Why is an XA30.5 a bad match for Revel Ultima Salon II speakers?

Bombaywalla,

How do you think my ARC Ref 150 SE tube amp would fare with the Ultima Salons?

My amp has 4, 8 and 16 ohm output taps.  I surmise that the 4 ohm taps would work best with the Salons given its lowish impedance in the low frequencies.  I seem to recall that the output impedance off the 4 ohm taps is about a half an ohm.  Rated power off the 4 ohm tap is well north of 150 watts if driving a 4 ohm load.

Reason for question:  I've had Salons on my radar screen for a while.

@bombaywalla , you wrote " [s]o, the DEQX is sidelined due your philosophy of minimizing the signal chain? nothing wrong with DEQX - just that you are a minimalist w.r.t. audio gear, right?"  

Yes, ... correct.  The DEQX solves many problems. That said, in my case, and IMO, ARC gear is very synergistic when used with other ARC components.  IOW, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, ... if I got that right.  The DEQX detracts from the considerable ARC component synergistic effect, ... IMO.  

Btw, I checked the specs on the Revel Studio II.  Unlike its bigger brother, its sensitivity is close to 89 db.  See here: http://www.stereophile.com/content/revel-ultima-studio2-loudspeaker-measurements#xX3PQVeOHrCwDxHS.97

Notably, I used to own Paradigm S8s (version 2) which also had a rated sensitivity of 89 db.  My amp drove the S8s (version 2) to ear splitting levels.  And btw, the S8s (v2 and v3) have pretty wicked capacitive phase angles and low impedance plots in the bass region.  

Perhaps, I could get a similar loudness result with the Studios???  More importantly, I wonder if the Studios even sound better than my S8s.  So much hype and brand snobbery in our hobby.  Also, the Studios tip the scales at 140 pounds each.  The S8s are a slimmer 100 pounds each. Ouch!

You also suggested getting the next ARC amp model up the food chain. That would be the Ref 250 SE.  Too expensive; too much heat; not enough space.  

Thanks again.

Thanks XTI16 and Bombaywalla.  Kinda' figured you would come out where you did.  It makes sense.  

No Bombaywalla, ... the amp does not double down wattage at 4 ohms.  In fact, if you checked out some reviews of the Ref 150 (not SE), you will see that the amp puts out between 150 and 165 watts if the amp is hooked up to a speaker load that matches the nominal tap value.  IOW, the amp will deliver between 150 and 165 watts if it is driving a 4 ohm nominal speaker load off the 4 ohm taps; an 8 ohm nominal speaker load off the 8 ohm taps, and so forth.  

It's really a function of how the amp is configured.  Although its output impedance is "low'ish" for a tube amp, it does not produce power like a SS "Voltage Paradigm" amp.  

I still own Paradigm S8s (v3), which are pretty decent over-performing speakers.  The rated sensitivity of the S8s is 92 db, which is considerably north of the Salons.  Hence, I can cleanly drive the S8s to ear splitting levels. 

BombaywaIla, I get the practical electrical realities you explained above.  I surmise you would respond similarly if I asked your opinion about matching up the Ref 150 to the Magnepan 3.7s, which I recall have a sensitivity in the mid-80s as well.

My bottom line is that I like my current electronic set up, ... all ARC.  And I am inclined to keep the amp.  Hence, I surmise that if I was interested in switching out my speakers, I would be well advised to consider speakers that have rated sonic sensitivities closer to my S8s than the Salons or Maggies, i.e., go high 80s or low 90s.

Thanks.

Bruce

P.S. -- My DEQX is off-line.  Although it adds a lot and mitigates a lot of room problems, in the end, I'd rather suffer the time delays caused by the high order crossovers than the artifact effects of adding an electronic device to the signal path.  I'm kinda' inclined to swap out my Ref 5 SE for the new ARC Ref 6, which is attracting rave comments. Hard to believe that the ARC electronics can be that good, but hearing will be believing.  

@bombaywalla , you said I "should look for a time-coherent speaker. [My] quest for another speaker will end. Don’t waste [my] time with these wicked phase angle, crazy impedance curve speakers. They’ll leave [me] wanting for better sonics....FWIW."

Gotcha.  I am aware of only 3 speaker brands that are purportedly time coherent; namely:  Vandies; Green Mountain Audio; and Thiels.  Am I missing something?   What brand did you have in mind?