I remember reading a long long time ago where an amp designer said his design was not just about the power at hand and being played but it was about the power on reserve to handle the demand when needed. He’s said the best test was the sound of cutting scissors snapping shut. It is a high volume very fast action that called for instant reserve power to reproduce the sound just right. Yes power is always nice but their is many many ways to incorporate it.
Comment about SS and Tubes
For the people who have followed by two and only two posts: you know I have all Cary Audio: SLP-05 pre and 805AE mains. I also have the 200.2. I had never used the 200.2 until recently. Front end are Totem Winds and Totem Mani 2 - alternating depending on my mood.
In my first post, several pro SS people recommended I boost my power and go SS. That got me to thinking???
I hefted that big old 200.2 up to my music room and hooked it up to the Balanced outputs of the SLP-05. Kept the RCA outputs going to the 805’s.
I listen to JAZZ so I don’t necessarily need loud. But sometimes I want loud.
Power is good. After a few albums and a bit of streaming I do concede, Power is good. I didn’t realize how good my speakers were until I pushed them. Bass I never knew. And the whole spectrum was astonishing.
On some albums I like the subtle refinement of the tubes. They are awesome to hear. But I am a convert. I do like the watts. My Cary Audio 200.2 is going to get broken in finally,