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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 4 responses by russ69

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,573 posts
 

If it was me, I’d match them with a Cary SLP-98 preamp and a Parasound A21+ or maybe two. You'll have your tube goodness and the power you need to play loud.

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,573 posts
 

If you plan to use xover filtering before the amp then how you disable crossover inside of the speakers? 

You don't have to disable the internal crossovers, you are just doing it before the crossover sees it, no harm no fowl.

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,573 posts
 

Eminent Technology says "The LFT-8b is biampable.". So just ask the designer, the best way to do that.

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,573 posts
 

One thing to consider is the added gain from a preamp...

The power amp drives the loudspeakers, the preamp drives the amp, there is no additional gain to the loudspeakers from the preamp. As long as the preamp provides enough voltage to drive the amp to full power that is all that happens. Maybe I'm missing what you are saying? 

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