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Question about set amps and low sensitivity spkrs

Hi, In about 3 weeks I will take ownership of an 18wpc SET integrated. I currently run an Arcam SS amp with B&W 602 S2 speakers and I'm still undecided about new speakers (more sensitive, tube friendly) to mate with my new amp. My question is, can I run my current 90db sensitive B&W speakers with the SET integrated without doing damage, or shortening the life of my new tubes? I'd hate to have the amp sitting in a box waiting for me to decide on new speakers :) I frequently see that B&W speakers don't mate well with tubes...why is this?
thanks
Michael
mbleming
Post removed 
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Newbee, I agree that a tube amp generally puts out the same power into different impedance loads of the speaker, but I'm talking about the output taps (4ohm, 8ohm etc.) of the amplifier. I thought that into the same loads, the 4ohm tap and the 8 ohm taps put out different power. That was my understanding with the Music Reference gear (I think he said a 3db drop using the 4ohm tap into a 8ohm load versus the 8 ohm tap); but I could be wrong.
newbee
4,751 posts
 
Pubul57, Don't think so, but I've never owned or researched a MR amp. Nice stuff though.

FWIW the only thing I know of that halves power output of an amp, accross the bandwidth, is (for example) an amp which uses multiple types of power tubes and, say, is designed for max power from using 2 6550s/KT88's/KT90's per channel and putting out 80wts +/-, but the amp also allows for substitution of EL34s/6L6's. Putting in the EL34's etc will about halve the power output. Lest someone get anxious, this is not so with amps that are very conservative, such as Primaluna which doesn't seek max power from the principle tube, therefor doesn't reduce much more than a few watts when the smaller power tubes are used.

FWIW.
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