100 watts enough?


Hi all.  I'm contemplating purchasing a CH Precision A1 and I don't know if it will drive my speakers adequately.  I have EgglestonWorks Andra III speakers which are 88db efficient (impedance 8 ohms nominal, 6 ohms minimal).  I have a 30x20ft  room and I sit about 14ft from the speakers.  I live in a condo and have almost nothing between me and my neighbor so I don't ever crank up the volume.  I use a VAC Renaissance preamp that I almost never crank past 9 o'clock.  The Andra III is a speaker that likes lots of power to open up.  So what do you think?
robal
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.

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.
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.
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.