Int. Amplifier with Focal 807W Speakers

a nice tube amp running el34?

Hi Topten,
Your Focal 807W are around tested 88db efficiency, about normal. The worst tested impedance is 4ohm between 100hz and 200hz, while this is not too nasty a load by itself for a good 4ohm say 50-100w tube amp. You have to add to that, it is tested also to have a negative phase angle of -45 degrees at 100hz also, that would give with 4ohm impedance load a combined EPDR (equivalent peak dissipation resistance) of around 2ohms.

While a tube amp will drive this and sound ok'ish, that bass region around 100hz will sound much more punchier and tighter driven by an amp with good current drive, 100w-8ohm solid state that can almost double to 200w-4ohm.

Cheers George

If you only have 1 source, you could try a passive pre/volume control. The external amp/preamp connections on the back of your nad allows you to bypass the preamp completely.

Good pickup ZD, and good on NAD for doing a poweramp input, they (integrateds) should all have this feature, and yes a passive VC into the poweramp section will cure your too much gain problem.

Cheers George

Check out a Musical Fidelity M6 500i. Loads of detail, volume control with .5 db steps, and bass that reproduces an upright bass in a very realistic presentation. Not in the component of the month club. At 500 watts it would grab ahold of your Focals and show you what the are and are not capable of.