Why Don't We See More High Current Electronics?

Isn't clipping an even worse consequence than unbalanced frequency response alone?

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Yes, absolutely. But unless you listen at *very* high levels (like averaging higher than 95db) most audiophile amps (100w+ per channel) with most speakers (89db sensitivity at 2.83v) probably won't clip. If you are clipping there are lots of 200w+ amps into 8ohms that will likely do you or your speakers harm before they clip.

Actually, my experience is that most audiophile speakers sound like crap at very loud levels. There are notable exceptions like Legacys, big Wilsons, and the top-of-the-line Revels, to list a few, but most don't, so I'm wondering what people think they need so much power for? I know people think they need 600w/channel into 4 ohms, and if they're willing to pay for it I say: go for it, but the math looks like you'd be producing 120db+ peaks, and I can't believe people are listening at those levels. Or am I naive? :-)

"Actually, my experience is that most audiophile speakers sound like crap at very loud levels. There are notable exceptions like Legacys, big Wilsons, and the top-of-the-line Revels, to list a few, but most don't, so I'm wondering what people think they need so much power for? "

Add OHM Walsh (omni) speakers to the list of exceptions.

These shine at lifelike levels but also require the power and juice to do it best. Part of this is the Walsh driver and teh omni design that fills the room with sound more like a live acoustic performance rather than directing all its energy at you and making you want to leave the room, like speakers at a rock concert.

Most people who have owned the over the years run them off more commonplace amplification and probably have never likely heard what they are capable of. That included myself as well until recently.

My Dynaudio monitors do not mind the power and current, but can also get by better without it, though they will never deliver the meat on the bones at higher levels like a pair of large, robust suitably powered full rangers.

I think some people, especially those running ss amps, are comforted by the idea that there is nice margin of available power away from clipping. Others claim that some distortion is audible from stressed amps before full clipping occurs. Some times the extra power is not that much more expensive. Some amp manufactures claim that their Class AB amps slide from Class A to Class B at a ratio of power, e.g. 20% of rated ouput. Some amp manufactures claim that their Class A amps are only capable of sustaining full Class A output at their 8 Ohm rating, as the impedance drops so does the ability to maintain Class A output, e.g. at 4 Ohms those amps are only capable of producing half their typically rated output into 8 Ohms in Class A. If that's the case, the higher powered amp(s) might sustain higher quality sound further into power demands, though not quite up to full available power output.

Tvad, your advice and experience would be missed if you refrain from posting in these forums. I hope you'll reconsider.

Well, Tvad, since I assume I'm the root of your urge to leave, I think you're over-reacting. For one thing, in the interest of full disclosure, I was multitasking when I typed in that response, and while (I think) everything I said was correct I actually *misread* your post in my haste! Yes, IMO, you still have a misunderstanding about ss amps work, but I'm actually feeling pretty stupid at the moment for explaining some behavior related to what you were talking about, not the specific effect you were actually describing! Sigh.

I also admit to enjoying banter like this entirely too much, and it was never intention to chase you (or anyone else) away. So how about you stay, and I'll try to cool my responses a bit, and I'll also try to improve my focus before I type!