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Myth: low-power high-efficiency

The past 6 - 8 months I have been living with very efficient speakers (~ 109dB/m/w) driven by low-power SET amps. The amps use 300B output tubes for about 7 wpc. On paper, this should be a match made in heaven. In fact, the combination is capable of wonderful nuance, subtley, harmonic richness, and tonality. It is really pleasing, especially on chamber and jazz music. Except for one thing - dynamic energy. I am not referring to loudness. It can deliver more undistorted volume than I care to listen to. I'm referring to immediacy, presence, power, and punch - the life of the music. If you go to the symphony, or live blues, than you know what I am talking about. Next week I'm taking delivery of a 90wpc PP amp, to audition in place of the SET. I need an amp that can maintain the purity of tone and harmonic texture of the SET, while delivering more power, to grab hold and take control the 15" bass driver in my horns.

I searched the archives, but have not found a similar post. Are there any other high-efficiency low-power people who moved to a higher power amp? Are you satisfied now?

Scott
skushino

Showing 2 responses by larry510

larry510
121 posts
 
hi,

I'm in the two amp camp. Wright mono 3.5 set and a Cary SLI-80 PP amp. Both are hooked up to Klipsch speakers. The set amp is marvelous, but does lack some dynamics. The pp amp can pin my ears back but lacks some of the intimatecy of the set.

A suggestion, buy a Niles swiching device and buy a pp amp. switch from one to the other as your mood or music dictates and get the best of both worlds.

Larry
larry510
121 posts
 
No SETs were not made to listen to rock, if that's your thing get ss or pp tubes. But on jazz, chamber music, female or male vocal, they ROCK.

Larry
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