How many watts do you really need?

More is always better. Right? 

I was amazed at a recent show listening to a little tube amp by Black Ice audio, the FX-10. OnIy has only ten watts. Yep 10 watts!! The volume level achieved was more than I would use. It was eye opening to say the least. Sounded great.

This made me wonder about the position of the volume knob. Do you want a big powerful amp that can only turn up to around 9:00 (or less) running just above an idle or is it better to have an amp matched to your speakers and personal volume demands? At what level does an amp sound the best? Perhaps a knob position around 12 or 1:00 might sound more open and LESS attenuated.

Thoughts to ponder.

I grew,up when you had to have over 100 wfc...and that was it.

My system is very revealing and undetectable black noise (to human ears, maybe not electronic instruments). I need no more than my 1.5 W provide. 

Wow that article is funny.  I've recently looked inside their top amp, I believe over $300k and was shocked at the build quality or lack of it for the price. When I see crimped connections, etc. in that level of an amp I question their price structure and its obvious they charge the max they can charge for the name and fancy case work.

Regardless of sound quality, I will not pay that kind of dollars for basic components and lack of detail in construction, fancy case or not. That things got from what i can see 64 output transistors per cannel. When did less is more stop being a thing? 

Wasn't it Nelson Pass that said the first watt is the most important?