Speaker Efficiency


   I have been listening to my Decware 300b tube amp for a few months now. At 8 watts, I have them paired with Klipsch Forte IV at 99db efficiency, and this set up has been sounding great. This morning I connected a pair of Sonus Faber Electa Amator speakers, 6ohms at 88db of efficiency. They sound fantastic, with more weight  and depth. I understand there is a huge price difference in the two speakers, but aside from that, if I am getting 80db of volume at my chair, 8' away, what is the draw back of using lower efficiency speakers with SET amps, so long as the volume is sufficient? I did notice turn the Pre amp, the tube amp and the Roon volume towards the highest setting, it starts sounding terrible....

 

marktheshark

Showing 1 response by elliottbnewcombjr

If the source has large and sudden dynamics, when low powered amp is driving lower sensitivity speakers, and they are lower impedance speakers (a hard combo for any amp) the amp will not have enough reserve to supply the juice to the speakers for the dynamics, especially bass which is the most power hungry frequencies.

My Office System: My Little Luxman Tube Integrated:10 wpc at 6 ohms

https://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=33

is driving Vintage AR-2ax, 91.5 sensitivity at 8 ohms.

https://stereonomono.blogspot.com/2014/05/acoustic-research-ar-2ax.html

very nice combo, however I need to turn the volume up further than most amps I have owned over the years, and while enjoyable volumes are produced, I would not expect great dynamics out it this combo.

Previously, driving Wharfedale Diamond 225’s, sensitivity 87db at 8 ohms

https://www.stereophile.com/content/wharfedale-diamond-225-loudspeaker

the Luxman Volume had to go even higher.

It also sounded good in this room, but you have to know/acknowledge the limitations.

I bought the AR-2ax for nostalgia for my Garage/Shop system (I had them in college).  they sounded soooo good, I moved them to my office, gave the Wharfedales to my son, and bought a 2nd pair AR-2ax that I am restoring for my Garage/Shop system.

AR gives some power formulas here, page 12, magnify

https://www.classicspeakerpages.net/library/acoustic_research/original_models_1954-1974/original_models_brochures/acoustic_research_loudspeak.pdf