2. amps-preamps
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Tube Amps Watts vs SS amp

Can someone explain is there is a difference between the watts of a tube amp vs vSS amp, Looking to get a tube amp ,but i see that the watts are much less than the SS amps, So how do these Tubes amps with 25 -70 - wpc drive these high end speakers, I have a vintage pair of AR 9s and 2 mcintosh MC2200 amps in mono (400 WPC) to drive these ,what tube amp will power these under 3-4k new or used, Thanks 
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Showing 5 responses by roberjerman

roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
@mijostyn : My Sanei 560A  SET with 2A3 tubes can easily drive my Klipsch Heresy's to 90 - 100+ db! A mere 3.5 wpc! Horses for courses! 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
But I agree that for most speakers of 80 - 90 db sensitivity a good 50 - 100 wpc amp (SS or tube) will be more useful! Beyond that, more power is just wasted in the typical home at average listening levels!
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
@mijostyn : The Heresy's date from 1957 (same as Quad's). I think they sound even better with my First Watt F5 (25wpc). Still, for dinosaurs they are certainly capable of rocking out - try a nice vinyl copy of the Stones Let It Bleed!
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
@browndt: "No solid state amp can equal the sound of tubes ..." NONSENSE! I'm sure that Nelson Pass would agree with me that either type of device is capable of accurate reproduction of a musical waveform! 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
A pair of those big 600 watt ARC mono amps would be great with the AR9's - but at what cost! 
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