Some may consider my present situation off the subject, but then again it may not be. I am driving an Stax SR5 electrostatic pair of headphones with a 160watt per channel Rega Osiris integrated amplifier. I am using a Stax SRD6 energizer box. I have found over the years that the Stax's own amplifiers, whether solid state or tube to not have enough power to adequatly run rock and roll. That is a fact, which is the main failure of using an entire Stax system. I have previously used a 50 watt per channel Audio Research integrated amplifier, but again, for rock and roll the 160 watts on my Rega is overall the best combination. Again, even for Stax headphones, evrything else being equal, more power is better. And it is much easier to damage a Stax electrostatic headphone using an underpowered amplifier than one with "too much power". And finally, I can turn the volume up to a much higher level with more power dur to the fact that, using true quality electronics, the amount of distortion goes way, way down. Yes, it is distortion itself which is the main factor in damaging a speaker system. Yes, either regular speakers, or Stax headphones.
Too Much Power?
I have a question that relates to the maximum power output of new Bel Canto Ref 600M monoblocks, which I am considering to replace the Audio Research 150.2 SS amp I am currently using in my main system. (Yes I am another of the "lunatic fringe" who enjoys the results of good quality Class D.)
The Ref 600Ms are based on a Hypex Ncore module, and are stated to produce a maximum power output each of 300W into 8 ohms. My question is whether this can prove to be a problem in powering my Focal Alto Utopia Be speakers, which are stated to have a "maximum" power handling capacity of 250W each (their nominal impedance being 8 ohms).
I listen to mostly classical instrumental and vocal music and other acoustic instrumental music, and do not listen at particularly loud levels: the ARC 150.2 is rated at 150W per channel into 8 ohms and it has never in 10 years appeared to go even close to its limits; I rarely if ever turn up the volume control on my ARC LS-25 past the 11:00 o'clock position.
Should I be concerned about the Bel Cantos damaging the Utopias, given the speakers' 250W per channel maximum capacity and the 300W per channel output potential of these amps? The Be tweeter and other components of these speakers can be very expensive to have to repair, not to mention the inconvenience and aggravation which I really do not need.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts or advice on this.