Legacy Aeris owners which amp do you use and why?

I heard that but don't listening levels matter?. I mean if they say 500w max that does not mean we will need 500w for normal listening at 4 feet do we?. Also the amp does not need to power lower frequencies.

@audiotroy Thanks but I have cost constraints. I would like to refer to this: https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2012/04/03/speaker-sensitivity-dynamic-range-and-amplifier-output/

Seems like sitting at 3 meters all I need is 12wpc for 94 db efficient speakers but not sure about them being 4 ohm or 8 ohm. 

I just cannot buy $15k amp for $15k speaker, specially when the speaker has active amplification for lower frequencies.

I am considering some class A SS amps that can do 100 watts if I really need more than 50 watts, I currently have Line magnetic 508ia that does 48 watts per channel (SET tube class A). The line magnetic sound great with my Paradigm studio v40 which are 92 dB @ 8 ohm sitting at 3 meters

What are your recommendations for a reasonable priced amp?.

@audiotroy, I have listened to Aeris at RMAF 2018 and bought them. They are on the way along with Wavelet. The reason I got them because of how good they sounded compared to others and I believe in good engineering.

Regarding loudness I play at 85 dB, typical listening levels for me. I understand that we need to account for 15 dB of SPL swing for dynamic music that brings it to no more than 100 dB maximum. I sit no more than 10 feet from the speakers. Give the above numbers I find the following from the calculator: Adjusting the speakers for 92 dB efficiency I see that I do not need more than 30 watts per channel to reach 100 dB of sound. 100 dB is too loud.

So I still do not understand why people are talking about 300 Watts of power. Is it because to get good first 30 watts the amps have to be rated 300 Watts?. I wonder if I missing something basic here. Why do we need zillions of watts?.

As I understand Aeris has bass powered internally so they should be more easier to drive with a decent amplifier.

I am going to try them out with the Line magnetic 508ia and may be A/B them with a class D amp that can put 500 Watt into 4 Ohm and see if I can perceive any difference. At this point I am skeptical I will notice any difference.

@mckinneymike, Usually a dealer deals with few vendors. And no one I have talked to is interested in loaning for testing.

@mtrot, Thanks for the fantastic suggestion. Krell FPB-300cx and FPB-200c have a lot of class A power. Used ones are in the affordable range. Thanks again.

@mckinneymike, thanks I did get myself a tube amp Line Magnetic 508ia here from Audiogon a demo version. It sounds great with my paradigm studio 40 v3. Sometimes I do see vu meter hitting 50% +. 

I got myself a new pair of speakers, Legacy Aeris and I preferably want to demo a bunch of amps over time at home over a couple of weeks for each amp and see which one I will like. 

I do like the tube amp I have but I am in the camp that good amps should sound the same as long as they drive the speaker the same and do get stressed. A tube amp that can put out 200 Watts @ 4 Ohm is not just not within my reach and not sure if it is worth the trouble, like heat etc. 

Direct to home amp manufactures are more generous in my opinion I have to pay for return shipping in most cases which I might just do.

@jackd the speakers are 92 dB/1 W/1 M and stated impedance is 4 Ohm. I have no guarantee that they could dip a bit with respect to impedance. At this time the recommendation is to feed it 100 Watts of clean power when needed in my room and listening setting. And higher the watts the better.

I am on the hunt for 200 Watts of distortion free cost effective watts. Class D seems to do it, but no one like them that much specially for midrange and above only amplification.

From all my readings for super low distortion amp is Benchmark ABH2. It is more expensive than class D amps like ATI AT543NC, Nord etc. ATI and Nord also can easily put out 350+ Watts @ 4 Ohm at super low distortion but lot of people do not recommend them.

I am also considering Coda amps. But close to clipping some Coda amps put more distortion than Benchmark ABH2 last I checked. It depends though. I just do not want to get huge class A/B monoblock if speakers only need 100 to 200 watts of clean power. Again it is hard to find measurements for all Coda amps through the range of watts at all impedance levels.

@jackd yes thanks I might just do that. 

@snoopy72 Wonderful. I should have taken previous advice from others on just starting with a good integrated. Glad you are enjoying Focus SE with Luxman. I am going to see through the Class D vs Class A/B vs SET thing after all.

@oregonpapa thanks got myself LM 508ia tube amp and Benchmark AHB2.