2. speakers
  3. 1076607226

Vandersteen question

It's time to upgrade my speakers. I'm very impressed by the Vandersteen 3A Sig. but am concerned that I don't have enough power. I just got a pair of Quicksilver MiniMite monoblock tube amps that are 25 watts/channel matched with the Eastern Electric MiniMax preamp (20 db gain). Presently I've got Klipsch Heresys that are very efficient at 96db/1watt. I can barely turn the volume past the 9 o'clock position before the sound gets to ear bleeding levels.

My question relates to the active preamp with 20 db of gain. I believe there's a formula that everytime you double the wattage, this increases the SPL by 3 db. With this in mind, 20 db of gain in the preamp would equate to an amp having 6 2/3 times the wattage or 166 watts/channel matched with a passive preamp in my case.

I notice that Vandersteen recommends 100 to 200 W/ch with the 3A Sig while the 2Ce Sig recommends 40 to 60 W/ch. I find this confusing considering that the 3A is more efficient at 87db. The 2Ce is rated at 86db.

Vandy fans - Please enlighten me. Thanks.
mootsdude
mikej
171 posts
 
I can't give you an engineering perspective on this...rather a practical one. You can only drive your amp up to it's ability to output power. Therefore, it's less important how much gain your preamp has as to how much power your amp can generate.

You will want at least 100wpc with the 3A Sigs. The Quicksilver V-4s are a great choice. If you want other options there are plenty out there. However, the absolute bare minimum I would use is 50wpc.

Good luck!
swklein
136 posts
 
My Vandersteen dealer runs his 3a Sigs with an Audio research tube amp that puts out 50-60 wpc. Sounds perfectly fine and loud enough for me.
redwoodzz's avatar
redwoodzz
21 posts
 
Don't know much about the issue you are dealing with. But before you get them. Make sure your room is large enough. First order crossovers need some distance between you and the speakers for them to integrate correctly. I have had 1Bs for more than ten years and have not had the urge to upgrade. Great speakers. Just my two cents.
mikej
171 posts
 
Room size with the 3As is more a matter of giving them room to "breathe". I listen nearfield with mine and have no problems with integration. However, they do better in larger rooms so they don't over load it or run into bass problems. (Any full range speaker will have this room problem, just to be clear.)
wberdan
86 posts
 
Mikej- You cant listen nearfield with the 3A's and still get a time and phase accurate signal. The signal comes together at a point 8 feet from the acoustical center of the speaker.

Will
More to discover