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High Current / Low Current / No Current ??????

In Laymans terms can someone explain to me why I hear as an example that in order to drive Magnepans you need a High Current amp and don't concern yourself with the Wattage per Channel. The next guy I ask tells me the complete opposite.
You need Wattage, don't concern yourself if your amp is High Current or not.
Thinking about trying a pair of MG12 or 1.6 or ???????
Another question along the same line.
Are tube amps High Current or what the hell are they.
This really is a question that I have tried to find the answer to by reading various threads and even after reading some I don't understand what I read.
I am not a Tech type person, more plug and play so to speak.
Thanks for your help.
Dave
valleyplastic

Showing 1 response by herman

herman
2,215 posts
 
The max current stays constant whether 4 or 8 ohms (assuming the output transformer has both taps) but the max voltage changes. An 80 watt tube amp will deliver the same watts & current to both a 4 ohm or 8 ohm speaker, but the 4 ohm speaker will get double the voltage.

Not exactly, max power stays the same but both voltage and current change.

The 4 ohm doesn't get double the voltage of the 8 ohm, that would produce 8 times the power.

The 4 ohm gets .707 of the voltage that an 8 ohm speaker gets and draws 1.414 times more current. This keeps the power the same for both.
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