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How to accurately gauge speaker sensitivity to match with tube amp?

I'm in the process of matching speakers to my amplifier and need a bit of advice. Most recently, I'm trying Focal 936 towers with my Quicksilver Mono 60w amp. They were sounding pretty decent until I experimented by hooking up my old Adcom 535L amp. All of a sudden, there was a giant jump in control, tautness in the bass, quickness in transients. The QS stuff was doing quite decently, but the Adcom really snapped these towers to attention. The mids and high ends, not to mention the soundstage, were worse with the Adcom — no question. But there was quite a difference with the other qualities just mentioned.

My question becomes one of sensitivity. The Focals self-rated as 92 db. Stereophile rated them as 89.5db. I realize that these are average measurements and a much bigger picture is told by the impedance graph (and other factors).

As I continue to search for the right match of speaker (I have a couple contenders), I'm sure one piece of advice is to look for speakers with higher sensitivity averages. But what else should I look for to help make a guesstimate about whether the amp will drive the speakers with the kind of control they are capable of? [Specs for this amp are here: http://quicksilveraudio.com/products/sixty-watt-mono-amp/ ]

I realize I need to hear speakers, in my house, with my gear, etc. to get a sense of them. I’m working in exactly this way. Your advice can help me eliminate candidate speakers that would pose similar challenges to my amp as these Focals have.

And I just bought the amp, so I don't want to change it.

Thank you for any thoughts. 

P.S. Anyone who has has had great success with this amp or similar, please shout it out.


128x128hilde45
clhs04
62 posts
 
I would agree with a few of the others and think about taking a different speaker path..along the line of anything hi-efficiency / sensitivity.  ie....such as Zu, Klipsch Heritage series...Tekton...Tyler Acoustics PD series...and numerous others...etc.
Your QuickSilver amps will then set you free with everything it is that you want..with plenty of dynamic headroom, swing, and presence.   Once properly implemented, be prepared for a music listening revelation. 
while your Adcom seemed to have some positive attributes..you also mentioned a few negatives.  Those negatives will never really go away completely..as the Adcom stuff is limited by what it was..that is to say..consumer grade “mid-fi” gear at best.

If you want to stay with the Focals, you might want to put some nice class A juice to them (Pass, Plinius, or old Krell KSA?) to really have them open up.

have fun!!
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,984 posts
 
@clhs04 Thanks so much for your post. I have some lower priced Klipsch RP 600M's and they are so easy to drive. I don't think these speakers are right for my listening area — they're kicking butt in my home theater, but their mids and highs leave something to be desired (harsh to my ears).

I've returned the Focal 936s to the shop that loaned them. After two weeks of listening, their tweeter still sounded harsh and these had some miles on them. I noticed there are a lot of Focal 936s for sale used out there, lately; I don't know what's up with that; could be nothing.

I've located some really nice Legacy speakers here in town, but the dealer (who mainly does installations) won't let me take them home to try them and so I really don't see myself going with Legacy without a trial. Their AMT style tweeter and their sensitivity both seem great for my QS but…I need to try at home.

I appreciate your mention of a couple brands I've never heard of, including Tyler. Something to look around for.

clhs04
62 posts
 
I’m sorry to perseverate but let me clarify that I meant Klipsch “Heritage” series speakers only.  A great segment of audio listeners have a general perspective that Klipsch’s are too bright or too forward or harsh.  Most are only listening to generic consumer grade Klipsch’s thru a generic consumer grade AV receiver.  Listen to a set of LaScala’s or Forte’s thru a triode system and you’ll become a believer.!
as far as Legacy speakers go....they are very good ..and Bill D. has been around and advancing his designs for quite some time.
however be advised QuickSilvers will not get it done..and those speakers deserve amps that commensurate quality wise.  A lot of folks often put Coda amplification behind them.

timlub
2,040 posts
 
@hilde45       What part of the country do you live in?
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,984 posts
 
@clhs04 Point taken. Another person is also pointing out how different the better Klipsch are — I recognize (thanks to you both) that I need to understand things differently. Gotcha.

It's interesting to hear that the QS 60w Monos won't be enough to drive the 94 db Legacy speakers. Or maybe you're not saying that, exactly, but rather that the amps are not sufficiently good enough quality wise? I have very good tubes in them…

@timlub I'm in Denver.
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