Speaker impedance patterns - how to read them?


I know this has probably been discussed ad nauseam, but here's my question. I'm grateful for any sensible opinion.

Premise.
A speaker system may have a complex impedance pattern that can vary from 3-ohms to 30-ohms depending on frequency. Some speaker systems with similar impedance patterns may be stated as being 8-ohm loads because the speaker is 8 ohm in an important part of its frequency response, but only there.
A tube amp, as a voltage amplifier, likes a regular impedance pattern. Almost no speaker system has a constant, regular impedance pattern. I am aware that solid state, powerful amps are built to compensate for modern speakers' complex impedance patterns, but there are tube amps around and people who love them. It's difficult to understand what average load a given speaker system will present to the amp.

Question.
When looking for suitable speakers for a tube amp - mine is a PrimaLuna EVO 100, 40w x 2 from EL34s - what must be looked at? How to best interpret the impedance pattern, whenever available? Assuming that one listens at normal levels in a medium-sized room, what are the criteria for matching speaker and amp?

Thanks for your views. M.
martinguitars

Showing 3 responses by russ69

More important is finding a pair of loudspeakers that is relatively efficient due to having 40 wpc. 
"...My 20wpc Raven Blackhawk not only had no problem driving them to a nice loud level, it made them sound a helluva lot better than a 100wpc ss amp that was also used. Enormously better. So ”
How entirely errrrr ....... Believable ... Not..."

I believe it. Tube amps generally have good power supplies and generous capacitors and they often play much better than the WPC rating suggests. The WPC rating is a guide but it's not the whole story. Yes I know, a watt is a watt but test out enough gear over a lifetime and you will find out that perceived power is not just about watts. 
"...Not wrong to be interested in it… but for me life is too short.."

Exactly this. Impedance matching the speakers and amp is more about how they sound rather than having a perfect impedance match on paper.