Paul Klipsch was right - What the world needs is a good 5 watt amplifier

Funny thing which i can't seem to explain is why this phenomenon occurs on the Atma-Sphere amplifiers and pre-amps. Iv not really experienced this on other audio gear iv tried tested personally or at friends.

If I Measure the room SPL Level at a friend's house 95db to 100db on peaks, It gets rather uncomfortable. This applies to SET and SS.

However on the Atma Sphere gear, 90db in-room spl measurements don't actually feel loud at all, even 95db don't really feel uncomfortable. If anything you kinda get the urge to keep cranking the volume up.

FWIW front row center at an orchestral concert can easily be over 100dB on peaks.

There are a lot of things that can cause harshness in a system when you try to run the volume at realistic levels.

Early side wall reflections are interpreted by the ear as harshness.

Higher ordered harmonics are interpreted as harshness.

Resonances excited by vibration in a turntable or vacuum tubes (microphonics) are interpreted by harshness.

Slap echoes in the room are interpreted as harshness.

Even if you don't play at +100dB levels, getting a handle on these things will result in a more musical relaxed presentation in the room even if 85dB is your maximum volume.

Of course you want your amp to have a good first watt!

I have Polk Lsim707, they say their 88db,but I have read reviews there more like 85 db....well I had a lot of amps with 200 to 250 wpc to drive them...My Chinese made Cayin A50TP MK II with 16w Triode 35 w Ultra drives them with no problems what so ever...I have a big room 25 ×35 Cathedral ceiling  ,and I can play them Loud.....

Hi All,

You all are much more knowledgeable than me, so I have a couple of questions if I may.

I bit the bullet and bought a pair of Klipsch Forte iv's in order to try a pair of high efficiency speakers. Listened to Cornwalls four or five times but felt, for me, the bass was better with the Forte's.

Played the Forte's with my McCormack DNA-500 amp, which is great with my Theil CS5i's, but not so much with the Forte's. 

Switched out to my old CJ LP66S tube amp and the sound greatly improved. In my space, 60 wpc is much more than enough. I think 30 wpc could be too much.

First question: does it make sense that the DNA-500 probably would not sound good with horns? Why?

Second Question: I recall reading somewhere that horns generally do not like amplifiers that use a lot of negative feedback. Is this generally true? Why?

Just trying to lay the groundwork to try a lower power tube amp or maybe Pass/First Watt?

Thanks for listening,

Dsper