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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
 
The Parasound A23 above that George recommended could be nice, but it's only 125 watts per channel.

Yes but the speakers are both over 90db so that 125w @ 8ohm is fine and being John Curl design with BJT output you can bet it no slouch into low impedance's. 
It actually puts out 150w into 8ohm test here in this review and bech test.
http://i.nextmedia.com.au/Assets/Parasound_P5_Preamp_A23_Power_Amp_Review_Test_lores.pdf

Cheers George
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
yes, but with the impedance challenges of the Focal and the fact that they usually sound thin/bright, I would think that you would want as hefty of a power supply as you could in the amp.  The A23 is nice, but definitely not a strong amp in the power supply section.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
auxinput
I would think that you would want as hefty of a power supply as you could in the amp.
That’s a given, along with bjt’s to back the power supply for good current into low impedances. But as he said he’s looking at " $500-600 level" maybe old JC Parasound poweramps with a $49 Schiit Sys for the pre.
This could do. or an early HCA-2200
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis90c17-parasound-2250-solid-state

Cheers George
Post removed 
jbuhl's avatar
jbuhl OP
990 posts
 
what about a unit like this? https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9147c-rotel-rb-1552-mk2-solid-state-amplifier-130w-x-2-solid-st...


Or the Outlaw RR2160 that was suggested bu @Kalali

I know I am getting out of the original budget but might be able to goad my sis into spending a bit more.

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