More power for moderate listening levels?
Tekton makes some great speakersIF one likes that sort of thing. In the Monitor review, Stereophile determined "My estimate of the Impact's sensitivity was 87.5dB(B)/2.83V/m, considerably lower than the specified 94dB." https://www.stereophile.com/content/tekton-design-impact-monitor-loudspeaker-measurements Truth in advertising: Miller owns Tektons. |
If I measured them they would be different again. As I said, I've seen a LOT of fudging and manipulation, of the numbers. How that mic is held what it is held with, background noise, I've seen some weird stuff to get NUMBERS. Wiring out of phase is real big. Listen to the difference, when the mids are NOT wired out of phase... and when just one of three (EX; mid drivers) is wired out of phase, the number look good but they sound "FLAT" because they are, they measure flat... Tekton does not wire out of phase.... I don't know Mr. Pass views on crossovers, but I do have one of his hand built First Watt OXO. Nothing more than 18 db XO, more like 6 and 12 db.. His amps are going to reflect sounding better, with a lower order XO, too.. Those long slopes help a lot when it comes to power demand...and lower watts. 24, 48 db slopes, and any low watt amp, the amp will labor, AND run out of gas. Even if the E factor is high.... 25 watts is 25 watts..I have to look up the specs on the speakers...I have a hunch about the crossover...I just wonder if it is in the specs without, looking at the actual crossover. Regards.. |
More power allows you to hear more of the instruments at lower volumes (e.g. sound floor). I have Martin Logan Spires which are nominally 4Ω, but can draw down to 1Ω on some loads. Yeah, they've been known to blow up underpowered amps. I drive them with a pair of 900 W monoblocks (4Ω), fed by a tubed (6SN7) preamp. I also have tube monoblocks that put out 75 W. When listening with the tube amps, the sound floor doesn't reach as low as with the s/s amps. |
All, As MC stated, it's coming down to personal preference.I really like the sound of the Harbeth/Pass combination. I realize it's not everyone's cup of tea and I do have limited experience. However, I can listen for hours on this system while following precise bass lines and subtleties I did not know existed. Cliche I know. Given all the great comments, I think the path to audio nirvana is a simple one for me: 1) Sit in the chair and critically listen at highish volumes (without risking speaker damage of course). Do I achieve sufficient loudness without losing clarity and oomph? Case closed. 2) Sit there and wish for more? Go with more sensitive speakers (doubtful) or get a higher powered amp. If going this route it makes sense to me to skip an animal in the food chain and try the Int-250 with an increase from 95db to 105db at my listening chair. Looking at the distortion/watt graph, the 25 clips at 60W so I'm giving myself a ballpark of about 50W. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but pushing it to 50W may be a problem if there is a big dynamic range in the music. The 250 deserves an audition but it comes at a steep (for me) price. It may be worth it, it may not. |
