Alex posted at one point that the LC would do 2.8 watts into 50 ohms... Meaning with music peaks (headroom). He did say that it would not maintain that on sine wave signals due to power dissipation (heat) in the small unit. So, what, 4 db more output.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/761088/cavalli-audios-liquid-carbon-a-599-cavalli-amp/1485
I wanted to talk about power output too. I've been holding back on you guys on the power output of the amp. Only a little though.
I've spec'd the amp a 1.5W continuous into 50R. In fact, it will do about 2.8W continuous into 50R.
Now, keep in mind that 1.5W and especially 2,8W is a lot of power. I don't know any headphones where this won't ring your bell and in most headphones it would be damaging.
However, what you really need the power for is, as you all know, the transients. Most of the time you're listening at fairly low power levels, but when the music creates a strong transient you need the amp to be able to respond.
The Carbon can respond with much more power than 1.5W. Also, we measured about .04% THD with 1kHz in driving 47.5R at 2.8W.
Now, you may be wondering can you use all of that 2.8W. And the answer is, if we were talking about sine waves, no. This is because the Carbon is so small that is has limited power dissipation capacity. This is really why I originally said 1.5W. Because this safe.
However, if the 2.8W only comes into play when you need it, the PD capacity is good enough.
I am sure he means from the balanced outputs.
Not far off from the Jot ratings. Though Schitt does not mention anything about continuous power... just RMS (for how long?) last I looked.
Your argument still holds though. Still not close to what is needed for the levels he listens at... for the given desired headroom. especially.
yeah, finding specs on power can be frustrating because every manufacturer has different definitions that can be very important. For some it's the absolute amount of power the amp can send, period. For others it's the highest amount it can maintain over a specified length of time, for others, it's the highest amount it can send and stay below a certain THD ceiling. We more or less just have to take the amp makers at their word, and pretend like the measures are the same between units, unfortunately. At least until you just hear the amp and decide for yourself. That's why reading off spec sheets can be tricky. It's also why I hate when people on here just cite mW ratings and say "more power = better!!!"
That being said, the m9XX can basically give all of its 1 watt peak power distortion free and without missing the transients. Grace seem to be one of the more conservative makers when it comes to power ratings as far as not overstating capabilities. In fact, the volume knob on the Grace is such that it won't even let you run out of power. 99.5 is the setting where at peak input level, the output level still wouldn't clip on the m9XX.
The other aspect, as you hint, is that while 1 watt and 2.8 watts, while it sounds like WAAAAAYYYYYY more power, actually isn't much more power. Especially if the 2.8 watts can't be maintained and causes heat dissipation issues. That probably only means a difference of 2-3 dB in average listening levels, and 4dB in ability of peak, occasional loudness.
This is why some people use speaker taps. Some listeners need like 10 watts to get their music to the ear crushing levels they desire with appropriate head room.
More than very occasional, extremely brief sessions at the 100dB+ levels we are talking about WILL damage your hearing eventually. I don't like chastising people on here too much for their volume levels, but for others, it's just not safe to listen at that level regularly (i.e. more than once a month, on accident, for under a minute). Everybody's ears are different, sure, but that just means the damage will happen at different rates at those levels. No matter how good your ear is at protecting itself, 100dB is damaging your hearing, no ifs, ands or buts. The only question is: is it damaging at such a rate that you'll go effectively deaf by 60 years old or 80 years old (or before medical science develops perfect cochlear implants).