100 watts enough?

Get rid of the neighbor!

Yes 100 watts is enough. It's a big amp with big caps so no problem. If it was a cheap consumer grade receiver, a hundred watts is not going to cut it. 

IME, most systems (the preamp sounds best in the 12-3:00 o'clock range). Many systems will not open up at such low volumes. Maybe you should try a headphone set up. You have some great electronics that seem to be handcuffed by limiting there ability to bloom and breathe. I can't imagine not getting 75 to 88db+ on some of my favorite tracks.

Stereophile lists them at 87dB and tested them with a Krell FPB 600 and VTL 750 monoblocks. Big amps. Considering you do not crank them, 100 watts might be okay. It's a lot of money to spend for a compromised—sorry, restricted—space where they may never get the chance to sing.

I live in a condo and have almost nothing between me and my neighbor so I don't ever crank up the volume.

This is how you will get away with it. Those are some wonderful speakers. One of the very few I have heard that I really liked. Of course I never would consider them due to their extreme low sensitivity. But if you keep to low to moderate volume you should be fine. Better than fine. Been a long time since I heard them, and it was an earlier version than yours, but did they ever make a positive impression! Only other speakers ever came close were Avalon, don't recall which ones but they had the magic, like yours.

Sounds great to me also look at Pass 350.8 plenty of power not overpriced like CH.CH is great as well its your move.

88dB - 12dB (4m distance) +3dB (room reflections) +3dB (two speakers) = 82dB@1W = 92dB@10W = 102dB@100W 

I think you’ll be sorry. I’ve tried 100, 150, 200 watts, and it took a Pass X250 to wake my Aerial Acoustics 7B’s. Sure the other amps could drive them but I had to crank it to get them to sing and then I felt the amps were still struggling a little. With the bigger Pass, even at lower volumes which I tend to play most often, my system sounds great. With the other lower powered amps, listening to lower volume wasn’t at all enjoyable. Would love to try a Pass X350.8 in my system.

i don't know the amp, but based on the power rating and the andra's specs as a driven load, it should work fine -- unless you play the music very very loud

but really no way to know for sure for yourself until you try it!

Thanks Kijanki, that’s what I was looking for.   The VAC preamp has a lot of gain (almost too much), which is why I can’t go past 9-10 o’clock on most recordings.

200W rms, no less.
   Sure a small condo, 100W will be “enough”
 the 200wpc, or 300WPC, will sound much more effortless, in every aspect of your listening, midrange, bass, highs, crescendo s’
etc etc. 
  I learned my lesson a LOOOOONNNNGG time ago, when it comes to amplifiers, get 200-250W high current, or 300WPC amp. Minimum.  Down the road, you will think back to that arctic.......whatever name he was, and silently say under muddled breath “thanks dude”.   Been through several receivers, amplifiers, past 30 years, best were/are the amps with a minimum of 250wpc. 

Or try some wall treatments, expensive, but if they work, and allow you to get some volume,.....give it a try. 


       We visit a condo in the Florida gulf, and I moved in a small stereo, some small Polk audio towers, Yamaha receiver, Sony 5cd carousel
the polks look like the monitor 60, but I think older version.
from after 2009 I think?The people in our condo are all old and have nothing to do except complain and cause problems.
   Check out eBay, I found a 3 pack of construction Noise cds. I love them, saws, hammering,, general talk, with dropping wood , metal grinding, glass breaking, they are great. The nosy neighbors called the accociation on me, because they didn’t see and construction permits on my door, yes, they came ,looked, and called and ratted us.  So I play those cds on repeat, from 8am til 5 pm when we leave for the day. 

p anyway,  if and when you move, or are able to play a little louder, you will be thankful you have the power!

Oh, I'd like to hear them, where do you live?

Happily, your speakers were designed to allow bi-wiring. I'm thinking you will be just fine now, and if you ever move, want/need more volume, you could simply add a second amp, also designed for biamp/bridging,

https://www.ch-precision.com/product/a1-two-channel-power-amplifier/

two = 200 wpc, OR, depending on your preamp/future crossover simply add a less costly separate amp dedicated to the woofers, keep this amp for the more important tweeters/midrange.

http://egglestonworks.com/products/the-andra-iii/

BI– Amplification / BI Wiring Due to the unique crossover configuration of our loudspeakers, advantages of biamping and bi-wiring are maximized. We supply the Andra III with two sets of binding posts to allow for bi-wiring or bi-amping. The top set of binding posts drive the tweeter and midrange, and the bottom binding posts drive the woofer section.

@robal

The VAC preamp has a lot of gain (almost too much), which is why I can’t go past 9-10 o’clock on most recordings.

don’t conflate preamp output voltage with receiving power amplifier power/capability

frequent noob mistake... often with unfortunate consequences

just because the gas pedal in car a is more sensitive than car b doesn’t make it more powerful

It is a fairly large space to fill, on the other hand you are not typically seeking high volume levels. Many amp designers suggest that amplifiers are typically at their most linear when operating at about 20% of their output and further suggest having about 80% headroom above that. Ideally you could try it out with a return option.

If you won't exceed 100dB, then 100watts/channel is plenty. Appears you are below 80dB@14 feet. +1 kijanki.

You can also plug in your numbers into this calculator (Amplifier Power Required):

https://www.crownaudio.com/en/tools/calculators

It would be more accurate if you have an SPL meter but I reckon that most people self-select volume at around 71-74 dB continuous. This is what I call comfortably loud. If you listen at 71 dB, the amp wouldn’t even leave its continuous power range until a peak greater than 24 dB. That level of dynamics would cover large symphonic works, so the amp would be good for basically all music.

Wattage has noting to do with driving a speaker.

For your room size and speaker, no matter how soft you listen, you will enjoy more with a juicy powerful amp. Get a Symphonic Line Kraft

71dB seems low to me. I would have thought something like 80 dB would be more typical.

@unsound wrote,
’Many amp designers suggest that amplifiers are typically at their most linear when operating at about 20% of their output and further suggest having about 80% headroom.’
This seems very logical. 20% = 20 watts from the CH Precision amplifier.

Kijanki calculated based on robal’s seating distance from his speakers (Accurately in my opinion) 1 watt will provide 82 db SPL and 10 watts will provide 92 db SPL So definitely not exceeding the range of desired amplifier output linearity. 92 db is loud (Assuming no hearing deficits) and probably well above robal’s listening levels in his condo environment (Achieved with only 10 watts).

CH Precision amplifier is providing 100 watts of very high quality.
I don’t see the rationale for recommending higher power amplifiers for robal’s stated needs and circumstances. His speakers are 6 ohm impedance (Minimal) so they are not demanding of high current capability amplifiers. 
Charles

@charles1dad, I haven't recommended higher powered amplification here. I agree with most of yours and Kijanki's posts, though I don't think 92 dB is all that loud, and I think the OPs rather large room is a consideration. IMHO, while 100 dB is most certainly verging on the loud side; 105-115 dB peaks are LOUD.

@arcticdeth,

you sound like the type of neighbor I would avoid at all costs. 

Hi @unsound,
I get your point about loud volume levels and certainly it is subjective amongst respective listeners and their perception of such. Given the OP’s stated condo listening limitations/situation I’m guessing (And could be wrong) that 92 db SPL would be pretty loud relatively speaking.
Charles

my speakers adequately. I have EgglestonWorks Andra III speakers which are 88db efficient


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is your problem. 
88 db ~~~IN~~ Efficient speakers, 91db+ = EFFicinet speakers, 
91db < = INefficinet speakers, 
Power = power, 
you only need 25 watts to drive a   wide band. 

charles1dad7,807 posts07-03-2021 9:06am@unsound wrote,
’Many amp designers suggest that amplifiers are typically at their most linear when operating at about 20% of their output

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is true the lower the gain on the linestage vol, the sweeter/cleaner the sound.
But who here listens at a whisper.
So 9oclock - 10oclock is ideal gain on vol. Over 10oclock you are adding to distortion, making 85db max on vol level. 90db, yuckkk, tahts too LOUD mouth.
I listen at 70db near field. If 70, most likely 60

I am using no more than say 15 watts of the Defy 7's 100 watts. 

The calculator @yage  provided link to answers the question. 

I have to agree with those suggesting powerful amps. You want more than just enough, you want a high current amp. I would also recommend the Pass x350.8. I owned an x350 for fifteen years. Tremendous current, and it should make your speakers sound there best at low volumes as well. The VAC preamp sounds like an excellent match.

So I play those cds on repeat, from 8am til 5 pm when we leave for the day.

@arcticdeth One day you will be old. I hope you meet your past self then.

you will be fine as will your neighbor, see my casa Pacifica system for a nice condo system w 86 db speakers. almost perfect R60 measures with very little additional treatments 

@unsound @charles1dad
Just for reference, here is a link to loudness levels that studios are recommended to calibrate to when monitoring. The relevant table is ’Room size vs Reference Level’ all the way at the bottom. Note that for the largest space, the recommendation is 83 dB SPL (C weighted). This is measured using pink noise with a single speaker. Subtract 3 dB if playing the pink noise through two speakers.

Another guidepost could be the THX Reference Level. This is set to 85 dB SPL (C) at the listening position as measured with pink noise. The equipment should be able to handle 20 dB peaks. So if you’ve been to a THX certified cinema, you’ll have a sense of how loud that is.

In any case, I recommend getting an SPL meter and measuring yourself. You might come away surprised.

@noromance 

hahahahah
me too.
im getting enough these days.

 My Father (rip,sir) said “you will get tri-fold the day you have a son”
and bam, along comes a son,.....and yes, I’m getting 3X the Runaround he had. 😳

From John Atkinson/Stereophile,

"The EgglestonWorks Andra is moderately sensitive, my estimated 87dB/2.83V/m (B-weighted) reading agreeing with the specified figure. Its impedance plot (fig.1) suggests that the speaker appears to be an easy load for an amplifier to drive, the magnitude dropping below 10 ohms only in the high treble and below 130Hz, and the phase angle generally remaining low. However, it does reach 4 ohms in the low bass, around the tuning of the twin ports. There is a very slight wrinkle in the impedance traces between 300 and 400Hz, this generally indicative of a cabinet resonance of some kind. However, as might be expected from its massively constructed cabinet, the Andra is impressively inert. About the only resonant mode I could find was on the woofer enclosure wall (fig.2) at 350Hz. This is well down in level, however."

Given this assessment coupled with the OP's stated  "neighbors"  situation it seems that the CH Precision 100 watt amplifier is far more than adequate . I guess I'm missing the rationale of why a more powerful amplifier is advantageous.  It appears that this amplifier would coast driving the  "easy load"  (Atkinson's words) Andras to suit the OP's circumstances. 
Charles 

At the risk of appearing petty, perhaps it's because some might feel that the amps power output it merely adequate.

Hi @tomic601,
I bet Casa Pacifica sounds absolutely gorgeous!
Based on Atkinson’s description of the  Eggleston Andra speaker impedance characteristics I believe that your  Music Reference RM-9 would a good match.
Charles

@unsound,
Not petty. However given what we know,  kijankii’s calculations and Stereophile measurement/testing, why would one conclude "merely adequate "?
Charles

Kijankii's measurements: ...."...102 dB@100W" seems closer to adequate than far more than adequate, at least to me. And at the risk of redundancy; it is a rather large room. I'll hazard a guess that the neighbor leaves home on occasion. 

@unsound I hear you. I’m just basing it the OP suggesting his listening levels are modest. "I don’t ever crank it up". OP hasn’t chimed in to say what exactly those listening levels are in db for a better understanding. Modest levels to me would be mid 60s to mid 70s db C-weighted. In which case he’d be using only small fractions of a single watt.  10 watts gets him 92 db SPL. Well an interesting topic nonetheless. @unsound I appreciate your thoughts.
Charles

the OP can leapfrog half of audiogon with purchase and use of a decent SPL meter…..
or better yet RTA w calibrated mic. I would say the CH is going to kick some A
@charles1dad 

thank you ! the guy who designed the Treo feels same way. To be fair the RM-9 amp also designed by a genius - Roger Modjeski - RIP.

Having said all that my reference system is 1.2 Kw a side….but it’s not a condo…

isnt it wonderful we all have choices

i would be more interested in playing a few key tracks…say for instance a hand clap on a Norah Jones cut….and LISTENING to see IF the amp clips….

When reading all the comments referring to SPL measurements, keep in mind that SPL is referenced at 1m from the speaker, that you are 14 feet (just over 4 meters), and that SPL decreases -6bB for every doubling of distance.  That means that at your listening position, your SPL is about 13 dB lower than at the 1m reading.  BUT, a doubling in wattage only achieves a +3bB increase in volume. So, at your 14 foot listening distance, you will need almost 20 times the watts as needed at 1m.  Also, the more watts your amp has, the more headroom, and that allows the amp to stay within the linear portion of it. ( Depending on design, an amp is only linear for maybe the first 50-75% of it's power rating.  The closer you are to it's rating, the less linear it gets, and ideally, you want to stay in that linear range).  Because of all of this, get as much wattage as you can afford,  The more headroom you have, the better.

charles1dad7,812 posts07-03-2021 8:41pmFrom John Atkinson/Stereophile,

"The EgglestonWorks Andra is moderately sensitive, my estimated 87dB/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry to disagree with 
John Atkinson @ Sterophile
But I will
87db, ~~MODERATELY~~ sensitive??
The TRUTH is
87db = IN-Efficient 
IOW 
In/UN Effective.
= Blood sucking speakers. 
Below 91db = INefficient/low sensitivity. = all xover box designs Inefficient. 
Lets  be honest around here , would we please.

If the listener considers 80db loud, then CH 100 watt amp should work.  The listener should be able to achieve 98dB peaks at the listening position before the amp exceeds its rated power.  The Egglestons are not a demanding load and the CH is a robust design.  Based upon the information supplied by the OP, I would go with quality over quantity.

@tarheelneil51,
The listening distance (4 meters) factor was accounted for in kijanki’s calculations. See his post above.


’Based upon the information supplied by the OP, I would go with quality over quantity.’, Per @onhwy61.

Yep, this is my point. A very (Perhaps ultra) high quality solid state amplifier driving speakers that for the most part have a speaker impedance of 10 ohm or above. Dip no lower than 4 ohm in the lower bass. This is not a challenging load for the very robust designed CH Precision A1 amplifier (Substantial power supply and capacitance reserve). Quality indeed. 
Charles

Well, it certainly has a unique crossover and driver configuration.  Based on the Stereophile measurements, the absolute minimum impedance is 4 Ohms around 20 Hz, and higher elsewhere.

I would say a modest amplifier of 100 Watts should be plenty in a modest room, and that these speakers are good candidates for tube amps as well.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/egglestonworks-andra-loudspeaker-measurements

it is of course in the eye of the beholder, but i have considered the following over time as reasonable descriptions

below 86 db / w / m -- inefficient
87-89 db -- moderately efficient
90-92 db -- efficient
93 db and up -- very efficient

impedance and nature of reactivity of the speaker load figures in too ( eg -- an 'efficient' load of 90 db at 3.5 ohms impedance still may not be easy for certain amps to drive)... but based on the simple measure of db/w/m above that is a simplistic and proper ranging imo

No one has posted the combined impedance/-phase graph on these, so here it is. Even the EPDR loading will be easy.
  https://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/Eggfig01.jpg

As you can see easy load, even tubes from the 4ohm tap will sound great into them.

Cheers George

CH Precision is nice smooth sound but if it clips it will like an Adcom lol. Since you in market for new amp look for something like 300 watts and doubles down from there & stable into 2 ohms. 

Or you can get new more efficient speakers! ☺️

You will have plenty of power but it sounds like you will not be able to use much of it anyway sorry but a condo situation is very hard to deal with.

I'm wondering if you are being over cautious regarding the volume. A little louder could be acceptable depending on the construction material used between you and your neighbor.

I'm in a similar situation (13x40ft) and I've found a good test is to check the volume at the distant end of the room.

These massive 25 watt only into 8ohm ML2 monoblocks will drive a pair of Wilson Alexia’s (hardest speaker known to drive in the bass 0.9ohm ) magnificently to a certain loudness because they can do big current.

They almost double their wattage for each halving of impedance all the way down to 1ohm-200W!!!
https://img.usaudiomart.com/uploads/large/2229206-5c605986-mark-levinson-ml2.jpg
As you can see wattage is not everything!

Cheers George