2. amps-preamps
  3. 192840-184484

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
oldaudiophile
320 posts
 

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

mesch
3,523 posts
 

Let me third the question: what Speakers?

jimijam
61 posts
 

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

winoguy17
1,146 posts
 

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

dman777 OP
29 posts
 

My guess is that this amplifier is thinning out at high volumes and can’t keep up with the demands of the music and the speakers. A high current amp of the same wattage would probably sound fuller at high volumes and might scratch the itch. 

@zlone that is is exactly. So what spec do I look at instead of wattage?
 

 

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