Sonus Faber Stradivari amp: X600.5 or X1000.5 ?

It sounds like you intend to listen at very high volumes. The Strads can go loud, but you're talking about volumes well in excess of 110 db. You should talk to Sumiko (assuming that you live in the U.S.) or Sonus Faber to determine whether the drivers and crossover will hold up if played frequently at those kind of volumes. I ran Ebens which use Audio Technology midrange drivers like the Strads and they do not handle power as well as a lot of other drivers (in fact, other speakers that use Audio Technology drivers, e.g., Verity, Peak Consult, Rockport, are not known to be rock and roll speakers). For those kinds of volumes, I again ask why you are not using something like big Wilsons or horns.

Raquel:

Near my Strads i'm haveing a pair of Klipsch P-39F used for my home cinema. Thats why when i need to switch to them and to my cinema i need to have a powerful amp to drive these horns. Anyway i still want the class A watts but i want to be very sure that i can listen at very loud volumes with this XA160.5 on Strads.

Johnb30,

When you listened to your Mac 501's, what was the meter indicating at your louder volumes?

Onemug:

When i'm listening to very very loud it stay at 500W and sometimes at extreme levels go up to 1000W.

Johnb30,

That helps a lot. My feeling is that you would be better served by the 600.5 or go for the 1000.5's if you want. I've had the X's in my house and own 2 XA.5's. The XA's are the better sounding amp but you pay for quality over quantity in their case. That is not to say the X's are bad sounding, they are great but you seem to need the horsepower more.

You might come close to the best of both worlds with the XA200.5's but they will cost you north of 30 grand. As mentioned earlier, the XA.5's put out a lot more than their rated power. You might get 1000 watts from the 200's into your load. Do know this: you are punishing your eardrums at those levels. You will suffer some hearing loss if you do it too long/too often, but they are your ears.