How much power needed to drive 91db speakers?


Sonus Farber lists the sensitivity of my speakers at 91 db SPL@ 1 meter @4 ohms.  They also say I should use  50-450 watts of power. My PS Audio amps pump out 500 watts @4ohms, so the max isn’t a problem, but if I switched to something 15-50 class A watts, would that be more than enough power?  
 

Thanks in advance.

curiousjim

Showing 1 response by verdantaudio

The answer is in your room size and how loudly you listen along with the impedance curve of the speakers.  In a 14 x 20 room with a 90dB SPL monitor I use 55w of class a tube power and they are driven well.  25w from a SET mono I have is adequate in the same space.  In my 20 x 40 main basement, neither is adequate at reference levels. 

My speakers also have a nominal 6ohm impedance.  Usually speakers measures at 4ohms are less sensitive than the measured spec due strictly to the way it is calculated.  See any review for Tekton in Stereophile.  It is in how the math is done.  

so the answer is maybe, possibly probably but need to know more.