What amp for LSi9s?

[Doc99]

I am going to be using LSi9s, and wondering if I should go with the more expensive, larger, heavier 200watt amp, or 130watt amp. I don't really listen at extreme volumn levels, and have a small-medium room(12-18sq ft). Will 70 extra watts make a real difference with these, or will I be fine with a good 130 watt amp. I now currently own a cambridge audio Azur(50 watts), and although it says it is capable of 4 ohm speakers, I think these speakers will need more power.
I would really rather not deal with a 60 pound amp, and twice the price, of a 130 watt, but if it is recommneded, I may go that route.

[cfrizz]

Hi Doc & Welcome!

Yes those extra 70 watts do make a difference. It is not just a matter of how loud the speakers will play, it is also a matter of having considerable more clarity to the instruments & vocals. It will also give the bass a bit more oomph. It will also allow you to hear everything just as clearly when you have to turn the volume down so as to not disturb anyone.

I can relate to not wanting to deal with a 60lb amp, I can't lift 60lbs! My Parasound 2 channel 205wpc amp only weighs 42lbs, 2 Outlaw 200wpc monoblocks only weigh 20lbs each.

Relatively lightweight amps can be found it just takes a bit of research. I just replaced my Outlaw & Parasound amps with a Sunfire 405wpc 5 channel amp & it only weighs 45lbs!

Check out Audiogon for used amps & keep an eye open here on the board for amps going for sale!

[Zero]

Doc99,

And now to add an entirely different opinion;

The common ground of thought is that the higher power your amplifier, the greater dynamic reserve it will have. This can be a misleading line of thought as there is more to it than what the transistor and transformer can dish out. Capacitance has a lot to do with it as well.

The Lsi-9 is modestly efficient with impedence drops that most solid amplifiers can handle. An honest 30-60 wpc be more than enough to juice your speakers to reasonably loud levels. A fine example I've come across would be the Monarchy SM-70 Pro. It is a compact single ended transistor amplifier that is not only a fantastic sonic match with the Lsi series, but has enough balls to drive them well while still maintaining solid dynamic range. There's really no need for a high powered amplifier unless you fully intend on using what it has to offer. I offer up the Monarchy only as an example that fits the criteria you've given us thus far.

If I were in your position, I would look for a mid-power amplifier that boasts more quality engineering - than something designed more for volume's sake.

[cfrizz]

I passed on my Rotel 50wpc amp to my brother to drive his LSI 7's. While it does a splendid job, the volume has to be around 11-12 o-clock in order for it to be heard decently. And by the time your done watching a movie or 2 you could fry an egg on top of the amp!

When it drove my RTA-8T's is sat consistently at 9 o-clock & barely got warm. This tells me it is working a whole lot harder driving the 4ohm load than it ever did driving an 8ohm load.

Add to the fact that once I got 200wpc on my Polks I started hearing things out of my cd's I never heard before, tells me that the extra power makes a big difference.

Both Rotel & Parasound are quality pieces of equipment, the only difference is the power each puts out.

Doc, do yourself a favor & go to an audio store & compare a 50-60 wpc amp to a 200 wpc amp. Unless you have a hearing problem, I think you will hear the difference right away.

[Zero]

When in terms of equipment beyond entry level Parasound / Rotel / Outlaw... The 'more' is better approach no longer holds water. No 'hearing' problems about it.

[Doc99]

Yes. Even though I really like the amp I have, I was currently running Energy C-3s, and would have the volumn knob way past 12:00, to get to decent loud volumn. I changed to a B&k St-2140(140watts) at some point, and used the Cambridge as a preamp, and noticed a difference, although not huge. I decided that the cambridge amp still sounded better, and sold the power amp. It seemed to warm and mellow sounding to me. I actually prefer a brighter sound.

[markmarc]

I concur with Zero on the Monarchy. Not a big name company, but true audio value for the buck. Plus, it does have the power to get the Lsi's to open up.