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The Low Watts Club
- Thread starter rotobadger
- Start date
twiiii
Lunatic Member
I guess as long as you have the space for large efficient speakers or are willing to give up dynamic range and the lower frequency spectrum go for it. But if you want the lowest distortion from - speakers capable of such, life like dynamics and a full spectrum of music reproduction you are going to at least need 200 watts per channel. That said I have a MC 2505 thats 50 watts per channel for my remote speakers and electrostatic headphones and when used seldom goes above 3 or 4 watts. My main stereo speakers are line arrays with 88 db 1meter 2.83 volts. Thats two watts. For casual listening 6 watts is about all I need for serious listening 30 watts. But if I am listening to live uncompressed music whether on CD. LP. or boot legs I recorded myself then 120 watts to 150 per channel can happen. My HT speakers are 6 db more efficient but with all the special effects 100 watt levels cab happen. But most of the time power never goes much above 4 watts.
A system has to be capable of sustained 90+ db levels for the ear to sense the lowest octave of the spectrum. And its true most of the time there is little content below 35 HZ. But if you want to hear the bottom octave or maybe feel it too which even Klipschorns can't reach you either have to relinquish producing those sounds or add a separate sub woofer or woofers. Having speakers that can reach down to 16 HZ quite easily some times I am surprised what I have missed over the years on smaller systems only reaching to 35 hz. Its a subtle but easily recognized difference just as having woofers that produce sounds with less 2% distortion.
My systems would be considered dynamically challenged by the Klipsch< Altec and JBL owners and this I can accept preferring to have lower distortion levels and an extended frequency spectrum.
A system has to be capable of sustained 90+ db levels for the ear to sense the lowest octave of the spectrum. And its true most of the time there is little content below 35 HZ. But if you want to hear the bottom octave or maybe feel it too which even Klipschorns can't reach you either have to relinquish producing those sounds or add a separate sub woofer or woofers. Having speakers that can reach down to 16 HZ quite easily some times I am surprised what I have missed over the years on smaller systems only reaching to 35 hz. Its a subtle but easily recognized difference just as having woofers that produce sounds with less 2% distortion.
My systems would be considered dynamically challenged by the Klipsch< Altec and JBL owners and this I can accept preferring to have lower distortion levels and an extended frequency spectrum.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Most flea watt SET amps operate in class A.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
A good article by Steve for those who might be considering joining the club.
https://www.decware.com/paper43.htm
https://www.decware.com/paper43.htm
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Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Only if you can reach a good listening level within that all important "First Watt".
Gee those will run those wretched Ward's Airline speakers I gave you. I despise horns on Klipsch speakers and the Ward's ones were a lot worse. Makes the Nova 4s seem tame.
Lavane
Lunatic Member
Maybe I'll hook those Wards speakers up to the mono blocks and punish them until they stop screaming.
the 4's aren't that bad now with a better crossovers and those dome tweeters.
mjw21a
Super Member
Yeah, my Pass Aleph-M is my best sounding amp.... All 10WPC of it. No other system I've heard let alone own has ever come close to what that is capable of sonically. Just sheer magic. 
My Pass Amp Camp Amp is 5WPC however the ACA will soon be replaced with a 100WPC amp based around the darTZeel NHB108 circuit. Better suited to my the B&W DM16's in that system though in reality I never expect that system to ever approach my main. It's ok for background listening though.
My Pass Amp Camp Amp is 5WPC however the ACA will soon be replaced with a 100WPC amp based around the darTZeel NHB108 circuit. Better suited to my the B&W DM16's in that system though in reality I never expect that system to ever approach my main. It's ok for background listening though.
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Hawkeye83
Super Member
Nice collection!
I’ve come very close to buying the Grommes, Yamamoto, and LTA! Those same exact models.
For now all I have is my Leben CS300XS @ 15 wpc.
In the past, I've had:
Pass Labs amp camp 1.6 (solid state) - 8 wpc
Monarchy SM-70 pro - 35 wpc, may not qualify here
Heathkit SA-2 - vintage tube amp - I think around 15 wpc
Maggie 9600 mod - DGSE-1 - I think around 4 watts...sounded like WAY more!
Packard Bell 6bq5 amp - not sure of model. Didn't have it long though since it had problems and i sent it back.
I think that's about it.
I would own ANY of these again.
