Matching speakers to a low powered amp

[robcheese]

Hello,

I just bought my first stereo receiver and now I am looking for some cheap second hand speakers to use with it. The reciever is a Lepai TRIPATH TA2020A and it only outputs 20 Watts on each channel.

From what I've read it seems best to use speakers that have a lower power rating then your amp but that would be a pretty limiting constraint in my case. People say this is because it is better to distort at the speakers then at the amp. But does the power handling of the speakers really affect whether or not you amp sends a clipped signal?

For example lets say I turn my amp up too loud and it's sending a clipped signal. Would this signal really be more damaging to speakers rated at 100 Watts than speakers rated 10 Watts? If not then is there any reason that I shouldn't get speakers with a higher power rating then my amp besides the fact that I wouldn't be taking full advantage of my speaker's potential?

I'm looking for speakers that are small, have a high sensitivity, good bass response and that someone is selling in my city for less than $100. Adding the restriction that the speakers have to have a power handling less than 20 Watts makes them pretty hard to come by so if I can drop this restriction it would make my search a lot easier

Thanks,
Rob

 

[yuvaraki]

try taking your amp to a near by store where they sell Wharfedales entry level bookshelves and try it with them and see for yourself.

 

[jaudere]

If your listening distance is anything less than 10 feet, you won't reach clipping level of amp with good sensitivity speakers. The system will become too loud to tolerate before it clips. So don't worry about clipping. Speakers less than 100$ fulfilling all the criteria ---- difficult. Even home made speakers will be more costly. You need to be very patient and probably try second hand speakers. You can use any home audio speaker, even of 200watts with you amp provided sensitivity is good (preferably more than 90 db/w). I hope you don't listen to very loud music and that your listening distance is less than 10 feet.

 

[robcheese]

Thanks for the replies.

@yuvaraki - The amp is still in the mail but maybe I'll see if some stores will let me try it out when it gets here. I didn't see anything by Wharfedales rated at less than 30 watts though.

@jaudere - My listening distance will usually be around 9 feet and I don't intend on playing my music exceedingly loud so it's good to know that clipping won't be an issue. I just came across a pair of Energy Veritas V-Mini on ebay for 80 bucks: Energy Veritas V-Mini (Black) Bookshelf speaker at Crutchfield Outlet . I was originally hesitant due to their power handling but it sounds like that shouldn't be a problem. Do you think they would be a good match?

 

[jaudere]

Seem to be good on paper but don't expect a great bass. For good bass, you need the speaker to come down at least to 50hz where as the model quotes lower end only upto 78 hz. If you are not very particular about bass, it should work ok. In general avoid buying a speaker without audition, that too preferably with your amplifier. You are from Canada.how about DIY speakers? In fact there are few threads on DIY speakers here. Go through them. dIY is always cheaper than readymade speaker if sound quality is kept same.

 

[utkarsh]

With only 20 watts you have to lower the volume level . If possible move your setup to a smaller room.
For Example If you use a speaker having Sensitivity 88 dB per 1 watt and 1 meter and listening distnace of 10m then your listening (sound level) should be 84dB. After getting 84dB if you increase the volume knob in amplifier then it will overload (clipping) distortion. The sound will become compressed, strained. This distortion is actually non-musical additional energy and since it is concentrated in the high frequency region where the speaker is least able to handle it, the tweeter's voice coil can be burned in extreme cases. Driver damage is usually the result of having inadequate power rather than having too much.
Considering Amplifier power of each loudspeaker is 20W
Speaker Sensitivity : 88 dB 88dB 87dB
Listening Distance : 10 m 5m 10m
Max Sound Level : 84dB 90dB 83dB

 

[utkarsh]

My listening distance will usually be around 9 feet
Energy Veritas V-Mini on ebay for 80 bucks:

With these speakers having 90.5dB sensitivity and listening distance of 3m your amp will easily generate sound pressure level of 97dB.

 

[kaushik]

Seem to be good on paper but don't expect a great bass. For good bass, you need the speaker to come down at least to 50hz where as the model quotes lower end only upto 78 hz. If you are not very particular about bass, it should work ok. In general avoid buying a speaker without audition, that too preferably with your amplifier. You are from Canada.how about DIY speakers? In fact there are few threads on DIY speakers here. Go through them. dIY is always cheaper than readymade speaker if sound quality is kept same.

very true energy veritas look good for surrounds not for stereo pair BS , options are

1 . Get tannoy V1 for deal from UK , there are lot many deals
2 .MArkAudio Alpair 10 pencil 7 is a perfect DIY speaker , making easy as childs play .. fullrangers with deep low end
3. KEF Q300 etc ready speakers if u get for less

Tripath power amps perform great even for FS .. dont go by Math of SPL etc for 2-3metre they perform as good as costlier dennon amps ..
I am not sure of lepai .... it seems waste of money ,modding lepai.
Arjens kits are real real good . .

IMPORTANT : the Arjen SMPS in ebay is highly recommended , it really provides all needed current for large volumes also

 

[aashish351]

@robcheese: I have used the same amp with Polk Audio TSi300 floorstanders and Dali Ikon 6 in a 375 sq. ft. room for general listening while I was waiting for my main amp! A speaker with 8 ohm, 90dB+ will have no problem going to good enough listening levels and then some with this amp. Just don't expect party levels. That Energy speaker looks like a good option... if you are ok with 70 Khz bass.

 

[robcheese]

Wow thanks for all the responses. What a helpful forum!

I came across some Polk Audio M10 speakers for sale: Polk Audio M10 Bookshelf Speaker (pair) . They are a little less sensitive then the other speakers I was looking at but their bass response goes down to 60Hz so they would probably make better stereo speakers.

I hadn't considered DIY speakers but it sounds like they could be the way to go. I'll definateally look into the kits that people mentioned.

Thanks

 

[kaushik]

@robcheese: if you are ok with 70 Khz bass.

70Khz .. aliens aliens , ALERT!!!

 

[jaudere]

Good catch

 

[avidyarthy]

Read thru the next 10 pages of the below mentioned thread ....

http://www.hifivision.com/amplifier...ath-2020-amplifier-versus-nad-c320bee-44.html

.... you would get all your answers.

 

[aashish351]

70Khz .. aliens aliens , ALERT!!!

:lol:

if loudspeakers marketing had its way.... we would see those specs!!