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Matching Speakers to amp

I currently own a PSA Stellar 300 paired with Focal Aria 926. I just picked up a used pair of Quad S-5 and I will be comparing the sound. I am not good a using technical specs to compare so I could use some help if anyone has the time to take a look at the amp & speaker specs below and give me some feedback I would greatly appreciate.
The basic question is: from a specification standpoint which speaker pairs up with the Stellar 300 best?


Stellar 300
Gain30.5dB +/-0.5dB Sensitivity for rated output power1.01V Noise1kHz@300 Watts <-100dB Input impedance S300Unbalanced 50KΩ
Balanced 100KΩ Input impedance M700Unbalanced 50KΩ
Balanced 100KΩ Output Impedance50Hz, 2.8VRMS <0.007Ω Damping factor50Hz. 2.8VRMS
8Ω >1100
4Ω >550 Frequency Response@2.8VRMS
10Hz – 20KHz +/- 0.5dB
10Hz – 50KHz +0.1/-3.0dB
Output PowerBoth channels driven 120vac mains, 1kHz, 1% THD 8Ω140W minimum 4Ω300W minimum 2Ω Stable for musical transients

Quad S-5
General description 3-way floorstanding speaker
Enclosure type ABR
Transducer complement 3-way ABR 165mm x3 Bass driver 165mm Woven Carbon fibre Cone x2
Midrange driver 125mm Woven Carbon fibre Cone Treble driver 12 x 45 mm
True Ribbon Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1m) 90dB
Recommended amplifier power 25-175W Peak SPL 112dB
Nominal impedance 6Ω
Minimum impedance 3.2Ω
Frequency response (+/-3dB) 42Hz ~ 23kHz Bass extension (-6dB) 35Hz Crossover frequency 570Hz & 3.2kHz

Focal 926
Speaker driversTwo 61/2" (16.5cm) Flax bass61/2" (16.5cm) Flax midrange1" (25mm) Al/Mg TNF inverted dome tweeterFrequency response (+/- 3dB)45Hz - 28kHzLow
frequency point - 6 dB37HzSensitivity (2.83V / 1m)91.5dBNominal impedance8 OhmsMinimum impedance2.9 OhmsRecommended amplifier power40 - 250WCrossover frequency290Hz / 2400Hz











128x128jbuhl
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
so I now need to search for an integrated amp around the $500 to $600 range to push these things.
I don’t know the used prices in the US a used John Curl designed Parasound Halo Integrated, it will try to push those low impedance’s in the bass (for an integrated), and I think it has a dac and phono stage in it as well.
https://www.stereophile.com/content/parasound-halo-integrated-integrated-amplifier

These may also be good but you need a preamp, maybe a Schiit Sys $49 will do.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PARASOUND-HALO-A23-STEREO-POWER-AMPLIFIER-IN-SILVER-COLOR-2/283016082021?ha...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Parasound-Halo-A23-Amplifier-in-Silver-Excellent-Condition/152948492181?has...

http://www.schiit.com/products/sys


Cheers George


johnkent3
63 posts
 
George. That old parasound will crumble in camparison to the newer hypex and icepower amps...

Parasounds are pretty, but very underwhelming in everything else, wayyyy overhyped...I’d go back to a gfa adcom before getting another parasound.

to OP...your setup deserves a step up to the m700 monos.

Cheers all! Have a wonderful weekend!


kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
I think $500-$600 will be a little low for an integrated to drive those S5s. If you can bump your budget up tp $800, the Outlaw RR2160 seems to get good reviews and should be a decent match.
jbuhl's avatar
jbuhl OP
990 posts
 
Sh!t I knowed this would happen. Nobody likes to spend other peoples money like Audiogoners. You guys are gonna break me up.LOL. @johnkent3 dont think I have not thought about the 700 Monos and the Wyred for Sound offerings.
Thanks @kalali for the RR2160 suggestion I might have to help my sister even more we may be able to squeeze something like that into the budget. What about Marantz and NAD? There is always a bunch of that stuff used floating around. Or this https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis914g6-rega-mira3-stereo-integrated-amplifier-mm-phono-13792-sol...
Specs on the Rega: https://www.stereophile.com/content/rega-mira-integrated-amplifier-specifications

Right now  the Quads are playing Radioparadise (Streams 16/48 FLAC) . Beth Orton and Norah Jones just played. The Quads just sound so good with their voices, luxurious, the nuances they pick up on the human voice.

The Quads are doing their best to grow roots right into my hardwood floor.
johnkent3
63 posts
 
Those Regas are great but don’t have close to enough power...and in that category, the naim Nait is the way to go vs. rega.
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