How many watts do you really need?

@invalid  

Ok, so I think we all or most of us understand that it is true that a 600-watt ultra-high end or for that matter, any power amplifier that is said to be class A in the very high wattage range that will produce class A wattage will only stay in Class A for the first 40 watts MAX and some much less before it will go into Class AB from Class A. That is because even in the ultra-high end and premium power amplifiers they will only reach max 40 in Class A. When I made that statement, I was pertaining to the ultra-high end or power amplifiers of high wattage that will start out in class A but can produce 600 watts and even more, much more. 

So, after all is said and done... you are right and 100% correct. But I’m sure most understood what I was trying to explain in my post being that the post was more about wattage and not what class of amplifier. Maybe I should have just left out the Class A and just said AB, or for that matter just said... Class D that can produce Thousands of watts without even getting warm.

NOTE: Not to be funny but at this day and time, I’m sure someone some place has and Electronics Frankenstein Lab producing megawattage class A power amplifier that could do class A into 400 watts or more that will heat up and melt your house like a volcano was erupting inside of it. And understand, it may not ever be produced because of just that reason it would become a liability due to the tremendous amount of heat that will ultimately become a fire. But man, I bet it would sound absolutely AMAZINGLY LIVE. 

LIKE DOCTOR FRANKENSTEIN SAID, It’s ALIVE!!!!! 

Either way, thank you for your reply to my post because that is the only way we truly get to the bottom line if there is a discrepancy in the post. 

Good day and Peace to ALL

its all about headroom.  

@polkalover

Yea sir, it is all about headroom and the power to EXPAND THE SOUND without KILLING THE AMPLIFIER when using it to PUSH POWER HUNGRY SPEAKERS.

Good day and Peace to All

Dave Wilson’s original WHOW woofer (back in 1986) had a 15" driver and Dave used Rowland Research 300W amplifiers for it.

Also, as others as pointed out, power in reserve is a good thing. If, for example, one is listening to Wagner’s Der Rings des Nibelungen, a soprano going all-out could use every bit of a 600 watt amp’s power when Brunnhilde (Birgit Nilsson or Kirsten Flagstad) is singing. So, for the really big moments, 300 watts is a good power rating, but 600 watts, for that genre of music, would not be wasted.

For typical pop/rock/jazz music, a good  50-100 watt amp with good power supplies will suffice.

@polkalover 

"its all about headroom."

A good 5 watts per channel amplifier, efficient speakers in an average sized room, all the headroom you'll ever need.