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Eminent Technology 8b Speakers - Amp/wattage Recommendations

I recently purchased a nearly new pair of 8bs. I am now looking for an amplifier. 

My preference is tubes over SS.

The room is 23x15x10 feet dedicated for music. 

I like to play music fairly loud at times. 

I will likely biamp, meaning whatever tube amp I end up using will receive a high-pass filtered signal and drive only the mid and high freq panel drivers. 

I am aware that Bruce T recommends 75-200 watts. 

I am considering two options, (a) Quicksilver KT monos with KT150 tubes (100 watts) and (b) another amp by a boutique builder using 4 KT 120 per side and 120 watts. 

My preference is option (a), but worry that 100 watts is not sufficient. 

I would appreciate any real-world experience on how many watts is practically needed with the 8bs. Are they as power hungry as I think they are, or is 100 watts more than enough? 

Does bi-amping make a difference, meaning one can get away with using less watts since you are driving only the mids/high drivers and not the subs? 

Any feedback or suggestions from 8b users would be appricated. 

Thanks much! 

 

 

jwr159

Showing 3 responses by ledoux1238

ledoux1238
318 posts
 

@jwr159 I have tried to get a pair of OB dipole subs' from Danny Richie; however, there have been shortages of one items or another for the past year and a half.

An integrated woofer solution such as the 8c seems to fit my situation. However, there are comments from  another forum regarding the DSP room correction software and the introduction of A/D and D/ A signal conversions. Apparently, Martin Logan uses similar DSP in their woofers albeit in maybe a higher quality plate amp? It is  this DSP stuff that I would appreciate comments on. 

Your subwoofer design is all analog, I presume?

ledoux1238
318 posts
 

I have been listening to 8b’s for three years now. My room is 9 x 28, so quite a bit smaller than @jwr159. I am running a 20w Mactone-MH 300b tube amp, 300b in push- pull. I prefer this to the other 100w Von Gaylord Nirvana tube amp I own. 95db is easily achievable. Sorry no experience with the QS. But I can confirm that tubes are a great fit, and not as challenging a load as Maggies.

 

This is a total aside, but Bruce has come up with a 8c woofer upgrade. It’s a drop in replacement for the existing woofer units, but with a built-in plate amps, DSP room correction, a new crossover for the panels...etc. Any comments? I’ll take it to another thread, if the OP does not want the distraction. 

ledoux1238
318 posts
 

@jwr159 I am going to change amps this weekend, give a more considered A/B and report back next week regarding 100w vs 20w amps' SQ on the 8b.

 

@bdp24 New 8C upgrade consists of dipole woofers, front firing 8" and back firing 6", but in a closed box, not OB+ DSP / plate amp.

 

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