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SS amps. Why so much power?

I though that there was so much tube amp talk on this page lately, I'd put up a SS thread. Why do so many people buy the big SS amps that have 200,300,500 watts of power? Is it because the speaker you want is inefficient and you need lots of power, or do you need to play real loud? Or is it a status thing, like my amp's bigger than your amp, or what? Do you buy a big amp first, and then look for a speaker with high power handling? Or do you pick a low efficiency speaker you like and then look for a big amp to drive it? Do you subscribe to the idea that if you have alot of watts, the amp will sound better at lower volumes? I've noticed that the majority of AudiogoNers go with high power SS amps and low efficiency speakers. What gives?
twl

Showing 3 responses by unsound

unsound
7,343 posts
 
I'll admit that the following is a gross exageration but (here it goes, I know I'll be eaten alive by some of you) I find most speakers with decent bass present a low numerical impedance load. Have mercy!
unsound
7,343 posts
 
Re: volume, I once had a musician friend( trombonist) visit me, who upon walking in my door exclaimed "isn't your stereo kinda loud?" I replied that I was trying to replicate the the sound of the original performance ( a small jazz combo playing a mellow bluesy piece) to the scale of the room and distance from the sound source. He just happened to have his horn with him, so I invited him to play along with the recorded music. He was astonished to find that he couldn't play softly enough to properly accompany the music. Now, I believe two things were going on here. One, that a trombone wasn't designed to play in an average living room, but in a larger concert hall. Two, most people (not you dear readers)are accustomed to low quality "Hi Fi" systems that distort terribly at anything above low volumes (Especially those who mostly listen to TV (not serious home theatre)). In anticipation of horrid above low volume sound in a typical home environment thier defences arise before relaxing and allowing themselves to enjoy the moment.
unsound
7,343 posts
 
P.S. this same musician friend had pretty good ears. After settling down and listening he shortly there after went out and replaced his Sansui and Proton equipment with Rotel, Creek and Linn. To be fair the previous equipment he had was probably the best that was available to him at the local appliance store. He had no previous knowledge of High End stores.The last time I visited him he was playing his music at a much greater volume than I usually do!
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