@greginnh
Oh wow - I truly like how those Gatos look!!! How do you like them? How large is your room?
BTW, I am posting this pretty interesting, experienced based analogy by Alan Shaw...
"I could have a V8 car with an engine that has enormous horsepower potential which I could never conceivably strain, which will only ever be running at perhaps 50% of its power potential. I will just purr around confident that no matter what situation I find myself in, I have sufficient power reserves at my instant disposal.
But I reject that choice. For the same or perhaps more money I chose a car with a 1ltr. engine which has a far smaller power potential of which I will sometimes use at maximum revs, 100%. I accept that this may limit my ability to overtake safely, and I accept that I will be occasionally working the engine flat-out. I accept that there is a connection between how hard the engine is being worked and its ultimate reliability but the thrill of nipping around with a small engine, running at high revs is something that appeals to me emotionally.
Let's see if we can apply some equivalents from the world of motoring, which should make sense to anyone who has driven a selection of motor cars over their life. In an idle moment I lost count at at about 30 cars that I have owner-driven over my adult life.
These are my personal conceptual power equivalents based not on science but on a lifetime of experience with listening to music and observing the technical measurements under lab conditions of audio passing through power amplifiers....
- 500cc engine
5W audio power
perfectly adequate for listening at a low level in small room to music of low dynamic content, with sensitive neighbours or at night, perhaps whilst you are reading a book or working on your computer
- 1200cc (1.2 ltr) engine
30W audio power
fine for general purpose running around - listening close to the speakers playing moderate dynamic music at a moderate level in a small listening room (say, 3m x 4m) where you are giving some attention to the music
- 2000cc (2.0 ltr) engine
75W audio power
better for long journeys on mixed terrain so there is power in reserve - the experienced driver's minimum out-of-city preferred power choice - listening further awy from the speakers in a larger room (typical UK living room for example). You will definitely appreciate that music is playing, and you will be giving it your full attention. Its hard to believe that your attention could be divided to listen at this average loudness and, say, reads a book.
- 3000cc (3.0 ltr) engine
150W audio power
rarely working at full power output - huge power reserves - overtakes effortlessly when dynamic conditions demand. Best value for then consumer who is not on a budget, who listens in a larger room (say, 5m x 5m) at some distance from the speakers. The music is taking your entire focus, and would be described as loud to very loud. You would not have the mental capacity to listen at this level and simultaneously read
- 5000cc (5.0 ltr) engine
300W audio power
so much power available that engine idling under al practical terrain conditions - nice to have but probably never called on except in a moment of extremely high drama. Mandates a responsible owner (both driver and audiophile) and no possibility of kids disco use as the destructive power is latent in the wrong hands. The music is playing at an average loudness that could be described (for a pop concert) as 'concert realistic loudness'. It is bordeline thrilling and terrifying, and would be heard even through closed windows many houses away.
Personally, I cannot abide small engines where there is no power even when you stamp you foot to the floor, the same with a hifi amp that is under powered. But its all relative: if your daily musical journey i the equivalent to driving 200m to the corner shop for bread and milk, the 500cc is all the power you will even need.
Hope this helps.
P.S. At the Bristol show (02.28.20), in a room full of people (soaking up sound), the 3ltr. engine is an absolute must for a realistic hifi experience with dynamic music.
P.P.S. Remember: it is the listening loudness at you ears (in decibels) that draws power from the amplifier. The amplifier DOES NOT push power into the speakers: the speakers pull power from the amp according to how loud you wish your speakers to play. Your hand on the volume control is exactly the same power gate as your foot on the throttle peddle.
So - if you have an amp the equivalent of 5000c but are playing light jazz at 2am, you may only need 1W of power to move the speaker cones: in effect, the amp is idling. You are NOT paying for the unused 299W unless your amp is tube or class A, which are running at full revs all the time - very inefficient and producing a little bit of irradiated waste product at the power station and/or lots of needless CO2."
