It seems that in looking around for amplifiers and integrated amps that double their power as the impedance is halved (high current), they seem to be in a minority. Is it just more costly to build good-sounding high current electronics and the market demand for them just isn't there, or what?
"Your Stax "ear speakers" are, ehem, a different can of worms."
No doubt.
They are similar to electrostat and other planar speakers, very inefficient, and require some power (not necessarily current) to drive well.
I do not listen that loud with these though. A 20w/ch or so soft clipping tube integrated could work quite well for these I suspect as well as with the Triangle monitor + sub combo.
I have been considering trying a lower powered tube integrated in my second system where I already have a decent sub and fairly efficient tube friendly speakers (triangle Titus XS) currently driven to good effect at up to moderate volume by a "flea powered" 20 watt vintage Yamaha receiver. A similar 20 watts or so of soft clipping tube power might be a nice step forward. My inefficient but sweet sounding Stax sr-80 electret "earspeakers" I use on that system might benefit as well.
Regardless of which approach makes more headway, more efficient amps or more efficient speakers efficiency always rules when it comes to doing more for less.
I suspect a consumer has more and perhaps also more cost effective options regarding speakers currently building around a high efficiency amp like a Class D than one does going the high efficiency speaker route, especially if one cares about good full range performance and not giving up the lowest octaves.
Mapman, these newer Class D amps with their relatively inexpensive, diminutive dimensions, cool running, high current, high powered prowess just might free up speaker designers from the limitations of meeting the criterion of high efficiency speakers. The future just might be the opposite of what you predicted.
Why not ask what the relationship is between doubling power and how your ear/brain system hears? The short answer is that you get flatter frequency response, but only with certain speakers. This comes with a price- distortions that the ear is extremely sensitive to. The ear hears these distortions as a variation (coloration) in frequency response! So in a way, you can't win with the explanation of flat frequency response.
The actual fact of the matter is that if you want the equipment to sound like real music (which IMO is the goal of any high end audio system) than some of the design parameters that bring you the ability to double power as impedance is halved may have to be abandoned. So you are seeing that occur, for example there are more manufacturers here in the US of vacuum tube audio products than there was in 1958!
Newer Class D and Icepower specifically meet the criteria, are becoming increasingly popular and are more practical for most, and may be undercutting the value of the traditional heavy, power consuming and expensive to build well monster amp, which was always a niche item to start with.
I know in my case I needed the high current, high power amp to drive my larger speakers properly and to the max. I considered Class D or traditional monster amp. I decided to go Class D and have no regrets. Every time I listen, the sound just blows me away.
In general, greater efficiency is the wave of the future. That can mean a more efficient amp to deliver the power and current needed as in Class D or more efficient speakers that require less power and perhaps also current. Either approach or even both in conjunction to some extent can greatly help bring an otherwise under performing system up to par
Jylee, Bingo! You are absolutely on the mark.Good riddance to the power sucking,high current demanding and low effiency speaker that led to chasing ever higher power amplilifiers(and increased complexity) in an attempt to drive these beast.
I'd say it's because the designers have realized high feedback voltage source design that was popular in 80's and 90's doesn't sound that good. Amp design continues to evolve. The days of low efficiency speakers combined with high powered amp is now gone. Speakers are getting more efficient and there is less demand for high powered amp today.
OR, better still An amp that produces 200 watts into all sorts of wacky loads regardless of impedance OR One of those 'double up' amps that fades when confronted with any but a pure resistive load?
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