Would a Miniwatt N3 be enough to move my speakers?


I currently have a Music Hall MMF-2.2LE and Music Hall Phono Preamp that I'm buying from a member on here, and I really want to hook the Miniwatt N3 Tubes up to my speakers because of price, looks, and the rave reviews I've read on the tiny little amp.

The speakers I have are Phase PC-9.1s (they're "hand me downs"), and their sensitivity are 92dB. The Miniwatt N3 is rated at 3.5WPC, but would it be enough to power the speakers? I don't play music too loud, but at times I do enjoy cranking it up a bit.

I really like the speakers b/c they do have a good sound stage on 'em, they sound pretty precise and have a good bass response (not quite as tight and fast as I'd like, but no where near boomy when hooked up to a good source), although they can be a bit "cold."

I'd rather not buy new speakers, but I'm willing to go up to $1000 ($500 to $750 is preferred) for some good bookshelf speakers. Likewise I'm not dead set on the Miniwatt. I'd prefer to keep the amp around the $500 range, but can go up a little bit in price.

What would be another good tube amp to go to? What speakers would work with the Miniwatt?

I'm fairly new to buying/setting up my own Audiophile equipment, so I apologize for my audionoobness.

Thanks guys!
csedl87

Showing 1 response by mechans

Do you like these speakers? If not sure then either as J-Bailey says single driver but I don't know which would be quality and about $500.
An alternative are high efficiancy Horn speakers like Klipsch Heresys which you can pick up used for about $400. They are not really a small bookshelf speaker but are rated at 98db/W/M. You will hear a lot of arguements about the coloration of horns versus the "purity " of single drivers.
On the other hand there are plenty of Chinese PP EL 34 amps yielding 35-40 wpc that may be more realistic for you. Many of them go for a song used in good shape.