2. amps-preamps
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Tube Watts vs. Solid State Watts - Any credence?

I've heard numerous times that Tube watts are not the same as Solid State watts when it comes to amps running speakers. For example, a 70 watt tube amp provides more power than a 140 watt solid state amp. Is there any credence to this or just sales talk and misguided listeners? If so, how could this be? One reason I ask is a lot of speakers recommend 50 - 300 watts of amplification but many stores have 35 watt tube amps or 50 watts tube amps running them. More power is usually better to run speakers, so why am I always hearing this stuff about a tube watt is greater than a solid state watt?
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Showing 1 response by oblgny

oblgny's avatar
oblgny
848 posts
 
It's all about the sound of your amp not the juice. i just went back to a tubed separates set up, trading in a 3 month old McIntosh MAC6700 solid state receiver for an MC275 tube amplifier. Since I rarely drove the receiver past 30 watts, and it was "voiced" to emulate the McIntosh tube "sound" I figured why use solid state in the first place?
(MC275, Audio Research LS3 SS preamp, Von Schweikert VR 3 speakers)
The 275 sounds true, with an openness the solid state appeared to muffle. I don't believe I have ever clipped any one of my amps over the years since I listen at fairly moderate levels. If I return to solid state I will go back to Pass Labs
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