Looking for some advice on speakers for these amps

**bowtie427ss** · March 18th, 2013, 11:43 AM

How on god's green earth could you run 100db rated speakers more than 1 or 2 watts.

Reproducing the scale and dynamics of a live performance, or even a good studio production on the most sensitive speakers can still reach deep into a large amplifier's reserve. If your source and front end components observe wide enough dynamic range, there's really no such thing as "too much" power.

**alancohen** · March 18th, 2013, 01:05 PM

tinpan: I don't recall seeing you over on the http://www.hostboard.com/forums/f700...ment-when.html thread. Maybe it's because you just don't have an answer

Just teasing. I have a pair of A6s with 8256 bins and 288-8L drivers. I'm currently running a 15W OTL tube amp : Son of Beast OTL Tube Amp and find the power quite acceptable. When I'm seated in "the chair" the horns can literally blast me through the wall, but I'm only sitting 9' away.

It's hard for me to judge power/SPLs these days. The amps I'm using now are so clean that loud today does not sound like what loud sounded like when I used to peel paint off the walls. I don't realize how loud it really is until I turn it off.

That said, I still subscribe to the notion that there is no such thing as too much power...as long as it's clean.

**RonSSS** · March 18th, 2013, 03:12 PM

I agree with 427ss. Hook up your fav Altecs and listen.
You don't have to turn the volume way up.

I find as I've gotten older, I need more power, to overcome the hearing loss associated with use and abuse over the years.

Ron

**Alien_Shore** · March 18th, 2013, 04:27 PM

How much amp you need is also governed by the XO. If you're using passive XOs, and not bi-amping, then you can absolutely benefit from a big amp with plenty of reserves to adequately drive the low end, and the resistance of attenuation for SPL-balanced compression drivers. Personally, I've recently tried bi-amping my 816 bass horns and small-format compression drivers, all Altec high-sensitivity drivers, using an active XO, Onkyo 75wpc SS amp for the LF and 17wpc tube amp for the HF. Surprisingly, combining everything onto a passive XO and driving the whole thing with the Onkyo resulted in a better overall sound. I don't have to turn the amp up hardly at all (with 7:00 is min, 5:00 is max, I rarely need more than 8:00)...

**tinpan** · March 19th, 2013, 12:00 PM

tinpan: I don't recall seeing you over on the OT: You know you have too much audio equipment when... thread. Maybe it's because you just don't have an answer

I didn't answer that thread cuz my brain went into overload.lol. I also have another pair of Lowthers in Oris horns I need bass bins for plus a now glut of 511b horns and driver, a spare 1003 driver and 299 drivers seem to be showing up like tribbles . But, I do not have too much audio equipment.

I am really kicking myself for not going after those 4 A6's in Ohio. I thought to myself, be good don't add to the pile.

I think I'll hold off on the 515-6G setup listed above. Not sure how low the bass will go. Although, that price plus shipping certainly is attractive.

Think I'll hold out for some A6's.

My concern with too much power was based on blowing the phrams in my 806's in my 511b horns. After doing some reading I don't think the 288s are as sensitive.