@jaybe I emailed them, and Kent was helpful with providing a lot of information on how to determine what was best for my set up, but did not mention specific speakers, except one that was to expensive ($13k/pr). I was hoping by now, I would have an idea of what would work well for me, and have a base of dozens of speakers, and go from there.
Many have mentioned here, as supported in a stereophile review, that the amps lower output is not a big deal, because it goes into A/B after 30/w and will go up to 100/w or more. And so for that reason, I should be less concerned about ohms/sensitivity. Well, if that is the case, and I'm running in A/B most the time for my listening, what was the point in getting an amp for it's A class properties? And I can't really know how loud a certain any speaker will be until it's in my room. (why the variables are important)
This is certainly one reason I'v been looking at 4 ohm speakers, to take advantage of the power bump from the amp (up to 60w/ch), which opens up a lot more options and leaves me feeling a bit more confident the amp will remain in class A. I do prefer lower listening volumes up to moderate, but still want to err on the safe side leaving my self plenty of room in A class (plenty being relative, I know this isn't a mono block), using A/B when I'm more in the mood for loud music and won't care so much for the sound as I would in a quiet mood. (personal preference)
I feel that the xa30.8 is still a good candidate given my listening room is small and my preference of lower volume listening, but don't want to pigeon hole my self with a high end amp and only lower volumes in class A. If this isn't the right setting for it, what is? Another area of struggle for me when learning/reviewing speakers is ohms vs sensitivity. I'v read a lot and am getting much better at understanding, still hazy. If 4 ohms bumps up the power, to 60w/ch and sensitivity means more volume with less power (sort of), where do they equal? Meaning, is a speaker with sensitivity of 100 at 8 ohms as loud per watt as a speaker of sensitivity 85 at 4 ohms?
The mission here isn't for me to quibble to much over the numbers (which I am because I'm not an expert), but rather, find the right threshold, single those speakers out, then I can listen them, with confidence, knowing they will work for my set up, not wasting time on speakers that certainly won't. Keeping the amp in full class A up to and at moderate listening volumes is the goal. A few examples here that were listed were some 4 and 6 ohm speakers, all with low sensitivity though. (and why can't we have sensitive 4 ohms?) Then there are 8 ohm speakers with high sensitivity. They may all work well.
This is much more important when buying used speakers that I can't listen too. Some I can audition right here in my home and plan on doing so after I get the amp, but, I still need to make sure that the amp it self isn't so limited with speakers that will allow full class A with moderate listening volumes, that is the tricky part. It's looking a lot better for me and this amp, but still concerned it's class A properties may be a bit limited (and that might be ok, I don't need every speaker option).
Many have mentioned here, as supported in a stereophile review, that the amps lower output is not a big deal, because it goes into A/B after 30/w and will go up to 100/w or more. And so for that reason, I should be less concerned about ohms/sensitivity. Well, if that is the case, and I'm running in A/B most the time for my listening, what was the point in getting an amp for it's A class properties? And I can't really know how loud a certain any speaker will be until it's in my room. (why the variables are important)
This is certainly one reason I'v been looking at 4 ohm speakers, to take advantage of the power bump from the amp (up to 60w/ch), which opens up a lot more options and leaves me feeling a bit more confident the amp will remain in class A. I do prefer lower listening volumes up to moderate, but still want to err on the safe side leaving my self plenty of room in A class (plenty being relative, I know this isn't a mono block), using A/B when I'm more in the mood for loud music and won't care so much for the sound as I would in a quiet mood. (personal preference)
I feel that the xa30.8 is still a good candidate given my listening room is small and my preference of lower volume listening, but don't want to pigeon hole my self with a high end amp and only lower volumes in class A. If this isn't the right setting for it, what is? Another area of struggle for me when learning/reviewing speakers is ohms vs sensitivity. I'v read a lot and am getting much better at understanding, still hazy. If 4 ohms bumps up the power, to 60w/ch and sensitivity means more volume with less power (sort of), where do they equal? Meaning, is a speaker with sensitivity of 100 at 8 ohms as loud per watt as a speaker of sensitivity 85 at 4 ohms?
The mission here isn't for me to quibble to much over the numbers (which I am because I'm not an expert), but rather, find the right threshold, single those speakers out, then I can listen them, with confidence, knowing they will work for my set up, not wasting time on speakers that certainly won't. Keeping the amp in full class A up to and at moderate listening volumes is the goal. A few examples here that were listed were some 4 and 6 ohm speakers, all with low sensitivity though. (and why can't we have sensitive 4 ohms?) Then there are 8 ohm speakers with high sensitivity. They may all work well.
This is much more important when buying used speakers that I can't listen too. Some I can audition right here in my home and plan on doing so after I get the amp, but, I still need to make sure that the amp it self isn't so limited with speakers that will allow full class A with moderate listening volumes, that is the tricky part. It's looking a lot better for me and this amp, but still concerned it's class A properties may be a bit limited (and that might be ok, I don't need every speaker option).