question of integrated amplification: PASS LABS INT 250 VS ACCUPHASE E-800


My speakers are the Sonus Faber Guarneri Evolution which  have a low efficiency: 86 db at 4 Ohms. So they need a lot of watts and current. My listening room is 23 feet X 23 feet with a regular celling. With the Pass Labs int 250 there will be no problem driving the speakers. I still consider the Accuphase E-800 but i hesitate because it is only 50 watts pure classe A (8 ohms) and 100 watts pure class A (4 ohms). Enough power despite the damping factor of 1,000 ? Another choice: the LUXMAN L-595 ASE?

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Another to consider if you like the organic delivery of Accuphase but with much more power - the Audionet Watt. It retails at $18K or so and performs quite close to my $60K separates, and there is a used one from High Performance Stereo at half the price. 

The E-800 transitions to class AB after the first 50 watts (8 ohms) and will provide plenty of juice for nearly any loudspeaker. Of course, along with all that power one gets one of the most versatile, precision built, and gorgeous integrateds made.
Regards,

Oran

I compared the int250 against an E800 at a dealer and preferred the Pass. The Accuphase E800 was too polite for my taste. I did not like the appearance of it either. I ultimately decided on a Diablo 300.

The Luxman nor the Accuphase will not have enough juice to drive that load, especially in that size of room. I just went through this with a Luxman 590AXII in a much smaller space. Not enough current to drive a pair of KEF Reference 1 Metas. The bass was thin and anemic. The Pass integrated, Gryphon Diablo 300 (as swede58 recommended) or McIntosh would pair well with the Sonus Faber. If you are set on Luxman, the new M10X is crazy good!