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Vandersteen question

It's time to upgrade my speakers. I'm very impressed by the Vandersteen 3A Sig. but am concerned that I don't have enough power. I just got a pair of Quicksilver MiniMite monoblock tube amps that are 25 watts/channel matched with the Eastern Electric MiniMax preamp (20 db gain). Presently I've got Klipsch Heresys that are very efficient at 96db/1watt. I can barely turn the volume past the 9 o'clock position before the sound gets to ear bleeding levels.

My question relates to the active preamp with 20 db of gain. I believe there's a formula that everytime you double the wattage, this increases the SPL by 3 db. With this in mind, 20 db of gain in the preamp would equate to an amp having 6 2/3 times the wattage or 166 watts/channel matched with a passive preamp in my case.

I notice that Vandersteen recommends 100 to 200 W/ch with the 3A Sig while the 2Ce Sig recommends 40 to 60 W/ch. I find this confusing considering that the 3A is more efficient at 87db. The 2Ce is rated at 86db.

Vandy fans - Please enlighten me. Thanks.
mootsdude

Showing 2 responses by mootsdude

mootsdude OP
51 posts
 
After giving some thought to my original post, I realize that 20db of gain in the preamp cannot add 20db SPL (Sound Pressure Level) to the speakers. My calculation was incorrect with regards to the formula - everytime you double the wattage, the speaker SPL will increase 3db. If the speaker SPL increased 20db with a 25 w/ch amp, it would equate to an astronomical wattage - roughly 2666 w/ch. hooked into a passive preamp.

Note: the 3A Sig has an impedance of 6 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum. The 2Ce Sig has 7 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum.

Can anyone shed some light on how an active preamp with gain will effect the SPL of speakers?
mootsdude OP
51 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses. I plan on auditioning the Vandys at some point in my home but it sounds like 25 w/ch will certainly limit them.

Are there any other speaker recommendations that will mate well with my Quicksilver amps? I'm hoping to find a speaker with similar qualities of the 3A Sig for the same price. I assume most Vandy fans will give an emphatic - NO.

When I auditioned the Quicksilver amps at the shop with my preamp, they were driving the Vandy 1C quite well, although this is 90db/watt.
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