So, I upgraded from the Signums to the EA3 and am very pleased but wondering about amplifiers. The EA3 is not an easy load per the Hifi News lab report copied below.
I have a Pass INT-25, an integrated version of the XA-25 that provides
50w Class A at 4 ohms and measured up to 130 wpc in Class A/B. The volume control on the INT-25 has increments from 0 to 63. I need to set the volume to at least 35 for the EA3 to start to open up and typically listen in the range of 40 to 50, sometimes higher than 50 with a few CDs.
I'm wondering if a higher power SS amp might have better bass and dynamics, or maybe the INT-25 has plenty of power since I've never maxed out the volume control. (That was Almarg's philosophy - only pay for as much high quality amplification as you need.) Curious to hear what experience others have with amps for the EA3. I might experiment with a higher powered SS in the future but I'm very happy with the INT-25 for now. I also have 50 wpc tube amps that I plan to use in winter, so that will be another interesting comparison.
Hifinews lab report: "Sonus faber's nominal 4ohm is entirely consistent with our measured
minimum of 3.3ohm but low frequency impedance phase angles are quite
high, as a result of which the EPDR falls to a minimum of 1.6ohm at
116Hz. While this is pretty typical of modern loudspeakers, a second dip
to 1.9ohm at 610Hz makes the Electa Amator III a tougher than average
amplifier load."