Nice lesson ,to pass the time ...higher efficient speakers less power.To each his own.
Same watts at 8 and 4 ohms?
I'm in the market for an integrated amp and trying to sort through tech specs. My understanding of the tech aspects of hi-fi gear is limited. Looking for some clarity in regard to watts-per-channel specs.
It is my understanding that wpc at 4 ohms is typically 1.5x -2x the wpc at 8 ohms.
But I'm seeing a number of respectable mid-fi integrateds with the same wpc for both 8 and 4 ohms. The NAD 388 is one and I think this is true for several of the Cambridge Audio units at a similar price point ($1500-$2000).
The NAD features make a point of saying " 4-ohm stable for use with a wide range of speakers".
Would appreciate any insight to what these specs mean and what 4 ohm stable really means to me. My speakers are 4 ohm speakers.
Thanks,
George
It is my understanding that wpc at 4 ohms is typically 1.5x -2x the wpc at 8 ohms.
But I'm seeing a number of respectable mid-fi integrateds with the same wpc for both 8 and 4 ohms. The NAD 388 is one and I think this is true for several of the Cambridge Audio units at a similar price point ($1500-$2000).
The NAD features make a point of saying " 4-ohm stable for use with a wide range of speakers".
Would appreciate any insight to what these specs mean and what 4 ohm stable really means to me. My speakers are 4 ohm speakers.
Thanks,
George
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- 102 posts total
n80 OP Get an amp like I said for your Aerial 7T's and you'll be happy. Your 7T at 84db and 4ohm "nominal" you need 100w-8ohm and close to 200w into 4ohms because you can bet they dive to 3ohm or less with epdr somewhere. From Keith Howards Measurement Labs https://ibb.co/7JrRXX8 This is the Wilson Alexia 90db and Wilson spec 4ohm nominal. You would think that just about any amp could drive it. But no. The Wilson Alexia is said to be one of the hardest speakers ever to drive. And that because just in a small band of the low to mid bass it has an EPDR (combination of low impedance and high - phase angle) which to the amplifier seems like .9ohm!! and it sucks the life out of an amp. And a 3000watt Behringer amp won't do it justice, but 25w ML2 will, to a certain volume level because they can double down to 1ohm, , it's all about the current, being able to double wattage 8ohm to 4ohm and 4ohm to 2ohm if you can do it for speakers like the Alexia and there are many like it. Cheers George |
The NAD C388 will drive your speakers just fine if you don't play your music at rock concert levels. But since you own/like a Levinson amp, which I think are all Class A/B, the NAD's Class D module may not make your speakers sing a tune you like. Safer to buy a Class A/B amp like the Cambridge CXA81 (which has a decent DAC), which is 80/140 watts into 8/4 ohms, and is within your budget. I have heard that amp make a pair of Monitor Audio Gold 100 5Gs sing, which are only 86 db sensitive and dip at various points under 4 ohms. |
@georgehifi, Get an amp like I said for your Aerial 7T’s and you’ll be happy. Your 7T at 84db and 4ohm "nominal" you need 100w-8ohm and close to 200w into 4ohms because you can bet they dive to 3ohm or less with epdr somewhere.The OP's new speakers are Aerial 6T’s; manufacturer’s specs are 90dB sens, 4 ohm nominal with a 3 ohm low. I couldn’t find independent testing or impedance curve. So, possibly sensitivity could be 88-89 dB. The amps being considered could drive these speakers. |
- 102 posts total