2. amps-preamps
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Power output of tube amps compared to solid states

I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how tube amp power output relates to solid state power output. I've been looking at the classifieds for tube amps and I see lots of tube amps with 50w or 60w output, but nothing close to the 250w output typical of solid state amps.

So I have no idea what type of tube amp is required for my set up, right now I'm using totem forests with a required power rating of 150w-200w at 8ohms. The bass is so powerful on these that I have the sub crossover set to 40hz.

My question is, are tube amps so efficient that 50w from a tube sounds like 150w from a solid state? Or will 50w output from a tube severely limit how loud I can play my speakers? If so, are tubes usually meant to be driving super-high efficiency speakers?

I had previously tried a tube pre-amp with a solid state power amp (both musical fidelity) and didn't like the results because the imaging suffered greatly, even though the music sounded nicer from a distance. Now I want to try a solid state pre-amp (bryston) with a tube power amp (no idea which brand to look at), but I don't know how much power output I need or if it will even be possible with my speakers. Does anyone know what I would require?
acrossley
audiokinesis
1,872 posts
 
Kirkus wrote:

"The problem with increasing the amplifier source impedance for this type of driver [prosound woofer] (especially in a domestic application) is that while this raises the Q and the bass output, it leaves the resonant frequency unaffected . . . the result is then simply wooly, boomy mid-bass and no increase in bass extension."

With any speaker system designed to be "flat" with a voltage-source amp, there will be a bump in the bass region when that speaker is used with an amp that has a high source impedance. This is not uniquely limited to prosound woofers speakers. In many cases lowering the port tuning frequency will smoothe out the bump while extending the bass.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Duke, which of your speaker designs is best for a room 11x18?
audiokinesis
1,872 posts
 
Pubul57, I'd rather go offline with that to avoid taking the thread on a commercial tangent; I'll shoot you an e-mail.

Duke
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Makes sense. We'll talk.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
Kirkus, Shadorne, and Unsound, I really appreciate your input over the years. Inside of what I call the Voltage Paradigm, yours can usually be counted on to be accurate comments, and always done with decorum :)

I want to point you to Duke's comment about the port tuning dated 04/12. Here Duke is pointing out how the port is set up differently depending on whether you are using Voltage rules or Power rules. Its not the only thing I have seen in speaker designs, as in crossovers I have seen capacitive or inductive shunts used to get the right power response out of the amp so that the driver will roll off at the right frequency.

I guess what I am getting at here is that the Voltage rules are not the only game in town, and this has always been the case. However I find that if I am dealing with an individual who is educated with Voltage rules, that they will generally assume that there are no **other** rules. So I am interested in you thoughts regarding Duke's post.
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