why distortion and what is the cure

Thanks guys - yes i think the speakers are inefficient for the amp(thx edesilva) but am sending the amp to Sugdens for a service and they can test it.Fatparrot- The speakers were made as the front end for cinema setups and were manufactured in 2000.I naievly let the salesman talk me out of a pair of Mission for these and regretted it since. What speakers can anyone suggest for a 12 watt amp please? (bear in mind $600-700 second hand limit!!!) Sugdens suggest Totem arro, or snell ? Cant find Snell at all here and the totems are hard to come by.

I listened to some Totems last Thursday, they were quite lovely. I was surprised by how much bass the Rainmaker bookshelf speakers made. I also listened to the Arro and Forest. All very good sounding speakers. But, in regards to the Totems, they are not any more sensitive than what you currently have, most are around 87 dB, but the range is from 85-88 dB, and you are not going to get a lot of sound output with a 12 watt amp, no change from what you currently have actually. The sound characteristics may change, but the output (volume) won't.

Haven't heard the latest Snell speakers (though I loved their earlier generation speakers), but you are not going to gain any sensitivity with these either, they run 88-90 dB, again, not a significant difference.

Having the Sugdens serviced is a great idea, but I would look for a speaker that is more efficient than 87 dB, something at least 90 dB's, preferably more. This will make your setup a lot more efficient and cleaner sounding when turned up.

Fatparrot is right about tube amps clipping more pleasantly that solid state.

Gary-
With 12W max output you'd be best off with 95 db @2,83V sensitivity speakers -- minimum. Quite a few products in that sens. range -- triangle is one, but there are many others.

Hi Guys - thanks so much for your answers - today i took the MFidelity to a used hi fi shop and ran it thru 4 sets of speakers and no real distortion at volume so my guess is that the speakers are kaput !!
I will definately keep the Sugden as i love its sound - i think i will have a hard time finding speakers to match it that i can afford tho. Greg - which triangle and are they expensive?