Power Amp Question

I would agree on the Class D Audio GaN amp. I bought one, and it continues to amaze me. I use it just to give my 3C24 tube amp a break.

Another thing I agree on is how important a great preamp is. I never realized how much difference one could make until I bought a Herron VTSP 3/A 360 preamp some weeks back. it's brought the SQ of my system way beyond what it was before it came into my system.

So, get the best one you can afford. If you have to save your money until you can afford one. It'll make a difference you wouldn't think was possible.

Regards,

Dan

@sgreg1 Thank you for the information.

I have a question which will help me understand.

My reasoning for more  power is to not have to turn up the volume to 11/12 to get a full soundstage. 
 

I will look into your suggestions.

G

@islandmandan 

My long term goal is a tube amp and a preamp.In the meantime I am learning more about my current setup. 
 

(BTW myaudio/video system will be posted soon. The Triads were part of that system)

G
 

Hi George -

A couple of things - 

1. I think @sgreg1 is absolutely correct - not all amps are created equal. If you are turning up the knob to super high sound levels to get the full sound stage, then I think something is not working well for that 'first watt' as sgreg1 put it. A "better" amp, or better synergy between components will give you that full sound stage at lower levels.

2. The position of the volume control with an analog potentiometer like the NAD has, is an attenuator for the source (eg: the CD player or the turntable) - the preamp itself may have gain too, but I have found that at the 12 to 1 o'clock position is usually where unity gain is (meaning no gain, no reduction to the input signal); so, if the input signal is below the amplifier sensitivity level, you will not get full amp output at that point. Then there are digital volume controls which have no 12  o'clock necessarily - they just spin a number representing the attenuation - sometimes in db.

I think this video does a pretty good job of explaining the "volume control" -

@bop333 Said,

My reasoning for more  power is to not have to turn up the volume to 11/12 to get a full soundstage. 

In my opinion: That is more of an issue with the speakers then the amp. Speakers that have efficiency  > 1 % and a impedance > 8 Ohm, do not need a lot of juice to get a full soundstage or to sound good at low volume. Also amplifiers produce more distortion in lower impedances then higher impedances. That has been my experience.

Mike

http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/reference/technical/efficiency.htm