dont still understand the arguments against LOL....

ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL (That is the part people seem to be missing) a higher power amplifier will always be preferable.  It will run less stressed and have much more headroom.

As for the higher distortion at lower levels of a power amp, even those higher levels of distortion is still well BELOW anyone's hearing so it is a moot point.

Why is everyone assuming that the make, quality and characteristics of an amplifier are changing when going to higher power ? The question asked, did not imply that.

Given everything else being equal, there is no argument except maybe just the cost and power consumption, that going to a higher power is always better.

So, what that means is, if you have amplifier model line A, with characteristics X, if you move to a higher power amplifier with EXACTLY the same characteristics, there is NO negative. It still is amplifier with model line A, with exactly the same characteristics X, just higher power. There is not one argument here which can defend that lower power is better in this case.

Think Pass labs for example, like upgrading from an XS150 to an XS300. In this case, in fact the quality is most likely even BETTER since the latter comes with a beefier power supply.

In the case of the Porsche examples people have indicated above, that would be akin to getting the same car, still a Porsche but now with a 400 hp engine than a 180 hp engine.  I admit my first example of having a 500hp car did not emphasize that point.

Do not equate going to a higher power, with also changing the quality. The two have nothing to do with each other.

atmasphere,

" We are one of the very few manufacturers that make more powerful amps that actually **do** sound better than our smaller ones"

So, it is indeed possible to do so.  Pass Labs is another definite manufacturer in this regard.

So, at least for the 2 manufacturers above, higher power is possible & better :-)  It is only the cost that will be the negative aspect.