help w/amp demo


On Friday, Sounds Real Audio of Golden, Colorado will be coming to my home to demo its Dehavilland 50a 40w tube amp w/my Aerial Model 9 speakers (full range, 90db sensitive, 4ohm). Given how good the 50a sounded at RMAF, I am very excited.

Nonetheless, while the 50a is designed to drive a bigger load than its specs would suggest, I am a little skeptical that it will be a good match w/the 9s (although I am hopeful). Thus, I have been doing a lot of reading on how to determine whether an amp is a good match w/a speaker and has enough power. In general, I think I have a handle on it.

One thing I don't understand is mention of a speaker making the amp "work too hard" as opposed to drving it w/"ease". I only understand that in the most general sense. My question is, how will I be able to tell if the amp is having to "work too hard" in driving my speakers? What should I look/listen for? Also, more generally, if people have ideas for how to decide if the amp is a good mate, I would love to hear them.

Thanks much.
128x128shredder
tube or ss, youre gonna need 'juice' for those speakers. atmasphere, arc and mac make some beefy units that match well eith your speakers....that said , your classe is a class act.
Thanks all, I will report back. And, yes, I agree, Jim Ridell at Sounds Real is great.
BTW, I love Classe amps. The 350 is my second. I previously owned a CAP 150, which is a terrific integrated and a great value. I am not looking elsewhere because I don't think highly of Classe, I just want to explore a different direction and at least at audio shows, the tubes always float my boat.
Shredder-Did you talk with the speaker or amp manufacturer to get their point of view?
I spoke with both Aerial and Dehavilland. Both said, "maybe it will work, you should give it a listen". Kara at Dehavilland then hooked me up with Jim at Sounds Real for a demo.