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

Maybe I should turn the question on its head and ask: What class A amp that is between 5K and 10K or so can drive speakers like the Celestion 700se. or Harbeth 30.2. I guess that is like asking what are some good higher watt Class A amps in that price range. I wonder if those two speakers are comparable, but I guess that is a question for another thread, comparing vintage to modern british speakers.

 

Speakers are very subjective.  That said, one thing I did discover which was quite a revelation, is that a Horn/Dynamic combo design puts me in the Goldilocks Zone.  Phase issues, upper midrange tonality and dynamic contrast all improved.  

My personal experience: I've driven a pair of Dynaudio Heritage Specials and a pair of Sonus Faber Maxima Auditors with a Sugden A21SE with the volume at 9 o'clock with no issues at all; that said, there is also a REM subwoofer in the system. The space is 13x20x10. I'm not interested in head-banging volumes, but I believe there is plenty of room to do so. I've also had comparable results using a PrimaLuna evo 400 and Rogue Cronus Magnum.   I'm going to climb out on a limb and say that wattage, like horsepower, is conditionally relevant. From there I'll leave it to the engineers to thrash out. Best wishes.


Get yourself a pair of full range speakers from Lii Song audio and put them in a baffle board, the Decware/Caintuck speakers are a good model, wide-open, no back or, sides, and no crossover. They don’t do super loud, but there is some kind of magic there.