Tekton Double Impacts

Craigl59 7-16-2017
There’s another way to look at power and the DIs. Eric specifies the power handling of the speakers at 400 watts. That’s what I use to judge how large an amplifier is required.

I would respectfully but emphatically disagree with the use of the word "required." A more appropriate interpretation, IMO, would be that the specification of "400 watt power handling" provides a rough ballpark indication of the maximum amplifier power capability that is recommended as being reasonable for use with this speaker.

Also, as Mac alluded to, for a given amplifier type and topology it can be expected that everything else being equal more amplifier watts = more amplifier $. Therefore for a given amplifier budget paying for watts that will not be utilized would in general mean that a higher percentage of that budget than necessary will go toward watts rather than sound quality.

One of the reasons I chose my Daedalus Ulysses speakers, which like the DI have a very benign impedance curve, fairly high sensitivity, and high power handling capability ("recommended power 5 to 300 watts, peak power 600 watts +") is that I wanted the majority of my amplifier dollars to go toward sound quality, rather than watts. And even though I frequently listen to well recorded minimally compressed classical symphonic recordings which reach brief dynamic peaks of close to 105 db at my listening position, I have been very happy with my 70 watt VAC Renaissance amplifier. And perhaps its 30 watt smaller brother would even have been suitable as well, but I wanted to be sure that the margin between necessary power and power capability would be comfortable while not being excessive.

Regards,
-- Al

The implication seems to be that because the DI can accommodate up to 400 watts this means that this is the preferred or optimal power requirement for this speaker. There is also  the skepticism raised concerning the adequacy of 1 watt of power driving the DI despite the (by now) numerous testimonials by owners who attest to this outcome.

Again as I have written previously in this thread, clearly the DI is quite sucessful paired with amplifiers from one end of the power spectrum to the other. If my inference to the several posts above is misguided then I stand corrected.
Charles

Hi Al, You posted while I was still typing 😃
But yes I picked up on that same comment regarding speaker power handling capability. As usual your point was well made. The"required" used by Craig was not factual IMO.
Charles

Charles,
You are always so polite.  My hat is off to you.  As Al pointed out, 400 watts is what the speaker is capable of handling. Nothing more, nothing less.  It makes no commentary on what sounds best. 
Craig, feel  free to use a high powered amp.  Your DI's will sound great!.  Just be careful of your hearing.  I use a solid state amp and am pleased as I can be.
Yet I must respect the thoughts of others on this thread that really have a wealth of experience that I probably never will (too busy riding my bike, landscaping,  taking care of my fish, etc)
When it comes to most things in life, including watts, quality trumps quantity every time.