More power for moderate listening levels?

Using an SPL calculator you should be able to achieve 97 to 100dB levels at your normal listening position.  The Pass amp is rated at 50 watts peak power.  Personal taste differ and some would not consider this level very loud.  I suggest you use an SPL meter to gauge how loud you listen and at what point your system starts to sound strained.

It’s an experiment that I want to try. Also, just using my ears to Identify acceptable listening levels at my chair. Could save the strain on my amp as well as my wallet!

As more power is fed to the voice coil, it heats up and that heating increases resistance which reduces the amount of power that can be delivered to the driver. The less efficient the speaker, the greater the compression.

Horsefeathers. Very efficient speakers have wimpy motors that may not control the cone as well as a less efficient speaker. The voice coil has to get to ≈90°C for a 1db reduction. While voice coil heating effect is measurable, it is difficult to detect. Our ears begin self-preservation clamping at elevated levels, which some may interpret as voice coil heating compression.

see http://www.ielogical.com/Audio/WinterBlues.php#TheFly for a bit on voice coil heating.

@brianbiehs:
Install an app like AudioTool on your phone and get some real measurements as to the levels you are reaching.

25wpc at 2.6m [8.5ft] max out @ 95db PEAK on 86dB/W/m speakers. At 5m [16.5ft] max level is 89db. Add room noise from a bunch of people and the apparent level will be somewhat lower.

Be aware that changing amplifiers to support Disco may severely compromise audio quality at less taxed listening levels.

More speakers are blown by party levels than almost all other causes combined.

There is no free lunch!

1- Do you like the speakers ?
2-Don't listen to the B.S
3-You need more power for those higher listening levels, Get it !
4-Lot's out there, volumes of B.S. out there as well, you'll just have to wade through.

That Pass is a good amp but only 25 w/ch.

WHat you are hearing is most likely the amp clipping, ie struggling to deliver the power needed at higher volume to those not very efficient but very good sounding Harbeth speakers (if driven to the max properly)..

You need more power to go louder and clearer. It’s that simple. Basic physics and hifi 101.

Along with more power, more current delivery capability can again only help. From what I read, that is likely the case with those Harbeth. You need a better quality amp with higher quality power supply for that.

Higher damping factor specs and ability to double power into 4 ohms is a good indicator of a beefy amp capable of delivering lots of current when needed.

That is what you need to play it safe.

What amp specifically? Harder to say. A good quality Class D amp 200 w/ch into 8ohm, 400 into 4 or more would be a good bet. 100 w/ch to 8 ohm, 200 to 4 might even cut it.

It all depends how loud you need to go. Clipping is public enemy # 1. YOu want to avoid that at all costs. Power and current is your insurance policy for that. 25w/ch won’t cut it with most speakers out there for higher SPLs that are loud and clear.

TUbe amps are popular choices with Harbeth and can sound very good, but a higher power tube amp capable of driving Harbeth to their max at higher volume could cost some serious $$$$s and will consume a lot of power whenever on, whereas Class D is a reasonable alternative that should lower cost and keep power bills down.

Most tube amps and Class D amps soft rather than hard clip, so that will make it seem like fewer watts can go furtherbut will limit absolute SPLs and dynamic range. Still more digestible kind of distortion  to the ear than hard clipping. ANother reason tube amps and Class D are both reasonable choices depending.

As long as you can avoid clipping as described, specific amp choice will matter less. They all will be up to the task. Can’t sound good if not up to the task......not as hard if so.