Why does "loud" equal "good"? Is a G901 good?

[NicoR]

I'll attempt an oversimplification here as to why more power is desirable...

I couldnt agree more, although your oversimplification still sounds complex.

Basically, music has things like snare drum hits and other very dynamic sounds that are louder than the rest of the music. If you're using a low wattage amp completely maxed out, those momentary louder sounds will get compressed, and the music will not sound as dynamic and punchy. If you use a high wattage amplifier with the volume knob turned half up, then you've still got power to spare for all the loud bits in the music.

All other things staying the same, an identical but higher powered amp will sound better than its lower powered brother.

 

[MRX37]

So far I'm happy with the two 50 WPC amps I have. They get nice and LOUD, with no clipping.

I really see no need for a louder amp, as I have very good hearing (and I wish to preserve that), and I can feel the bass quite nicely.

 

[beemer]

Regarding the assertion about how more powerful receivers tend to sound better because of greater sophistication in design, this holds true to a point. The 100-200 watt "TOTL" receivers like the Sansui G-9000, Pioneer SX-1250, and Kenwood KR-9600 are all top performers, with great-sounding amps and killer 5-gang tuners. However, the crazy brutish watt-war specials, like the Sansui G-33000 and Pioneer SX-1980 were designed with one goal in mind: power. As such, some have said they don't sound that great.

I think this is a good analogy: A 500-horsepower Ferrari will handle beautifully, because it is designed holistically; the power is just a necessary byproduct. A top-fuel dragster won't handle at all, because it is built only to go fast briefly in a straight line.

I have to differ in regards to the Sansui G22000. Paired with a/d/s/ L-910 monitors, a Yammie PX-3 TT the sound is superb. I also find an extremely quiet and sensitive FM section. This combo sounds great at low volume, and it will get up and boogie quite well if need be.

Best,

Paul :thmbsp:

 

[dmusgrave]

I'll attempt an oversimplification here as to why more power is desirable. Lets say you have a 10w/ch amp and a 100w/ch amp. Both are driving the same speakers (separately of course) to the same volume with the same source material. Lets say you are running about 5w average (which can be tremendously loud depending on the efficency of the speakers). On a transient you may hit well above that for just a split second. This transient is so fast that even if you had meters on the amp to show output power, it wouldn't read this. Say the transient signal required 15 watts to be reproduced cleanly.The 10w amp, trying to reproduce this transient, hits its 10w/ch peak but can't go any higher. It then "clips" the output waveform at its 10w limit and you hear distortion as this clipping is attempted to be transformed into sound by your speakers. Now the 100w amp on the other hand, has lots of "headroom" still left until it hits its 100w limit. It can reproduce that transient waveform cleanly with no clipping of the signal. That's it in a nutshell. Now this says nothing about quality of sound. I won't even attempt to open the can of worms about how how XYZ amplifier rated at 50w/ch sounds light years better than ABC amplifier rated at 250w/ch. OK, putting my flameproof suit on now.

That is a great explanation :thmbsp: