Acoustic Research AR-2ax Power Question

[cary]

Is ten to fourteens watts enough to power the Acoustic Research AR-2ax speakers? My space 8x10'.

 

[gkimeng]

20WPC was the recommended minimum. If you're just going to play background music, you might be able to get away with less.

 

[homebrew]

As a previous owner of a pair of new AR2ax's, mine were powered by a new Marantz 1060 amp with 30 watts/channel. It was barely adequate to drive the AR's to anything more than moderately loud volume in my apartment at the time. The room wasn't much larger than yours. So if you like yours loud, I'd suggest a minimum of 60 watts/channel. Ten to fifteen won't do.

 

[Bill S]

Even if you had more power, an 8' x 10' room is too small for those speakers. There are much better (and smaller) speakers for a small room. Not that properly restored 2ax speakers aren't great, they just need more room and more power.

 

[cary]

Thank you everyone for your replies, it appears my tube amps do not have the power for these speakers.

 

[Rybeam]

I currently have a pair being ran by a 20 w SX 590 Pioneer receiver. Sound great at moderate to low volume. Great speakers, you will get more power sooner or later. You got the hard part covered with those speakers IMO.

 

[hornbostel]

I run my restored 2ax’s with a Kenwood KR4070 receiver circa 1978 rated at 40 watts. The speakers sound great! This is a small listening space in a corner of a large room. I don’t listen loud in this space. (Grill fabric still needs cleaning. Trying to figure out how best to do this. Any suggestions would be helpful)