What speakers work with low wattage class A amps


Hi everyone. I am setting up a system and have been really impressed by some low volume listening I was able to do through a class A amp. Class A amps usually have lower watts in a given price range, and are not as practical for big power. What speakers have sensitivity that would make sense for an amp with 25 Watts or less (eg some of the entry level class A options from Pass Labs)?  Are we limited to horn speakers? The speakers I have are said to require “high current amps”. Is this a factor as well? Thanks for your help. 

arhgef

Hello ahrgef!  High effeciency speakers are excellent choices for low watt amps. Zu Audio makes several models. Many DIY designs are very efficient ad inexpensive to build. You can build a pair of 110 db sensivity speakers for under $500. Look for high speaker impedence as a clue. 16 ohm speakers are usually high efficiency. It's "old school" from an era when talking movies were new and all amps were 20 watts or less. A speaker that requires a "high current" amp is usually low impedence and not very efficient (sub 85 db sensitivity). Magnepan speakers are a good example. I have a pair of LRS currently, will order a new pair of LRS+ soon, and have owned two other models (MGII, 1,7i) in the past. Wonderful sound, but needs an amp that can "push."  My 9 wpc 300B tube amp coaxes wonderful sound from some DIY 110 db sensitive speakers. There is very little difference in the sound of those two systems. Happy Listening!

Nola , fritz, snell , focal 1008 , klipsch heresy , any of above with above 90db will do but will depend on your taste lol

Depends on how loud you like your music really. My Dunlavy SM-1s are around 90. My pass Labs X-150.5 is biased on the high end 50 deg C in winter and does about 35 watts before the needle moves. If the room is cooler then I can get some more A. I'm of the mind to design my system around speakers though.. always have been. That's where the rubber meets the road iny personal experience. But Class A to me is oh just so beautiful, detailed, accurate with perfect soundstage. For my speakers which honor phase and time coherence. The combination is sublime really.

I have some Fritz Carrera BEs and they sound remarkable with a 25 watt Class A First Watt M2 amp