I have always thought working the tubes a bit makes them sound better.
Also most potentiometers degrade the sound at lower settings. Stepped attenuator maybe not.
SET amp for low volume.
High power amp, does it matter at low volumes?
Hi, I am powering a pair of B&W 802 D2 speakers, and wonder about high wattage amps.
I have read that you need high power ratings, and preferably something the 'doubles down', ie 300 wpc at 8 ohms, 600 at 4 ohms etc.
Since most of the time I listen to my music at low volumes, nowhere near 1/2 power ( usually 17-20 on my preamp out of a possible 80 ), would I benefit from buying a more powerful amp?
I am using a ML 522H ( home theatre amp ) with 300 wpc at 8 ohms, unrated for anything lower.
To summarize the question, is there an advantage to buying an amp that A) is higher powered ( given my low volume listening levels) and B) that doubles down into 4 or even 2 ohms ( again, given my low volume listening levels ).
Thanks in advance, and looking forward to suggested amps as well.
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SET amp will poop itself with B&Ws. |
If you're listening at low volume, wpc doesn't matter in the least and neither does the type of amplification. Class A, G, D, etc will have no effect on the sound. In fact, even a "flea watt" tube amp will supply enough power to produce low dB music but if you get the urge to crank it, you'll be limited with how loud it will get. |
Speakers are not point sources, and the room is not anechoic, so the drop off over distance is much less than the 6dB to double the distance. That is for a point source in an anechoic space (e.g. free air outside). I get about 4 dB drop off at my listening position. At 65dB you are never going near 1 watt. My speakers are 87dB at 1 meter, 2.83 v. I played a 440Hz (A4) tone at 65 dB at my listening position, about 12 feet from the speakers. I measured the voltage at the 4ohm Rockport Atria II terminals. 0.172 volts. About 7.4 milliwatts. 0.0074 watts. At 2 volts, = 1 watt, I was at almost 83dB (using hearing protectors) 12 feet from the speakers. Do not spend money on more watts!
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@robeffy Absolutely!!!! Higher damping factor/Power/current (I call it "horsepower") is critical, especially when driving less efficient speakers, and especially when listening at lower volume levels. Higher power/current/damping factor, dredges out more detail, transparency and dynamics in the music at lower volume levels (kind of like a supercharger effect). Happy listening. |
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