Amplifier for Aerials

[TLE0629-1]

Reading some on these forums.  I have a pair of Aerial Acoustics Model 7B's.  Efficiency at 86dB.  6 ohm nominal, 4 ohm minimum.  On this forum, it was said to have around 110 listening level.  So, if 1 watt = 86, 2 watts = 89, then 256 watts = 110.  So, what wattage ratings am I to be looking at?  Do I calculate the difference between the 8 and 4 ohm ratings to determine the wattage for 6 ohms?  What about headroom?  Do I need at least 300 watts or higher at 6 ohms for these speakers?

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Canuck_fr]

The math you did is right. Those are relatively inefficient speakers: Meaning they need a good amount of power. I wouldn't go below the 300 Watts / 8 ohms for those speakers. So would recommend an XPA-2, 2 x XPA-1's, XPR-2 or 2 x XPR-1's. Enjoy...

[garbulky]

You also have to take into account that at your listening distance 110 db doesn't equal 110 db. It's much less which is a good thing because 110 db is insane.

[tle0629]

Thanks for the replies.

So it seems I need even more power. Question remains though is that even if speakers are rated at 4 or 6 ohms, you still take wattage ratings at 8 ohms to figure how much power you need? If an amp has 300 watts into 8 ohms and 500 watts into 4 ohms and you have 4 ohms speakers, can you not look at the 4 ohm wattage ratings. Or do you always look at the 8 ohm wattage ratings for speaker efficiency?

Lastly, I can see possibly the XPA-2, thinking the XPR-2 would be better suited, but the XPA-1L I'm not sure how that one would work being rated at only 250 watts into 8 ohms and apparently if the speakers are really 84.4dB, then I would need 512 watts for a 110dB listening level. However, if I could take the 4 ohm wattage ratings, then things would be different.

Thanks,
Todd

[AudioHTIT]

Jul 31, 2013 9:21:54 GMT -5 tle0629 said:

Thanks for the replies.

So it seems I need even more power. Question remains though is that even if speakers are rated at 4 or 6 ohms, you still take wattage ratings at 8 ohms to figure how much power you need? If an amp has 300 watts into 8 ohms and 500 watts into 4 ohms and you have 4 ohms speakers, can you not look at the 4 ohm wattage ratings. Or do you always look at the 8 ohm wattage ratings for speaker efficiency?

Lastly, I can see possibly the XPA-2, thinking the XPR-2 would be better suited, but the XPA-1L I'm not sure how that one would work being rated at only 250 watts into 8 ohms and apparently if the speakers are really 84.4dB, then I would need 512 watts for a 110dB listening level. However, if I could take the 4 ohm wattage ratings, then things would be different.

Thanks,
Todd

I wouldn't get too hung up on the exact output into 6 ohms, it will be different for each amp depending upon the power supply and output devices; in this case it should be close the the mathematical figure of 450 WPC. All of the amp recommendations are good, the XPR 1 or 2 would be great but so would the XPA 1 or 2. While the 1L has a little less power its Class A mode would be nice for more relaxed listening, I'd probably go for an XPR.

[mauriceminor]

My A/D/S L1290 speakers are also inefficient at an actual 84dB
I have gone from 150 to 300 to finally 500 watts ( XDA-1 ) per side
With each increase there has been a noticeable improvement
Low listening levels as well as moderate to high

( A/D/S was the predecessor to Ariel Acoustics )

[stads77]

Sounds like you should get an XPR-2 or a Crown XLS 2500 (seriously though), better yet 2 Crown amps bridged!

It all depends on how much you want to spend.

[garbulky]

Jul 31, 2013 9:21:54 GMT -5 tle0629 said:

Thanks for the replies.

So it seems I need even more power. Question remains though is that even if speakers are rated at 4 or 6 ohms, you still take wattage ratings at 8 ohms to figure how much power you need? If an amp has 300 watts into 8 ohms and 500 watts into 4 ohms and you have 4 ohms speakers, can you not look at the 4 ohm wattage ratings. Or do you always look at the 8 ohm wattage ratings for speaker efficiency?

Lastly, I can see possibly the XPA-2, thinking the XPR-2 would be better suited, but the XPA-1L I'm not sure how that one would work being rated at only 250 watts into 8 ohms and apparently if the speakers are really 84.4dB, then I would need 512 watts for a 110dB listening level. However, if I could take the 4 ohm wattage ratings, then things would be different.

Thanks,
Todd

tle, are you aware of how loud anything above 100db is? It's very very loud. Most listening is done at 70- mid 80's. Some go into the 90's if they are feeling adventurous. 10db is doubling the percieved loudness. 3db is doubling the power the amplifier puts out! So it's not linear. And I like loud though I don't get the oppurtunity to play loud often. Even though your speakers are innefficient, I think even an XPA-2 would be good despite the low efficiency unless you are putting a house party. Depends on how much you are willing to spend though....more power is yes better. How loud do you actually listen on average? You have to take that into account and add a few db's for headroom. I promise it's not 110 db

www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html

[pedrocols]

I listen to music on avarage at 76 to 80 db and I find it loud for in home music (not home theater) listening. I can't imaging listening to music at over 90 db at a home for any amount of hours....geeeeee

[tle0629]

Thanks for the replies.

I emailed Michael Kelly at Aerial to ask him and he said that
"100 wpc 8 ohms / 200 wpc 4 ohms is enjoyable. 200 / 400 is what I would recommend. 300 / 600 is more than enough."

So, given that, I may start with the XPA-2 although the Class A part of the XPA-1L sounds good too. But then we're talking about $899 vs $1,258 right now so a $359 difference. Hmm... Then the XPR-2 would only be $191 over the 2 XPA-1L's. Moneywise, the XPA-2 sounds really good right now but do not want regrets in which I have had a few.

No, I do not listen at loud levels, well maybe at times, but not mostly. That (110dB) is what I had read somewhere here in these forums.

Again, thanks,
Todd