What's the Sonic Character of Accuphase Amps?

Hi Kelly,

Thanks for the reply - no harm done by Tireguy. I spend enough time here on Audiogon that I appreciate humor and good hearted jokes.

My speakers are 90db at 6ohms and drop to around 3ohms. I wasn't sure if the A50V would drive them or not which is why I was leaning toward a P450.

Does the A50V get - really - hot?

Bob! Thank you for the reply. I get a feeling you really enjoy the Accuphase equipment you've purchased. I am leaning toward the P450 simply because I am unsure about the pros & cons about Class A (lower wattage) vs. Class A/B (higher wattage). My ultimate goal is to find an amplifier capable of producing the micro-dynamics of music with delicacy and finesse while at the same time being able to produce music's wide dynamic swings with ease. I could be wrong but to do this well, I figure power is a big factor - and requires more than the 50 watts provided by the A50V.

Now, my purchasing decision becomes one based on quantity of distortion produced by the amp vs. the dynamic headroom provided.

Perhaps this should be for another thread.
Someone explained this to me once and it is my understanding that speaker efficiency vs. power required is generally based on the following:

0 db is a power ratio of 1. Records and tape have dynamic ranges of 30-40db. To achieve a 30db dynamic range requires a power ratio of 1,000:1 and 40 db requires 10,000:1. So if you assign 1 watt of power to a speaker yielding 90db SPL, you need 1000 watts to deliver a true 30db dynamic range. With digital material we find dynamic ranges of 60-70db requiring power ratios of 1,000,000:1 & 10,000,000:1 respectively. Power amps of 1-10 million watts are not feasible today but the point is, more power offers more dynamic realism. Forget power vs. loudness because that really is not a factor in the overall scheme.

I really hope that "math" is incorrect.

Thoughts?

Hi Kelly,

I don't know if the math is right either - the more I look at it, the more I question the accuracy of that statement. I plan to post a thread to the forum for discussion.

I use Wilson-Benesch Act One speakers. They are a bit more efficient than the Eidolons - but really like power. Guess I should just try to demo several different amps vs. buying/selling/buying/selling until I find the right match.

Hi Bob,

Thanks for that outstanding reply! From what you say, it seems like the P450 will be perfect for my use. I recently had a 100 watt amp in my system and while it clipped only once, it could easily go louder than I (or the neighbors) care to listen. I am only hoping that a more powerful amplifier will control the speaker better - volume is not a issue.

Thanks again Bob!!

By the way, has anyone ever compared Accuphase amplifiers to something like the Lamm M1.1? I would be curious to know how they compete/compare.