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Matching Speakers to amp

I currently own a PSA Stellar 300 paired with Focal Aria 926. I just picked up a used pair of Quad S-5 and I will be comparing the sound. I am not good a using technical specs to compare so I could use some help if anyone has the time to take a look at the amp & speaker specs below and give me some feedback I would greatly appreciate.
The basic question is: from a specification standpoint which speaker pairs up with the Stellar 300 best?


Stellar 300
Gain30.5dB +/-0.5dB Sensitivity for rated output power1.01V Noise1kHz@300 Watts <-100dB Input impedance S300Unbalanced 50KΩ
Balanced 100KΩ Input impedance M700Unbalanced 50KΩ
Balanced 100KΩ Output Impedance50Hz, 2.8VRMS <0.007Ω Damping factor50Hz. 2.8VRMS
8Ω >1100
4Ω >550 Frequency Response@2.8VRMS
10Hz – 20KHz +/- 0.5dB
10Hz – 50KHz +0.1/-3.0dB
Output PowerBoth channels driven 120vac mains, 1kHz, 1% THD 8Ω140W minimum 4Ω300W minimum 2Ω Stable for musical transients

Quad S-5
General description 3-way floorstanding speaker
Enclosure type ABR
Transducer complement 3-way ABR 165mm x3 Bass driver 165mm Woven Carbon fibre Cone x2
Midrange driver 125mm Woven Carbon fibre Cone Treble driver 12 x 45 mm
True Ribbon Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1m) 90dB
Recommended amplifier power 25-175W Peak SPL 112dB
Nominal impedance 6Ω
Minimum impedance 3.2Ω
Frequency response (+/-3dB) 42Hz ~ 23kHz Bass extension (-6dB) 35Hz Crossover frequency 570Hz & 3.2kHz

Focal 926
Speaker driversTwo 61/2" (16.5cm) Flax bass61/2" (16.5cm) Flax midrange1" (25mm) Al/Mg TNF inverted dome tweeterFrequency response (+/- 3dB)45Hz - 28kHzLow
frequency point - 6 dB37HzSensitivity (2.83V / 1m)91.5dBNominal impedance8 OhmsMinimum impedance2.9 OhmsRecommended amplifier power40 - 250WCrossover frequency290Hz / 2400Hz











jbuhl

Showing 3 responses by johnkent3

johnkent3
63 posts
 
Georgehifi is totally incorrect with his response.

I have dynaudio focus 160s being driven by a stellar s300, with a naim nac 202 preamp. The bass is endless, and the amp absolutely SINGS with these tough to drive dyns which have a nominal impedance of 4 ohms, sensitivity of 85db. 

The bass abilities of the amp are absolutely incredible....It seems like it should weigh 100 pounds, given how it controls the speakers.

I've driven these speakers with everything from adcom monoblocs to a luxman and the stellar does a better job than anything i've had in this system.
johnkent3
63 posts
 
George. That old parasound will crumble in camparison to the newer hypex and icepower amps...

Parasounds are pretty, but very underwhelming in everything else, wayyyy overhyped...I’d go back to a gfa adcom before getting another parasound.

to OP...your setup deserves a step up to the m700 monos.

Cheers all! Have a wonderful weekend!


johnkent3
63 posts
 
Those Regas are great but don’t have close to enough power...and in that category, the naim Nait is the way to go vs. rega.
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