What actually determines volume power? Is it watts?


I have a Yamaha AS-3200 amp. It sounds beautiful and has a really good open sound. The problem is I like my music loud since I live alone and typically I have the volume 70% and with some recordings it is not high enough. I need a amp that has more power/volume.

The AS-3200 is 200 watts at 8 ohms. I see many amps, even much more expensive ones (like the Yamaha M-5000), are also at around 200 watts per a channel at 8 ohms. I am going by 8 ohms for my speakers and also the worse case scenarios. Does this mean if I had a more expensive class AB amp like the M-5000 I would still be listening at 70% volume and getting the same power/loudness? If not, then what actually determines the volume power if not watts?

dman777

Knowing the speakers will likely make this thread more informative, and thus more enjoyable (for me anyway).

No system logged in profile.

First and foremost, it would be helpful to know if the OP has ever undergone an audiometry evaluation and what the results were.

My Carver amp 1.5t and Acoustic Research AR-9 play very loud . You don't realize how loud until you try to talk to someone else in the room

 In what is becoming too common around here, the OP seems to have disappeared...