How to Buy a Power Amplifier
A power amplifier combined with a separate pre-amplifier generally provides the best possible sound quality in a stereo system, and the separate components provide a flexible upgrade path.
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Instructions
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Listen to both tube and solid-state amplifiers and become familiar with the difference in sound quality before researching specific models.
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Check your speaker manual to determine minimum and maximum power requirements.
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Check the nominal impedance specification for your speakers.
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Consider only models that will be compatible with your current speakers.
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Read reviews in audiophile magazines.
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Take some of your favorite albums when you audition amplifiers. Play pieces that will challenge the bass and treble, imaging and soundstaging, and dynamic range capabilities of the equipment.
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Listen to recordings of music you've heard performed live, if possible.
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Arrange to listen to the amplifier at home through your own system.
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Compare at least two or three models before making a decision.
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Base your final choice on the sound quality in your current system, price, manufacturer's warranty, and dealer service before and after the sale.
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Tips & Warnings
Other than how it affects sound quality, power is rarely a consideration for solid-state amps.
If you have low-impedance speakers, make sure the amplifier power is a match for your speakers. If your speakers require a significant amount of power or are rated below 4 ohms, stay away from tube amplifiers.
Budget between $70 and $800 each for interconnects and speaker cables. Expect to spend at least $300 on cables to get value out of your investment in a good power amplifier.
If your pre-amplifier has balanced outputs and your power amplifier has balanced inputs, buy a pair of balanced cables for a significant increase in fidelity.
Avoid tubed products if you don't want the hassle of finding and replacing tubes.
Rule out high-powered amplifiers and pairs of mono amplifiers if you don't have air-conditioning in the room where you will use them.
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Comments
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Jun 30, 2006
An amplifier's quality is roughly based on its THD (Total Harmonics Distortion). A tube has THDs typically about 1% (there are better ones). A solid state amplifier can be as good as 0.01% (100 times). A tube amplifier sounds good because it produces 2nd and 3rd harmonics. The surround like sound can be duplicated by a surround preamp to a solid state amplifier too. The problem is the price tag of an elegant tube amplifier. At the very high price, we could buy an award winning home theater.
