Low watt tube amp for big speakers
- Thread starter Andrei
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the skipper
Professional Curmudgeon
I think a lot would depend on what you expect from them. Here's a copy of their manual.
You might want to google "Kef 107 power requirements" to view their owners manual and read to read page 9 carefully.
You might want to google "Kef 107 power requirements" to view their owners manual and read to read page 9 carefully.
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The closest I've come to your combination is a pair of KEF Reference 103.2's with my PP 7189(14w/channel) Fisher. That combination didn't do it for me, though I have found other strange combinations of speakers/amps that worked. I found the sensitivity rating on my KEF's to be optimistic and have read others who felt same way. The 107's also have the Kube and I would think from my reading might be power hungry. Also suggest reading as much as you can find.
Dswankey
Lunatic Member
Agreed!
Andrei
Active Member
I have read in the manual where it talks about amplifier requirements. It says that they will perform optimally when driven with 300 W/channel, but due to their high sensitivity (90 dB) they will be just fine with as little as 50 W/channel. I don't know how this would translate for a tube amp....
FlaCharlie
Super Member
Risk? No, unless you're foolish enough to run the amp at maximum volume. And maybe not even then but the distortion level would likely make that unlistenable anyway.
Will it work well and sound good in your particular situation? Try it and see.
Watts are watts, tube or solid state. No translation needed.
Andrei
Active Member
By "risk" I'm referring to some possible distortions that I wont notice but that can damage the tweeters, especially on long-term
FlaCharlie
Super Member
I can't imagine that unnoticeable distortion would cause any problems. Distortion from SS amps is much more destructive than distortion from tube amps.
No harm in giving this combo a listen.
vinylkid58
Super Member
Those KEF speakers weren't designed to be driven by a tube amp with a relatively high output impedance, and virtually no damping factor. There's a lot more going on than just efficiency. It's highly unlikely you'll damage them, but don't expect miracles.
jeff
Dirk Willims
Active Member
Well I'm kinda new, but I prefer low watt tube units, with my monster speakers. To date I've run my 299's with speakerLab clones, corns, La Sala, Delquist 10s and 20s, and Warfdale 70's and 90's. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer that set up to my David Berning tune gear. My Mac gear, "SS" my SS Conrad Johnson amps.
Also had outstanding success with the ST70/PAS-3 into the same speakers, and my Stromberg Carlsen Stereo 24, with the above speakers. Again magic.
Be bold in mixing and matching stuff, experiment find what it is your looking for. It's a blast.
Dirk
Also had outstanding success with the ST70/PAS-3 into the same speakers, and my Stromberg Carlsen Stereo 24, with the above speakers. Again magic.
Be bold in mixing and matching stuff, experiment find what it is your looking for. It's a blast.
Dirk