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Question about wpc on tube amps

I have been kind of looking at tube amps based on what people seem to think about them.

Here is my question- whenever I look at the wpc, they are remarkably low vs. a solid state amp for the money. 

It leaves me scratching my head. Then, somewhere I read that you can't compare a tube amp with a solid state amp . Something along the lines of "10 watts of tube power equals 100 watts in a SS amp". 

What? Is this real?  Seems unlikely to me. 

Are the wildly low power ratings on the tube amps I am looking at simply due to the fact I am looking at $1,000 amps vs the bajillion dollar amps you guys buy?

Would I be better off spending the money on a tube preamp for the "tube" sound I always hear about. 

I am running Magnepan . 7's  with a Bryston amp. Since the . 7's are power hogs are tubes even a realistic thing for me in my lowish budget? 

Thanks! 

 

timintexas
ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,472 posts
 

Wow…. 8 - 300B’s! Let’s see if you got Takatsuki that would be about $8.8K! 
 

‘I am using Takatsuki for my headphone amp… fortunately only 2. 

larryi
4,585 posts
 

If anything, a claim/rating of 10 wpc by a tube amp builder is LESS than 10 wpc of a typical solid state smp.  Most tube amp “ratings” are at extremely high distortion levels while solid state amps are typically rated well short of clipping.

But, I suspect the notion of tube amp watts being “more” than solid state watts has to do with tube amps sounding more full, saturated, and weighty at lower volume than typical solid state amps.  The can play at lower volume and still satisfy.

bigkidz
3,506 posts
 

ditto @mulveling  his advise is sold.

I am not sure if you can find one but search for the old Lafayette KT-550 tube amp around 50wpc stereo.  Probably would be the only tube amp I would attempt in your price range.  I tubes 7025A tube (if I remember correctly) can be easily converted to El based tubes with a move of a few wires on the tube socket.

Happy Listening.

 

decooney
2,565 posts
 

@timintexas as you've already concluded, in your case - I'd second the notion of buying a really good tube preamplifier and pairing it up with your Bryston instead.

speedthrills
215 posts
 

I have the .7s and love them in my office system. I run them off of a Roguw Sphinx v3 which can be bought used here for around $1000-$1300. It runs them with no issue, powerful and musical, detailed and never breaks a sweat. Highly recommended, I stream Roon through a Bluesound Node to the Rogue.

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