high current Amps & Watts and How to ?

[NigelF]

I know from the forums that it is more important for amp to have higher current ouput then watts to drive difficult speakers, but my questions is how the high current is measured? and does all hifi manfucaturers specify the current output on their amplifiers if yes where and what to check or look for.

Also what is the typical ratio of current to watts if there is one, apologies for my ignorance I am not hifi techie.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Current output is measured in amps, but most manufacturers don't quote this, especially for AV amps as many of them would be quite low...

 

[theadmans]

I am also interested in this question. I have a Creek 4330 amp which is only 40 watts per channel. I have always been concerned that based on the 40 watts per channel figure the Creek may not drive my AVI Neutron IV speakers to their full potential. However, I spotted this quote in a review of the amp:-

"The 4330 has a continuous output of 40W/8ohm, a prodigious 19.5 amp
current reserve and a massive 370 watts dynamic peak output into a
one-ohm load which can control difficult speaker loads."

...anyway the amp sounds great with my speakers - is this because of the "prodigious 19.5 amp current reserve" ? Also how prodigious is a current reserve of 19.5 amps - is this good compared to other 40 watt amps?

 

[Frank Harvey]

19.5 amps is pretty good, you have no worries there