The truth on low efficiency speakers like B&W?

I can lick my own eyebrows so I went to headphones lately. 600 watts isnt compensation, my 400w amps can shut down during loud complex music on VMPS speakers so 600 could be good if I could afford it.

I've learned the hard way to look carefully at a speakers efficiency rating. A lot of people say buy the speakers and then the amps. This approach doesn't work for me. If you're like me and you've found wonderful tube amps that you just can't live without, then you basically want to find the speakers to match the amps ensuring that neither of their characteristics get in the way of each other. I know a lot of people won't agree....but that's my two cents.

Tube amps are not for every speaker. Tube amps will struggle with highly inefficient speakers.

My general rule of thumb is this: 90db and higher - you are generally fine with tubes or SS or Class-D. 89 db and lower, you better be looking solid state, Class-D or some hybrid (the new Rogue Audio Class-D/Tube hybrids have me intrigued.) That's just my general rule of thumb when shopping.

I'm 100% in the tube camp, so I look for speakers like Sonus Fabers which tend to have wonderful efficiency ratings giving me a plethora of amp options or in my case, letting me use my tube amps.

That's just my opinion. I've found the tube amps I love (McIntosh 2301's married with Gold Lion tubes) and now I have to find the speakers for them!

Mike

I think B & W speakers are great, but not efficient.
I can turn my 250 watt Bryston amp on full volume, and It`s not super loud, but  It sounds incredible!
I would never give my B & W`s up, Never!