How many watts do you really need?


According to the president of D'Agostino, he and others make amps that are way more watts than any of us will ever need and almost none of them stay in class A very long.

 

https://www.headphonesty.com/2026/06/president-amps-admitted-class-watts-wasted-heat/?utm_source=fb&utm_campaign=comment

roadcykler

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. laugh

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? 

Power requirements depends on the sensitivity of your loudspeakers, the size of the room, type of music ( to a degree) & most importantly how loud you enjoy your music. If you have a lower sensitivity speaker, maybe 85 db/watt/meter or lower & like to listen loudly to music w/ lots of bass in a big room,  you could easily use a several hundred watts on peaks. 

@glennewdick 

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. 

Very interesting...genuinely curious why you'd be looking under the hood of one? The case work is beautiful. Nothing I lust after but I do love the nod to Jules Verne.

But the construction inside and out should be SOTA.