Is there any truth to this question?

Pubul..the best I've ever heard Vandersteen 2 speakers was with a Music Reference RM 10. If I were looking at tubes that little EL 84 amp can do magical things. I guess you're all right, you have to try it..it's one time that following the rules doesn't always give you the best result.

The other thing I forgot to mention is that I have to sit near field < 6 ft due to being wheelchair bound and with the layout of my apartment. I don't listen too loud and with the music I listen to it's rare I push it anywhere near the clipping point.

I was surprised at all the viewpoints this thread has generated. From a fact based scenario I'm am sitting close 1.5m from speaker, not ideal. I listen for the most part at 85-90 db maximum so at best I'm using 4 watts with my Vandersteens, correct? The 50W should give me 101 db to play with, way louder than I've ever listened to music at home. Could I reach the clipping point playing small group jazz? I like the YBA sound but can't afford there better amps besides a YBA 1 is only 85 W with more current. I guess I'll never know so I guess the best thing is to forget the audiophile rules and just enjoy the music.

Can I get it to clip?, sure but I would be in the other room to get away from the noise. During normal listening session from the listening position, no not that I can hear. I've never gotten the warning lights in the Vandersteens to illuminate. If I lived in a house and could sit 7-8 feet back I probably would have 100 watts as my starting point.

Back in the day 50 watts was powerful and 86 db/1 w/1 m speakers were fairly efficient. What changed that you need 92 db speakers and 200 watts to be happy. I do have more powerful amps a Krell KSA 100 and a Parasound A21 and I'm not impressed, besides I live in an apartment building in New York and I have to sit too close to the speakers. I just keep hearing you don't have enough power to drive your speakers from my friends. When I put the other amps in the system it seems to make my friends happier then me. That's why I posted this to see what you guys thought.

Mcpherson I'm using a YBA preamp and amp. If anything it has too much gain. I can't turn it past 11 o'clock on the volume where I would prefer around 2 o'clock for the loudest setting. My D/A converter is 1.0V output so that helps compared to the standard 2V output of most cd players. My turntable I need to turn up a bit louder but no where past 11.

Here's another one: Harbeth speakers, less sensitive than my Vandersteens and are an easy load for amps to drive my YBA amp is a great match for them.

My Vandersteens are more efficient, easy load to drive but it's open to debate if 50 watts is enough.same room, near field listening, same average volume and type of music.

I'm confused

Pubul, that brings up a great point. SS isn't necessarily cheaper. New the YBA stuff was over $5K not that I spent that. The RM 10 is $1995, a Rogue Cronus Magnum integrated with 90 watts is $2200. In that regard tubes sound better and better as an option to high powered SS. I'll live with the YBA and save my money and next time I probably buy tubes.

I had the Vandersteens in a house driven by a 200 watt Krell and I was sitting back 7 or 8 feet in a 20 x 25 room. Now my first wife is gone..the Krell is gone all that remains are the Vandersteens. I'm saving for a pair of Harbeth speakers and sell the Vandersteens, time and finances will tell.

In a big room sitting farther away from the speakers it works with a higher powered amp. In my current situation sitting near field with a solid wall 3 feet behind me it would just overload the space and clipping distortion would be the least of my problems. Richard Vandersteen set the power range on these speakers from 40-160 watts so I've had both extremes and for my situation the lower powered amp is doing just fine. People say YBA is a little light in the bass but any more would just cause other problems.

Unsound I'm limited to location, because I'm in an apartment and this is the only place that works and I'm also in a wheelchair full time. The absorptive material might work I have to look into that.

Unsound..There is a couch behind the wheelchair and there is no place to back up to. You are right the Vandys are somewhat dark sounding and the Krell can be as well. When I bought the YBA preamp and amp the guy told me take them home for a week or so and pay me if you like them. They don't have the tight bass of the Krell but they provide a synergy with the Vandersteens that works nicely. The are brighter than the Krell and help to balance out the sound. I've had them for 15+ years and never thought to ask if there is something more until I heard the Music Reference RM 10. Again they are fairly low power but they just do things right with the Vandersteens. This goes against popular wisdom that Vandersteens need power because they are inefficient. My taste is to listen at a pleasant volume I've never pushed the speakers hard. I was an audiologist by trade so I know how a little volume over time can do damage to ones hearing.

I finally answered my own question tonight. I took my 50 w YBA, 100w Krell and 250w Parasound along with a Radio Shack SPL meter and did a comparison. First of all a took the most dynamic cd I own, the soundtrack for "Kansas City" and found that from my listening position I was registering 95 db peaks at the volume I preferred sitting 1.5 m from the speakers in my 10 x 12 room. I'm figuring I'm using 16 watts on the peaks and less than a watt at my normal 80 db volume. I cycled each amp through the system and although I could sense the ease with the Krell and the Parasound I preferred the natural timbre and presentation of the YBA. I realize the YBA was working harder but even so the presentation of the music never changed. The Krell and the Parasound sound like you're shifting gears as you increase the volume. Thanks for all your responses. Doing the swap out was tough from the wheelchair but I guess the only way to decide is to listen for yourself.