2. amps-preamps
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Tube Watts vs. Solid State Watts - Any credence?

I've heard numerous times that Tube watts are not the same as Solid State watts when it comes to amps running speakers. For example, a 70 watt tube amp provides more power than a 140 watt solid state amp. Is there any credence to this or just sales talk and misguided listeners? If so, how could this be? One reason I ask is a lot of speakers recommend 50 - 300 watts of amplification but many stores have 35 watt tube amps or 50 watts tube amps running them. More power is usually better to run speakers, so why am I always hearing this stuff about a tube watt is greater than a solid state watt?
djfst
ait
480 posts
 
How does a large power transformer affect high frequencies?

Output transformer, maybe...
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
The large magnetic field produced by large transformers cannot be good for any frequency, high, low, what have you.
ait
480 posts
 
Geez, guess I'll have to send both of my 62lb output transformers back, then...
czarivey
5,714 posts
 
Djfst,

You can easily divide your 'tube watts' by 2 in most of cases driving Sonus Faber speakers...
So your tube watts are actually halved making you believe that they're loud.

They simply don't see anything below 60Hz due to the struggle with tough load. Most of the power of solid state "watts" are thrown to reproduce bass frequencies below 60Hz.

If you REALLY want to benefit from your tube watz u need to purchase amplified sub-woofer.

No rocket science at all.
markmendenhall
218 posts
 
For what it's worth, IMHO, and I am certainly no 'techie' in this hobby, but what is 'better': tube vs. ss, 70 watts (tube OR ss) vs. 140 watts, monos vs. stereo amps, EL 34s vs. KT 88's, push pull vs. SET, U.S. made vs. European vs. Asian produced, class D vs. class A or A/B is so incredibly subjective as to render all discussions little more than entertaining exercises making comparisons and demonstrating experience, knowledge and preferences. Recently I bought my first set of class D monos (Bel Canto M1000) because I wanted more power than what my class A 80 monos produce. 500 watts vs. 80 at 8 ohms. Also in the mix is my 250 watt ss Halo A21. Class A vs. A A/B vs. high powered class D. I've owned SET's, EL-34 based, KT-88 based, high powered, low powered tube amps, you name it. Do the 500 watt class D amps play louder? Maybe. If so, not by much because once all 3 are stretched out to about as loud as I can stand it, I quit turning the volume knob up on the pre-amp. To me the lesson is this: buy what sounds good to you, and buy ample power so that your amps don't clip at max volume because that is what fries tweeters, not an overabundance of power, but a dearth of power. In my case I really like the sound of all 3 amps, so which to keep? All 3 play plenty loud, so which are more practical, look the best, demand less energy, appeal to me subjectively? That's the fun part of the hobby. My 2 cents. Good luck!
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