Re: current amplifiesr for speakers now "degraded"?

"student" <guest@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:dfGdnemq2ZNctq_VnZ2dnUVZ_rXinZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxx

Question: I remember that the Heathkit 15-20 watt amps
were quite able to power the lo-efficent
Acoustic Research AR 2 to loud sounds.

The AR2s were actually pretty efficient speakers by modern standards. They
also had better bass than a lot of modern speakers.

Also, in the days of the AR2s there weren't a lot of people out to listen at
120 dB.

Is there any reason that the speaker mfg would
recommend higher power ratings than what
was quite capable in the early days?

(1) Many speakers are maybe 1/4 as efficient as AR2s

(2) In the old days 95 dB was loud. These days 105 dB is not all that much
for many people.

1/4 the efficiency, 10 dB louder is 40 times the power. Do the math: 40
times 20 watts is 800 watts.

Are current receivers/amps overblown in their pwr ratings?

100 wpc is IME a pretty useful number.

Are they of less quality than the old tube stuff?

In terms of performance a good modern SS amp is light years better in every
technical and sonic area.

I don't listen loudly as I'm in an apt the Onkyo isn't my
main system which I have in the living room. Are speaker
mfg just trying to be "safe" from lawsuits?

No, they are providing what the market demands.


.

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