Tube Watts vs. Solid State Watts - Any credence?

"Class A 500 wt/ch tube amp?"

That should do nicely if you can afford the power bills. Doesn't Ralph have one of those?

I have a 500 w/ch Class D amp. Class D is a different beast. It is designed to deliver the power only as needed as I understand it. That's what enables it to be small powerful and energy efficient. It never breaks a sweat or sounds strained at ANY volume, is as musical as anything I hear. It also soft clips to boot I believe. I've never heard anything less than lovely come out of these.

I'd compare that to my old Hitachi SR804 Class G 50 w/ch amp that advertised 100 w/ch headroom as I recall. This was quite midfi at best in comparison but a very nice looking unit with a very good tuner. My conclusion is that switching technologies that enable such things have come a long way and are now capable of doing things as well as most anyone might expect or need.

I also have a 60 w/ch Class D integrated with next generation Class D technology in it. htis does not go as loud but does exceptionally well, the best 60 watts out of an integrated amp I have ever heard by far.

Tell us, once more, about Ohm speakers mapman
It's been at least 2 days
Yawn.........................

Al and Ralph ... help me with the terminology. When I think of headroom, I think of an amp's ability to handle short term dynamic transients, which is part of real music ... especially classical music.

To be more specific, my tube amp has a 1040 joule power supply. In my "un-technical" way, I interpret that as "head room" because my amp presumably can handle short term power demands that exceed its rated power output of 150 wpc, subject to FR, speaker impedance and tap output impedance. Am I mixing and matching terms and concepts here??

ss watts can be misunderstood as well. "Qaulity" watts matter more than quantity. The more important consideration if the amp's ability to drive a low impedance load and remain dynamically stable. Thus the power supplies are critically important. You want a large, highly efficient multi-regulated power supply with a high current and a good damping factor. For example, my Vitus SIA-025 has 'only' 25 watts kl.A power & 100 watts kl.A/B (switchable), but has a very efficient 1.4kVa UI-core transformer which is capable of controlling low impedance loads running in kl.A mode. Big transformers also tend to be heavy, and the SIA-025 weighs 42kg. Compare that to the Accuphase E-600 which weighs 24.7kg. I can't think of any other class A ss which integrated amp which can do that. Similarly tube amps can have some pretty hefty transformers. I know the Absolare 845 mono blocks were driving the S5's comfortably at CES last year.