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Question on speaker sensitivity / power.

I was looking at some Opera Callis bookshelf speakers and noticed that they are rated for 50 watts max and have a sensitivity of 86db. I would think speakers with that low of a sensitivity would actually perform best with a more powerful amp. Am I off base on the power/sensitivity issue?
chrismontez
aball
2,018 posts
 
The 50W max rating means the drivers can't handle a ton more power than that. However, the amount of time spent at that power level plays a large role in determining potential damage - and yet the specs say nothing of this. Is it 50W continuous or 50W for 1ms? or 5ms? with music? with sine waves??

So the bottom line is the specs as given don't mean much of anything. You can get an amp around 100W and be just fine. Enjoy!

Arthur
elevick
2,638 posts
 
1 watt = 86db
2 watts = 89db
4 watts = 92db
8 watts = 95db
16 watts = 98db and so on.
You have to double wattage to gain 3db.
You have to go up about 10db to hear a doubling of volume.
THX is 110db, Ultra THX is 112db.

Yes, I'd suggest at least 100 watts on those speakers. 200 won't hurt?
rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear Chrizmontes: You are right on the power/sensitivity issue.

There is not much to write of what already posted Rich and Rodman999999 other than take in count that the speaker impedance goes as low like 3.2 Ohms that it is not a very friendly to a tube amp. Anyway try to match it with an amp with very low output impedance: say less than 0.3-0.4 Ohms.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
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