Does it actually cost a manufacturer more money to make an amp more watts?

[squiresuzuki]

Why does a 200 watt amp cost more than a 100 watt? I mean, it's not like they're paying for the electricity...

Just wonderin'.

[Venom of God]

Same reason a 1000cc motorbike costs more than a 50cc (going by your user name for my example there)!

[dmusic148]

Because some of the parts have to be larger, and there's more of them.

[Reverend179]

In tube amp land, that means different transformer, more tubes, and a bigger chassis (sometimes). All that stuff costs $$.

[squiresuzuki]

Originally Posted by Venom of God

Same reason a 1000cc motorbike costs more than a 50cc (going by your user name for my example there)!

Well, my last name is Suzuki. No affiliation.

I'd still like a deeper explanation, though. The only difference between the amps are the output of the transformer...maybe different ohm/microfarad values or whatever for the components...but then why do they cost twice the money?

[KramerBassFan]

Have you ever seen how much output transformers cost?

[squiresuzuki]

Enlighten me.

[B-string]

Tubes...larger power transformers, larger output transformers (iron and copper and harder to make well), more tubes and usually a more expensive tubes as it has to be able to handle more power from the power supply. Higher power (gain) also means more noise to design and build out of the design. Small power amps are just cheaper and easier to build.

SS....again the power supply and output devices have to be able to produce more power and again the high noise from increased gain has to be delt with.

It is like why is a high power V8 engine more expensive than a low power 4 cylinder. Because it is more expensive and harder to produce.

[christw]

Does Honda put any different components in their 4 cylinder automatic Fits than they do in their V6 Accords with a 6 sp manual? They aren't paying for the gas...

Think of all the tubes there are. They all aren't the same, quite clearly. Now think of all the other components in your amp (resistors, capacitors, transformers, switches, chokes) and used in it's construction in the same way. There are a whole lot of variants of each component with a whole lot of ways that they can vary. People choose what's best based on their needs, be it price, performance, value, or anything else. Try some shopping searches on just each component and let me know how many different performance variants you find.

Edit: Hah! ^ Beat me to the engine comparison.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by squiresuzuki

Enlighten me.

100 watt OT is usually around $80 to $120, 200 watt a little over $200, 300 watt $380 and up. Then you still need the power transformer.

[rodl2005]

What about class D amps?

[B-string]

Class D amps and switching power supplies are cheaper to produce in the end, but way way more expensive to R&D. Those guys doing all that hard engineering work need to be paid also and the end product will reflect it. Although the price spread is not nearly as wide as power levels go up.

[seamonkey]

$ per watt is cheap with modern class-d and smps. A lot of the complicated technology is off the shelf now. At a certain level there isn't much cost difference between watts. The curve levels off.

[kesslari]

Ahhh, it's all a plot by The Man to rip you off.
There's no real reason for it. Build your own amp from scratch. Build your own car from scratch, too. Show them who's boss!

[Handyman]

Originally Posted by squiresuzuki

Well, my last name is Suzuki. No affiliation.

I'd still like a deeper explanation, though. The only difference between the amps are the output of the transformer...maybe different ohm/microfarad values or whatever for the components...but then why do they cost twice the money?

Because you need larger or more of the most expensive parts of the amplifier. This hold true for tube, traditional sold state, or fancy class D/SMPS amplifiers.

That said, modern high power amplifiers are dirt cheap by historical standards.

[edgaroviz]

Doesn't really matter how expensive the parts are, It may cost 300$ to make a GK1001, and 320$ to make a GK2001, they still won't sell it to you for 20$ more.
Still they spend A LOT of money on research, development, and trail and error, then they have to have "better" products, and selling the lowest/cheapest amp for 50$ less than the best/most expensive amp is quite frankly... DUMB. That's why you have so much different products that work better than other/more powerful/more reliable/rugged/perform better/etc.
Research, development, and the other "stuff" that take to make an amp costs money, because you have to pay the workers, pay suppliers, pay for energy, machines, buildings, and a s**t load of other things.
Plus... They sell it to the store for XXX$, the store has to make a profit as well, so they add X% to the price so they'll make some money as well.

They aren't in the business to cover their expenses, and give you good amps for free, amp companies aren't non-profit organizations... That's why it's called business. People want to be payed for their work, and you're their market, or should I say "pay day".

[Nev375]

Originally Posted by squiresuzuki

Why does a 200 watt amp cost more than a 100 watt? I mean, it's not like they're paying for the electricity...

Just wonderin'.

Just take the old 100 watt tubes out and put 200 watt tubes in. Works just like lightbulbs!

The only downside is you end up with a brighter sound which you may or may not like.

[Rick Auricchio]

Assume your company makes a 200w and a 450w bass head.

Differences between the two quickly come to mind:

- Different parts suppliers for the two heads;
- You have to stock both kinds of parts, so you need some warehouse space for that;
- The suppliers may have different payment and shipping quantity terms, so you need to plan ahead;
- The PC boards may be different. Maybe a different PC supplier;
- The 450w amp may need a different fan;
- The 450w amp may have a larger chassis and cabinet.
- You may need different assembly staff or subcontractor.

And I have no manufacturing experience! Someone who does will cite 50 more reasons why each product has a basic cost.

For every part you buy and stock, there's a cost involved.

[ulrich]

There is no law of "cost of production, plus a reasonable markup."

Companies chose to have products a various price points.

Cost of production, for some items, is identical. Intel just announced CPUs with some cores locked out. You'll be able to pay more to unlock more cores later.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by squiresuzuki

but then why do they cost twice the money?

They don't. In the case of power amps the cost per watt goes down as power goes up. In the case of integrated amps as the power goes up so does the feature count and overall component quality. That costs. Another fact of life is that the fewer units of a particular model made the higher the per unit amortization cost. Since fewer more powerful amps are sold due to the higher price the manufacturing costs are higher. In terms of net profit percentage manufacturers actually make less on the top of the line than they do on entry level.