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Efficient speakers with high powered ss amp?

Relative newbie here, so forgive me for the stupid question. I'm wondering if, in general, it's a mistake to mix 100 watt+ per channel amplifiers with efficient speakers. I know that low powered tube amps need efficient speakers, but do efficient speakers then necessarily perform better with less watts?

I'm looking for speakers that would be a good match for my Odyssey Khartago, and have always been under the impression that higher efficiency speakers are better than inefficient speakers. Would a 98db, 200 watt speaker be ok with the 110 watts per channel Khartago, or should I look for something less efficient.

Apologies, I tried using the search function to look this topic up, but didn't get any results, so I appreciate your thoughts and advice.
rischa
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,588 posts
 
In general you do not need a lot of watts with more efficient speakers.

I have not heard any high efficiency speakers that I could afford or even want to yet that equals the best I have heard in general. For me, the key is find the right speakers that meet your tastes and integrate well into your room and then get the right amp to drive them properly. I would not worry too much about efficiency as a prime determining factor. Even the least efficient speakers out there today can be driven well by newer high efficiency amp designs like Class D/Icepower. The results if done right can be on par with the best I have heard out there.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,038 posts
 
You might want to look at this link:

http://www.atma-sphere.com/Resources/Paradigms_in_Amplifier_Design.php

The issue of the intention of the designer will play a huge role in this matter. In fact, if the amplifier technology does not match what the speaker designer had in mind, the crossover will not even work right!
rleff
1,065 posts
 
I would also talk to Klaus at Odyssey to get his view as well;are you leaning toward a certain speaker right now or just starting to look?
rischa OP
64 posts
 
Hi all, thanks for your responses. What originally spurred this question was all the talk here on Audiogon about the great sound and quality of Tekton Lores. I'm in the market for some new speakers and thought about giving these a shot since they are made in USA and well within my budget. But I thought about my amp, and started to reconsider as I thought they might not be a great match (I want to be able to turn my volume knob past 9 o'clock).

I have also recently auditioned some B&W cm8's, and Paradigm Studio 60's. These seem like a better match for my Khartago, but it's hard to say as I haven't heard anything as efficient as the Lores on my system.

My current speakers are vintage Avid 103's, which I adore. That said, I'd like to upgrade to something better in this system and use the Avids in a secondary system (I'll never let the Avids go; best $80 I ever spent).

My speaker budget is 2-3k, depending on how long I wait to pull the trigger. I mostly listen to Jazz and some Classical.
unsound
7,340 posts
 
I'd suggest buying amplification for speakers, not speakers for amplification.
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