Tubes to Watts Ratio


I own a pair of great sounding Quicksilver M60s that produce 60W per side using 4 EL34s per side (PP configuration). These amps also have what appear to be pretty serious power supplies, as both transformers are no joke. I've noticed that most PP amps with this many tubes per channel and this kind of iron produce anywhere from 20-40 more watts. Does anyone know why such a design would not pump out a bit more juice?
bojack

Showing 1 response by mechans

I am sure that Rodger Modjeski (sp?) of RAM tubes and RM amps fame can give you an idea. Some of his amps seem to produce very few watts per tube while other an astonishing number of watts per tube. I think there are some SS in the cascode of amplification in some of his amps. I think ARC uses SS as well beyond simple rectification duties, but I am not entirely sure.
I own a Jadis DA 60 with enormous heavy trannys it weighs 80 Lbs. It's rated power is 60 wpc from 4 KT-88s. It does run in class A I am told which may account for the relatively low nuumber. In practice I use it to drive speakers that are 87Db sensitive and I never run out of power. So I am convinced that it can make more power "peak" than 60 watts.
I also own monoblocks that have 4 X 6CA7s each. These are just as heavy @ 78lbs. These however with less "plate dissipation" per tube are rated at 75-80 watts per side. The big difference may be that It runs in Parallel PP.