2. amps-preamps
  3. 173648-4741

30 to 50 watts seems to be all I desire

Weird, but in my small listening room (12x16) no matter the speakers used, to a T they all can be driven quite superbly with amps in the 30 to 50 watt range.  This includes the Maggie 1.7.

I had a few 200 watt amps in rotation but took them out for now because I never got past about 8:00 or at most 9:00 on the preamp, and oftentimes it was around the 7:30 mark.

So I personally don’t buy into the lower efficiency speakers needing gobs of power to sound good.  Caveat:  Listening to mainly Jazz at volumes less than 85db, normally.

Cheers, all.

 

128x128audiodwebe
ghdprentice
7,020 posts
 

I have owned massive amps in the past. My reason for owning them wasn’t to do with the volume control, it had to do with the current they could produce allowing for for fast full rises in transients. This would support greater slam as well.

 

Certainly 30 to 50 watts is usually plenty to power most speakers, especially in a small room.

secretguy
1,711 posts
 

I’ve driven Maggies with an Onkyo 45 watt amp. Sounded wonderful. I also fried a HK stereo receiver that claimed 100 watts.

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,811 posts
 

35 watt (tube monos) for me too.

jond's avatar
jond
5,841 posts
 

I haven't had more than 17 watts here in 15 years with no problems and great sound.

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,516 posts
 

My minimum is 60 solid watts per channel. That will work at my listening levels, less with more efficient speakers. I only need more when I'm trying to impress someone, not for normal listening. 

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