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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
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@cleo  Have you asked the speaker designer/ manufacturer/ importer/ dealer?  I'm sure they will answer your questions with more specificity and accuracy.
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
You're welcome, celo.

IMO there is a little more to it than the numbers you've mentioned. For instance, how loud do you typically listen? The efficiency of the speaker would also play a role as to an accurate answer to your question. The fact that the wattage output capability is doubled when the impedance is halved is usually a sign of a high quality and power (current) capable device. The idea though is simply to avoid clipping. In general, if you're not listening at loud levels you would be fine.
ozzy's avatar
ozzy
7,445 posts
 
So, is there a speaker made today that is 16 ohms, 90db+ in sensitivity that is not a horn type that would be considered a high end home speaker below $10,000? 
I haven't been able to find any.

ozzy
celo
160 posts
 
Thanks!

No, I know what the designer of my speakers think, Alan Shaw. He thinks for my SHL5 and his other speakers, 100wpc is more than enough. He does not say you need to get 100wpc but 100wpc is a good power if you want some reserve power. I agreed with him before now I have experienced it. My 70wpc Naims although play really good with my speakers, when/if I want to go LOUD (rare but I do), the Naims cannot handle (understandably so) it.

This "wanting more power" thing started when my brother brought his 200wpc (8 ohms) Hypex NC400s to my house. The SHL5s showed me that they can go LOUD without any problem as long as you give the power. This romantic/lush sounding speaker turned into a monster with more power.

There is a video on Youtube at a Harbeth dealer in the Netherlands where Alan Shaw tests the 40.1s and I think they receive up to 700 watts at one point!

All I want to do is to be able to have that reserve power when I want to go loud like I did with the NC400. Though, I need to mention, the NC400 is a very good amp but I still prefer the Naims instead for listening longer periods of time. It is more enjoyable to listen to IMO.
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