There are many factors to consider, not just watts.
My 3 way system is bi amped.
I use a 12w valve amp into the 8ohm mids/twt, both 93dB sensitivity.
The bass driver is 4ohm and 89dB sensitive, I use a 4ohm/700w class D to power this.
I can take this to ear bleeding levels and the 12w keeps up for mid/twt, I can't hear it, but if it is clipping it is the typical valve situation of gradual less obvious clipping, until you reach the extremes.
When balancing the levels of mid/twt to bass, I have to attenuate the 12w valve amp, as its output is too loud. This is due to a combination of driver sensitivity and the gain of the respective amps. The valve amp has relatively high gain and typically class D are lower gain. Gain is the multiplying factor of the Amp.
I also use a Linkwitz Transform circuit on the bass at line level, it gives a 10dB boost at 20Hz giving my sealed box 12" driver a flat response to 21Hz and an f3 of around 18Hz, so a Sub is not needed here.
With a LT circuit, for every 3dB in boost, you double the watts required at that frequency, so x2x2x2 would be appropriate for a 9dB boost. The headroom on my class D comes into play here.
Your source output level is part of your total gain chain, is it a line level signal like a phono stage, or a hot output from a modern DAC. The power amp is a multiplier so what goes in, dictates what comes out. Its sensitivity comes into play here.
For good bass at high SPL you need plenty of watts and current on hand.
The upper frequencies are far less demanding.
So driver sensitivity, amp gain, source signal strength, room size and your take on what an acceptable SPL is, are all part of the equation.
Ben Duncan mains conditioner
2022 MacBook Pro 14" M1 Pro 10/16/16/16
Samsung QE75Q90T 75" QLED TV
XMOS DSD Async USB to Coax converter
RME Audio ADI-2 FS (AK4493) DAC
Chord Clearway XLR interconnects
Audioquest Crimson USB interconnect
QED Quartz Reference optical interconnect
Edifier S3000 Pro active speakers
Atacama SE24 stands
Will await your write-up with interest.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Me too.
Ben Duncan mains conditioner
2022 MacBook Pro 14" M1 Pro 10/16/16/16
Samsung QE75Q90T 75" QLED TV
XMOS DSD Async USB to Coax converter
RME Audio ADI-2 FS (AK4493) DAC
Chord Clearway XLR interconnects
Audioquest Crimson USB interconnect
QED Quartz Reference optical interconnect
Edifier S3000 Pro active speakers
Atacama SE24 stands
Location: Nothamptonshire
Posts: 164
I'm Sharif.
I found this interesting on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaiEDYB5c9M
As someone says in the comments I'd like to see him try that again with an amp that has a maximum output of 1 watt.
If I am using amps with level meters (and with more slightly more efficient speakers in a smaller room than his), it is true that most of the time less than a watt is being used. But you can see on the meters that occasionally 40 watts and more are used on peaks. Knock the sensitivity down 3dB and that would be 80-plus watts on peaks.
I worked out long ago I need at least a 50 watt amp to get the levels I like without clipping. And I don't listen at high volumes.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Like a car with a big powerful engine, you don't need to drives at ten tenths to feel the benefit
I just dropped in, to see what condition my condition was in
T/T: Inspire Monarch, X200 tonearm, Ortofon Quintet Blue. Phono: Project Tube Box CD: Marantz CD6006 (UK Edition); Amp: Musical Fidelity A5 Integrated.
Speakers: Zu Omen Def, REL T9i subwoofer. Cables: Atlas Equator interconnects, Atlas Hyper 3.0 speaker cables
T'other system:
Echo Dot, Amptastic Mini One,Arcam A75 integrated, Celestion 5's, BK XLS-200 DF
A/V:
LG 55" OLED, Panasonic Blu Ray, Sony a/v amp, MA Radius speakers, REL Storm sub
Forget the past, it's gone. And don't worry about the future, it doesn't exist. There is only NOW.
KICKSTARTER: ENABLING SCAMMERS SINCE 2009
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.