I have a pair of B&W speakers that have a recommended power of 50 to 300 watts. I'm driving the pair with a 120 watt tube monoblock amp attached to each. Other than having to chase down a ground loop issue (which I solved the other night), this setup is flawless. It may be "underpowered" but sure does not sound like it. I may build two more monoblocks and Bi-amp the speakers, for now, I have no need and it sounds amazing.
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- 47 posts total
@joelepo wrote:
The La Scala’s are just around or slightly above 100dB’s measured sensitivity, and so would be very loud even with limited power supplied by the McIntosh; practically you likely won’t get to where your speakers are challenge thermally let alone mechanically, whereby the power in reserve will come in handy with loads of headroom (which is a good thing). However, something tells me the La Scala’s thrive on tube-based amps, preferably moderate to higher powered variants, so that might be worth experimenting with. With inefficient and passively configured speakers in general (and most are), I’d recommend at least double the amp output power of the speaker’s long term max. power handling capacity. Less SPL requirements/shorter listening distance/more lively damped rooms can do with less amp output power. Efficient and typically passively configured speakers of yore/vintage origins or inspired (with lower to moderate power handling) seem to thrive on and get by with low powered amps, tube-based in particular, whereas more modern and pro segment high efficiency speaker designs with larger voice coils and stiffer suspensions like to be fed by high powered SS amps - they simply come better and more assuredly to life this way, not least actively. Both approaches have their strengths; the former can come across seemingly a bit more lively and with more character, while the latter has the more solid and, to my ears, "neutral" and resolved imprinting. I prefer the latter camp for a variety of reasons, but I can appreciate either approach. |
Thanks all for contributing to my education. |
Yes, but the speakers will hurt you before you can hurt them. "we often get out an audiometer to ensure the sound-pressure-level is well under 95dBA for sustained periods." This would be less than ONE WATT fed to your Klipsch speakers. I think you’re good. A little historical context: When Bose 901s were first introduced to the audio world, they had a power rating of 270 watts (If memory serves correctly). They were having incidences of catastrophic driver failure. A quick study revealed that little Pioneer receivers (around 10 WPC true RMS power) were the culprit. These little boxes were, essentially, turning into low amperage DC power supplies at sustained clipping for long periods of time (hours). Bose raised the "recommended" minimum amp power rating to 50 WPC. Problem solved. |
- 47 posts total