What is the most powerful amp ever?

[Sput]

First, what is the most powerful amp ever?

Second, what is the most powerful amp you might find in someone's house?

[Metralla]

The Chord 1400 has the highest rating I've seen, although JA's tests in Stereophile showed that it got nowhere near the rated power - more like 700. Interesting.

Something like the Parasound JC-1 is not uncommon - I know people who have them in their house. Rated at around 300w into 8 ohms, but will do it easily.

[Doug Sclar]

Well don't forget about the Phase Linear 700.

[VinylSoul]

McIntosh has 1000 watt/8ohm monoblocks.

[Sput]

McIntosh has 1000 watt/8ohm monoblocks.



SHUT...............UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :righton: :righton: :righton: :righton: :righton:

[LeeS]

I think Krell has new massive monoblocks.

[macready]

Krell Master Reference

1,000 W into 8 Ohms, 2,000 W into 4 Ohms, 4,000 W into 2 Ohms, 8,000 W into 1 Ohm, and 16,000 W into .5 Ohm

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/macready/1174316632.jpg

[MisterBritt]

Well now, they've got the MC 1201 monoblocks rated at 1200 watts. And I'm sure that's the real deal. Then they have the prototypes MC 2KW, which I suppose are 2,000 watt monsters.

But for my money -- hypothetically (borrowed image) -- I imagine their legendary MC 3500 tube amps would absolutely hold their own against anything out there! Behold, the mystical monoliths conservatively rated at 350 watts of tube bliss:

[Toka]

The Sansui BA-5000 is the first (only?) amp I've seen that had 2-ohm taps. Rated 300Wx2, could be strapped for mono at 600Wx1, but like most gear of that era was vastly underrated, almost by the order of 50%. I have a feeling it could put over 1000W into 1-ohm and not really struggle with it.

[Gerry]

http://www.crownaudio.com/pdf/legacy/k80305a2.pdf

The Crown Macro-Tech 10,000 was a fairly healthy box.

[Toka]

http://www.crownaudio.com/pdf/legacy/k80305a2.pdf

The Crown Macro-Tech 10,000 was a fairly healthy box.

:eek:

[SamS]

Then they have the prototypes MC 2KW, which I suppose are 2,000 watt monsters.



Yeah, the MC2KW was going to be my answer. But you're really start running up against a hard wall once you hit the 500w/channel mark for a stereo amp. Or 1000watts mono.

If you have a 15 amp circuit, that delivers a stable 120 volts, you only have 1800 watts available at the wall outlet. Since a class A/B amp would only run at ~1/2 efficiency (rest of power would go to heat, etc), you can old truly get ~900 watts available to the speakers (or <500wpc in a stereo config).

So now ya know why I run a McIntosh MC-402 (400wpc). It peaks sometimes above 400wpc, but I'm really running up against the laws of physics to getting more power. I have a dedicated circuit for the amp as well. Wanna know what pulls more than 400wpc from my amp? Steve's "Willie And The Poor Boys" SACD, the track "Down on the Corner" ;)

[Black Elk]

Here`re 2 monoblocks 1)Bryston 28 B SST & Pass X 1000. Both 1000W/C.

And don't forget that the original Pass X-1000 could be used in arrays up to peak output powers of 64,000 watts!!!!

The Cello Performance II amplifier would deliver 800 W into 8 ohms, 1600 W into 4 ohms and 3200 W into 2 ohms!

Classe's Omega will conservatively deliver 500 W into 8 ohms, 1000 W into 4 ohms and 2000 W into 2 ohms.

Musical Fidelity has their kW 750, but it only delivers 750 W into 8 ohms and 1100 W into 4 ohms.

VTL's Siegfried will deliver 800 W into 4 ohms (not bad for tubes), while their Wotan amp. was supposed to deliver 1250 W, I presume also into 4 ohms.

With the introduction of Class-D technology, you're going to see more amps. like the new Rotels than can deliver 500 W into 8 ohms and 1000 W into 4 ohms, and still run relatively cool!

As for home use, my Classe mono-blocks can easily generate 350 W into 8 ohms and 700 W into 4 ohms.

[MisterBritt]

Yeah, the MC2KW was going to be my answer. But you're really start running up against a hard wall once you hit the 500w/channel mark for a stereo amp. Or 1000watts mono.

If you have a 15 amp circuit, that delivers a stable 120 volts, you only have 1800 watts available at the wall outlet. Since a class A/B amp would only run at ~1/2 efficiency (rest of power would go to heat, etc), you can old truly get ~900 watts available to the speakers (or <500wpc in a stereo config).

So now ya know why I run a McIntosh MC-402 (400wpc). It peaks sometimes above 400wpc, but I'm really running up against the laws of physics to getting more power. I have a dedicated circuit for the amp as well. Wanna know what pulls more than 400wpc from my amp? Steve's "Willie And The Poor Boys" SACD, the track "Down on the Corner" ;)Great, great, great response. How does one achieve a dedicated circuit? Does that have to be done during construction?

[reb]

Are we talking home audio or pro-sound. I'm sure the most powerful amps must be of pro sound lineage.

[LeeS]

Krell Master Reference

1,000 W into 8 Ohms, 2,000 W into 4 Ohms, 4,000 W into 2 Ohms, 8,000 W into 1 Ohm, and 16,000 W into .5 Ohm


Finally, something to drive the Maggies 20.1s...actually that might even drive some of those 1 ohm Apogees that were impossible in the 90s. :D

[Black Elk]

Finally, something to drive the Maggies 20.1s...actually that might even drive some of those 1 ohm Apogees that were impossible in the 90s. :D

And the Stax ELS loudspeakers which had efficiencies of around 75 dB/1 W @ 1 m!!!

[thegage]

My EVS mono switching amps claim about 1100 watts into 4 Ohms from ICEPower modules, but I haven't measured it yet. Too scared. I assume with their efficiency they should reach that figure on a dedicated line.

John K.

[TONEPUB]

Well now, they've got the MC 1201 monoblocks rated at 1200 watts. And I'm sure that's the real deal. Then they have the prototypes MC 2KW, which I suppose are 2,000 watt monsters.

But for my money -- hypothetically (borrowed image) -- I imagine their legendary MC 3500 tube amps would absolutely hold their own against anything out there! Behold, the mystical monoliths conservatively rated at 350 watts of tube bliss:


Sweet amps!!

I've got a pair of Manley 250's and they are also very nice! Gonna hate to send em
back to EveAnna after the review...

[Joe Nino-Hernes]

Most powerful amp I know of is a live sound reinforcement amplifier made by Powersoft. They are 10,000 watts per channel. Only one rack space!!! Class D.

The amps I routinely work with are Lab. Gurppen FP-6400's. They are 3,200 watts per channel or 6,400 bridged. They are class D. They only weigh about 25 lbs! Amazing!

[soundboy]

There was a Proton power amp (forget model number), the one with the cool blue power meters, that was tested by Stereo Review and its dynamic power output include a 1,200 watt burst into one ohm.

[LeeS]

The amps I routinely work with are Lab. Gurppen FP-6400's. They are 3,200 watts per channel or 6,400 bridged. They are class D. They only weigh about 25 lbs!

Do they also sound good Joe?

[Joe Nino-Hernes]

Do they also sound good Joe?

Yes, they sound very good. In my opinion, they are one of the best sounding PA amps ever. Many people in the pro audio world will agree with this. Not only will these amps drive any load, they are lightweight, reliable and most importantly they sound great!

[LeeS]

Glad to hear Joe.

[mikelakers]

Not audio frequency(a bid of thread crap), but we do have a 20K watt Klystron tube amp here at work to transmit RF.