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Power amp for new to me power hungry speakers

Room is pretty big. About 12x15. Yeah it could be that the phono carts i use are in the 2.5 - 3mv range. So, more gain from volume knob is required.
 
ryanward84 said:
As with most anything there are a lot of reasons why the Adcom is great and reasons why I’d like something different. I just don’t get moved by it’s sound with my speakers. So on to something different.

I used to have a Yamaha CR 1020 that I really liked. That’s why I mentioned the Yamaha.
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You reasons are valid that what make this hobby great.
 
ryanward84 said:
I’d like something different. I just don’t get moved by it’s sound with my speakers. So on to something different.
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You might look into Mosfet amps. Both B&K and Hafler can be found within your budget. Mosfet's are said to have more of a *tube like* sound. Very smooth, but still very detailed. https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/what-are-some-good-mosfet-amps.410615/

I use a B&K ex4420 to drive a pair of Kef 104/2's, and the sound is lovely. I have tried a few others; Sansui AU-919 - highly detailed, but a little too clinical (with these speakers). Pioneer SX-1250 - not detailed enough. Denon PMA-920 - also lacking detail. Pioneer SX-1010 - also lovely, and came very close to the sound of the B&K.
 
ryanward84 said:
Room is pretty big. About 12x15. Yeah it could be that the phono carts i use are in the 2.5 - 3mv range. So, more gain from volume knob is required.
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that's not a big room, 60watts should be able to blow your ears out even with speakers rated at 89db sensitivity, you're most likely running into the brick wall the cartridges outputs are creating.

Back in the day running a 60watt Kenwood KA-7100 purchased new it would drive my AR12's rated 86db to ear splitting levels in a considerably larger room.

Is the turntable your only source? If not are you experiencing the same output issues with CD, radio, etc?
 
@ryanward84

You've mentioned several things now...

1st, thinking you needed more power. Since asking twice if the distortion lights are coming on, with no direct answer, I presume the answer is they are not. That means you're not short on power.

2nd, the sound doesn't move you. Ok, fair enough, but what does that mean? What's lacking?

3rd, volume at 50% and concern about gain. That the volume is at 50% doesn't mean the amp or anything else is being overworked. Is it that you're not used to turning the knob that far on other systems, so you think something must be wrong?

What the real issue is just doesn't seem to come forward.
 
highend64 said:
What is decent volume for you? I had that same amp and pre with my DIY speakers I use to have I did not have any issues with volume. My speakers were rated somewhere around the same sensitivity as yours maybe lower. How big is your room?
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Can help but chime in here. Im enjoying your back and forth
If I had a dime for everytime someone trying to impress me says they have xxxwatt speakers or an ×××watt power amp with no mention of watts rms, speaker sensitivity/efficiency, current draw etc. I'd be a millionaire.
 
Grenadeslio said:
that's not a big room, 60watts should be able to blow your ears out even with speakers rated at 89db sensitivity, you're most likely running into the brick wall the cartridges outputs are creating.

Back in the day running a 60watt Kenwood KA-7100 purchased new it would drive my AR12's rated 86db to ear splitting levels in a considerably larger room.

Is the turntable your only source? If not are you experiencing the same output issues with CD, radio, etc?
Click to expand...

Interesting discussion, I would be less concerned about over output power regardless of room size. You are getting to the other pertinant issues with input gain and speaker efficiency, but don't forget available bandwidth of a given cabinet and choice of EQ curve and Q.
This is a great back and forth. and much more important than pure numbers.
 
opnly bafld said:
Speaker wattage ratings are.......pretty much meaningless.
The sensitivity and how loud you listen are important to determine power needs (see whoareu99's post above).
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Bingo. Same problem with power amp ratings of peak or dynamic power ....instead of RMS under a specific load.

Peak power = the junk food bragging rights of the audio industry.
 
Grenadeslio said:
that's not a big room, 60watts should be able to blow your ears out even with speakers rated at 89db sensitivity, you're most likely running into the brick wall the cartridges outputs are creating.

Back in the day running a 60watt Kenwood KA-7100 purchased new it would drive my AR12's rated 86db to ear splitting levels in a considerably larger room.

Is the turntable your only source? If not are you experiencing the same output issues with CD, radio, etc?
Click to expand...

Good questions!
This would be my thinking as well. I'm running an NAD 7150 with my KEF 101/2's (86db also) at my office. Room is about the same size, and I never go near the limits and would be blasting my eardrums without pushing too far on any normal inputs (CD and Turntable)
 
ryanward84 said:
Im learning a few things here. Thankyou. But yeah i know what the distortion lights on the front of the amp are…

Still looking for something that just sounds better to me than the 535.
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At the risk of repeating myself...

Trade up to a GFA555II. I have two and love them.

Or, if you can bridge the 535, get another one of those.
 
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