High Sensitivity Speakers that work best with SS

Larryi, in many cases you are correct, as I am guessing that Nvp also suspects.

Many high power amplifiers have a distortion characteristic that is actually higher at low power levels; depending on the amp the distortion might begin increasing at levels below 2-5 watts.

Due to the dynamic nature of music this 'first watt' is quite audible even on speakers of only moderate efficiency. For this reason to get that 'inner detail' that is often the 'magic' of a good system, it may well not be a great idea to put a high power amplifier on a high efficiency loudspeaker as the distortion might be higher rather than lower. The human hear translates many forms of distortion to tonality (odd orders are brightness and harshness, even orders contribute to warmth and lushness) and due to the ear's masking characteristic, distortion can obscure low level detail.

On higher efficiency speakers the distortion character in an amplifier that seems to be most successful is that where the distortion linearly decreases to unmeasurable as power is decreased. This is the realm of SETs, the Nelson First Watt designs and our own OTLs.

If the amp has this characteristic then it will likely work fine with a high efficiency speaker even if it has high power. Sorry if I am being a bit verbose.

NVP, I don't recall seeing a ? in any of your previous posts on this thread.

Every high power solid state amp I haver tried with my Lascalas, including Mac, Levenson, Krell, Bryston, Threshold, and many others, have never sounded as smooth as my little pro Yammie. I am not suggesting everyone go out and buy one. It just does for me what I want it to, and that is the point of all of this. To find a combo, a match, that makes you enjoy your recorded music, and tap your feet. And yes, Nvp was looking for an explanation, but from one specific individual on this thread. Just saying....MrD.

I would also like to say that the smaller versions of all of these monster amps have sounded better to me as well, through my particular speakers.

Every now and then I consider moving my Sansui AU D-11 (upgraded) out of the bedroom system paired with EPI 100s and into my main rig to replace the Sophia Baby to drive my Cain & Cain Abbys. Maybe, one day...