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Speaker Efficiency

   I have been listening to my Decware 300b tube amp for a few months now. At 8 watts, I have them paired with Klipsch Forte IV at 99db efficiency, and this set up has been sounding great. This morning I connected a pair of Sonus Faber Electa Amator speakers, 6ohms at 88db of efficiency. They sound fantastic, with more weight  and depth. I understand there is a huge price difference in the two speakers, but aside from that, if I am getting 80db of volume at my chair, 8' away, what is the draw back of using lower efficiency speakers with SET amps, so long as the volume is sufficient? I did notice turn the Pre amp, the tube amp and the Roon volume towards the highest setting, it starts sounding terrible....

 

128x128marktheshark
phusis's avatar
phusis
1,238 posts
 

@mikelavigne wrote:

i’m not always the biggest Harley fan with his tendency toward hyperbole.....but in this case he nailes it. a quick read worth your time.

I fully agree - on all mentioned. 

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,918 posts
 

@mapman Wrote:

Oh it will work. Almost any pairing will “work” and make sound. It might even work well enough for some in some cases. But the pairing will never bring out the best in either component.

Exactly!

@marktheshark Wrote:

Typo, the Electa Amator is 4 ohms at 88db

That means the speaker is getting two watts not one watt. I.e. Sensitivity @ one watt @ one meter @ eight Ohms =88 dB SPL @ four Ohms= two watts for 88 dB SPL @ one meter. In other words, your speakers are getting two watts from the amp not one to get 88 dB SPL @ one meter. Also, any amplifier driving lower impedances = higher distortion.😎

@mikelavigne Wrote:

i’m not always the biggest Harley fan with his tendency toward hyperbole.....but in this case he nailes it. a quick read worth your time.

I agree!

Mike

soix
9,929 posts
 

Amps, and especially tube amps, do not perform sonically optimally as they’re pushed more toward their limits.  But, that said, if you had the volume knob pretty cranked and were still enjoying the sound maybe that amp even working sub-optimally still works for you.  Follow your ears. 

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
2,022 posts
 

I'm thinking that unless the room is huge, 80 db in the listening chair is nowhere near full crank.

roadcykler
188 posts
 

@jayctoy "Mark the 8w will not work on 88db on loud volume.."

 

A speaker with that efficiency will play at 88 dB with ONE watt. How loud do you think it would be with 5-6 watts? What? I can't hear you over the extremely loud music!.

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