Comon guys the sensitivity is 86 db @ 2.83 volts @ 4ohms, not specifically power thirsty. yet this NAD amp has dynamic output of 220W which equates to 4.4db of headroom. Short answer no you probably will not see much of an improvement going to a 150watt amp. The headroom on this NAD is pretty large.

 

Yes ....agree, I said 400 watts @ 4 ohm is what's necessary and you're mixing RMS output with dynamic music power ...


Maggies 1.7 require 2 watts to reach 86 db @ 1 M therefore it will require 8 watts to achieve 86 db at typical listening distance distance of 4 M, a . 10 -12db Peak is not unusual with 18db for classical recordings, which means at nominal listening levels of 86 db the speakers will require 128 watts if he increases his avg din to 90 DB , it will require 256..

Increase to 93 Db will require 512 watts, guess what ... ?

Also that Nad with a 4db headroom will have poor bass response and quality on a 1.7 due to poor PSU regulation ...

Planar magnetic speakers are current hoggers, unless you listen at sedate levels (83db) and play dynamically mundane music, go for the bigger amplifier...

 

Hate to tell you but I have it correct, I am not missing anything with RMS vs dynamic power, With much headroom the 80 watts is sufficent, will have the capability to drive the variance in loads as the impedence changes. I disagree with your bass comment, the NAD amp has plenty of damping. For standard listening levels this amp is sufficient. You ever hear of anyone with the 1.7's and older less effeciant mags using low level output tube amps, do a search you will see that some are using Quicksilvers 40 watt amps and Jolida 50 watt amps with no problem. NAD has a well consrtructed power supply as demonstrated by its over 4db level of headroom more than enough headroom required to provide standard level listening with the 1.7 to be sufficient. Just as an added note NAD rates the 80W at both 8ohm and 4 ohm!
I agree with the sound pressure level vs distance, and the comment on the 10 -12db which requires the increase in power for the 90db, hence the headroom ! One flaw with your assumption, the 10 to 12 DB sound pressure level s not constant but variable with the source, therefore another indicator why these variable in levels equate to the the headroom of the amp,

 

Hi all According to me As long as you are not driving the outputs to DC, meaning clipping the outputs, then you are okay.

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wow 86db, yea you will see an improvement!

 

Sonic benefits do not come from more "powerful" amps. They are the result of more accurate amplifiers. A properly designed 50 watt amp be all you need to run your speakers. You have good speakers and mediocre electronics. Contrary to what many people believe the other way around produces a better sonic result/. I have a $6k 80 watt amp running a $1.4k speakers with stunning results. Musicians know this and wanna be audiophiles eventually figure it out after wasting lots of cash.

 

yeah, cause the more watts, the better the sound!

 

This is basically right on, with the exception being that money is no guarantee of good results. But the concept is rock solid. In the immortal words of the great Robert Harley, "If the first watt isn't any good, why would you want 200 more of them?"

 

I think it's tough to generalize here, some amps sound better with certain speakers than others. Power is just a small part of the equation. My amps are loafing along driving my speakers... but I think they sound great. Would they sound as good with less power? Better with more? Unless you audition and listen with your own ears, who knows.

And "quality" is also subjective. Just like when musicians play live - some of most 'imperfect' amps sound best. It's all about what is pleasing to the ear, and I would suggest that is why the most expensive, fastest, most neutral and analytical amps don't necessarily sound best.

Best,

Matt

 

aka Krell, Mark Levinson, sterile, lifeless, uninvolving.

 

Anybody here listen to some of the Naim Audio stuff, nothing sterile or lifeless about it. If you haven't heard it, get to a Naim dealer and listen, it will get you excited about hi-fi again. Very involving, like an older 911.

 

I had the 3.6 with Two Adcom 555 in bridge mode. They sounded great. Any mangepan speaker is going to require a ton of power. Like posted earlier, 91 db sensitivity is a good point to start. 3db is twice the power so from 86 to 91 is a big jump!