Why Don't We See More High Current Electronics?

Guys, I have assembled three well-performing and satisfying systems based in large part on what I learned from Robert Harley's discussion of amplifiers in chapters 6 and 15 of "The Complete Guide to High End Audio", specifically the discussion of the dBW Power Rating. The results of the application of what I studied have proven fruitful in my system, and in the end that's what is important.

I would encourage those interested to read the book and the specific chapters I mentioned. If it offers some help in building a system as it did for me, then that will be an excellent result. I found the information reasonably easy
for a non-technical/engineering person to understand.

Now, I will accept criticism that perhaps I haven't done a good job of explaining the technical details of what I learned, and even the criticism that I have a total misunderstanding of the topic.

I'm stepping away from offering advice or recommendations in these forums. Too much angst results from it, and frankly I'm tired of the constant debating.

Tvad, I for one would hate to lose you, and your valued balanced contributions to this forum. This particular thread doesn't seem that contentious to me. I do hope you'll reconsider.

03-16-11: Unsound
Tvad, I for one would hate to lose you, and your valued balanced contributions to this forum. This particular thread doesn't seem that contentious to me. I do hope you'll reconsider.

I strongly second these thoughts. Grant, as I indicated earlier I have nothing but the highest respect for your innumerable contributions to this forum, from which I and countless others have benefited greatly. I too very much hope that you will reconsider.

Best regards,
-- Al

Yes- audio equipment does not care what kind of music you play on it.

An amp with a low output impedance does not have a frequency response that varies with a speaker's impedance.

That depends on how the speaker is designed. Take a look at
http://www.atma-sphere.com/papers/paradigm_paper2.html

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Yeah, we've had this discussion before. Same old same old. Lots of assertions, but no supporting data. Negative feedback is bad because it causes time-domain distortion, distortions we can measure aren't important, and high output impedance doesn't really affect frequency response linearity. Frankly Atmasphere, your assertions remind me of Audioquest's argument that skin-effect really does matter at audio frequencies, even though all of the measurements say it's inconsequential.

I think it has been well-said previously in this thread that we don't see more high-current amps because they're very expensive to build, and because most people don't need anywhere near as much power as they think they do at low impedance levels, so very high current amps are mostly for people that have more money than sense (like me).

Tube amps are for people even more skewed towards money than sense. ;-)

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? :-)