I would like to thank everyone except @billstevenson for giving me intelligent and helpful answers. I’m going to borrow a friend’s DVR that even though it class D, it’s rated at @75 watts per channel, so I should be able to get an idea.
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.
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If your going to check out a class D amplifer, you may wish to consider the Hypex Nilai 500.... Great reviews :-) |
Check out this video onthe topic: Using miniDSP Device Console, REW and Dirac Live to achieve the subwoofer sound you always knew was possible |
An amplifier power in Watts is not an absolute measure of power. A standard example, 50 watts in a tube amp can be equivalent to double of Watts in a solid state amplifier. My 5 Watts SET amplifier drives surprisingly good my 87 DB speakers, my normal listening level is less than 20 % of max volume. If you want a guaranteed outcome with a 50 Watts amplifier with your speakers choose a tube amplifier. |
Sorry. Somehow I missed your post. Before the Sonus Farbers, I had a pair of KEF Reference 5’s and they were very dynamic. Normally I don’t play loud, but the other day I played Tricycle by Flim & The BB’s for my wife. Don’t know if you’re familiar with the tune, but it starts off with a piano playing and then it gets LOUD for a second and then goes back to the piano. My amps are class A/B. The first 10 are A and Class B up to supposedly 600 at 4ohms. Other than having to scrape my wife off the ceiling everything sounded great. Do you think your amps could handle the dynamic range when played loud? Thanks. |
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