2. speakers
  3. 1135803503

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 1 response by nutella

nutella
223 posts
 
I was discussing this subject with someone last week. I made the point that that there are a small handful of SET amps which have that dynamic energy. And where this is derived is in the power supply of the amp. But few SETs have a robust enoough power supply to supply the music with the dynamic energy needed for any large scale performance.
I have had some experience with three amps lately that may have enough dynamic energy to satisfy without having to go without the tonal purity inherent to the SET architecture.
I still plan to see if a 60W PP can approach these in terms of purity. It should be interesting to see how everything measures up.
More to discover