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Minimum recommended amplification requirements and amplifier matching

If a speaker has a "recommended amplification requirement" between 80W-200W with a 90dB sensitivity what are the actual minimum amplification requirement? In particular, the Line Magnetic 211ia is rated at 15W triode and 32W ultralinear. Can smaller tube amplifiers provide enough wattage to drive speakers that require more than twice the recommended output?
ddemilto3
gs5556
1,234 posts
 
I would recommend a preamp with a gain of over 20 with a tube amp. My CAT preamp with a gain of 26 drives my 3 watt 2A3 amp to realistic levels connected to a pair of 86 db Thiel 3.6's. Of course that applies to things like solo instrument and chamber music. When it comes time for a Mahler 8 or a Bruckner 9 the Levinson beasts get called up to the plate.
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,833 posts
 
More importantly, can you audition those speakers with your amp?    Specs are great but don’t always tell the whole story.  I was driving a pair of 87dB eff speakers with a 40 watt el34 amp and it was plenty loud for me in a 17 x 15 x 9 room.   Current speakers are 99 dB eff and it’s ridiculous with just 40 Watts.  
gdnrbob
4,444 posts
 
+1 lowrider,
Impedance, not sensitivity is a more important value.
Should your speakers dip below 4 ohms, you little amp is going to have a hard time keeping up.
When in doubt, call the manufacturer.
B
tomcarr
1,511 posts
 
+2 @willemj , agree completely. 
I used a 300W/Ch/4 ohms with Monitor Audio Silver 8s with good results.
diri2
1 posts
 
I tried a Line Magnetic with an older Gallo speaker 4 ohm 90 dB sensitivity.  It did not work well at all.  I concur with the other posts.  It’s the impedance not the sensitivity that matters.  Line Magnetic does not like low impedance speakers, but check with the distributor, Tone Imports.
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