"Arny Krueger" wrote

I am looking at my first tube amp. It delivers 40 wpc
class A. I own an inefficient pair of A/D/S 810 speakers.
Will I have problems with this amp driving these speakers ?

The ADS L810 is a three-way acoustic-suspension
speaker (1981). This is an efficient 6 ohm speaker
(94 dB SPL/W/m) with a power rating of 100 watts,
200 watt peak. 40 watts of tube power should be
sufficient for a normal sized room unless you play
your music at excessively loud levels.

Perhaps if the room is small or very live.

Based on a sampling of nine new build homes the
average living room is about 17' 6" by 16'6". In this
setting 40-80 tube watts with 94 dB efficiency speakers
will satisfy most listener needs. Personally, I’m more
concerned about midrange tonal quality over ultimate
sound pressure capability.

Frequency response and micro-dynamics often suffer
as speakers are pushed to their limits (100 dB).
Purchasers can be disappointed if they purchase
speakers that are to large for the acoustic environment
in order to favor extreme SPL’s, too.


If the L810s have 94 dB/w sensitivity, they would be
exceptional as most ADS products run in the more
typical 88 to 91 dB/w range.

How would you know?