What amplifier does the KEF R5 need?

Pick a speaker and tell us how loud you listen and how big the room is. We work out the power it actually needs, check which amplifiers can safely drive its impedance, and rank 196 amplifiers against it.

Your system

Four questions. Nothing is hidden on price.

Passive speakers only — a powered speaker already has its amplifier inside.
Changes the order only. Nothing is hidden for costing too little or too much.
KEF R5
KEF R5
Floor-standing
87 dB · 8 ohm
dips to 3.2 ohm
$3,300 a pair
Full specs →
Power needed
15–200 W
per channel, into 8 ohms

To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of KEF R5, you need at least 15 W a channel. More than 200 W is wasted here — that is all KEF rates the speaker to take.

Show the working
  • 95 dB target at the seat
  • +4.8 dB for 3.0 m of distance
  • -3 dB for a stereo pair
  • -85.0 dB effective sensitivity
  • 2 dB allowed for optimistic published sensitivity
  • Published sensitivity 87 dB, used as 85.0 dB per watt.

Advance Paris A10 APEX with the KEF R5

Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (120 W to 185 W).
Full Advance Paris A10 APEX specs · Clear this amp
 
$199 $10,500

177 integrated amplifiers suit the KEF R5

Also show the 1 we do not recommend
1
Anthem STR
Anthem STR
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 200 W into 8 ohms · $5,000
Excellent match
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (200 W to 400 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
2
Buchardt I150
Buchardt I150
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 150 W into 8 ohms · $2,500
Workable with care
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (150 W to 300 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
Mark Levinson No.5802
Mark Levinson No.5802
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 125 W into 8 ohms · $8,500
Excellent match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
4
Mark Levinson No.5805
Mark Levinson No.5805
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 125 W into 8 ohms · $10,500
Excellent match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
5
Rotel RAS-5000
Rotel RAS-5000
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 140 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Workable with care
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (140 W to 220 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
Marantz Model 30
Marantz Model 30
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 100 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Workable with care
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Parasound Halo HINT 6
Parasound Halo HINT 6
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/AB · 160 W into 8 ohms · $3,199
Workable with care
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (160 W to 240 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
8
Cambridge Audio Evo 150
Cambridge Audio Evo 150
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 150 W into 8 ohms · $3,249
Workable with care
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (150 W to 250 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
9
Advance Paris A10 Classic
Advance Paris A10 Classic
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB-T · 130 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (130 W to 190 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
10
JBL SA750 75th Anniversary Edition
JBL SA750 75th Anniversary Edition
Integrated Amplifier · Class G · 130 W into 8 ohms · $3,000
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (130 W to 200 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
11
Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE
Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 150 W into 8 ohms · $3,299
Workable with care
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (150 W to 250 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
12
Primare I35
Primare I35
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 150 W into 8 ohms · $4,595
Workable with care
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
This amplifier does not publish a minimum impedance. An 8 ohm speaker is a safe bet even so.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (150 W to 300 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
13
Primare I25
Primare I25
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 100 W into 8 ohms · $3,295
Workable with care
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
This amplifier does not publish a minimum impedance. An 8 ohm speaker is a safe bet even so.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
14
Rotel RA-1592 MKII
Rotel RA-1592 MKII
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 200 W into 8 ohms · $3,200
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (200 W to 350 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
15
Peachtree Carina
Peachtree Carina
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 300 W into 8 ohms · $1,999
Workable with care
13 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (300 W to 580 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
16
Arcam SA30
Arcam SA30
Integrated Amplifier · Class G · 130 W into 8 ohms · $3,300
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (130 W to 200 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
17
Onkyo Muse Y-50
Onkyo Muse Y-50
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 125 W into 8 ohms · $1,500
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
18
Arcam SA35
Arcam SA35
Integrated Amplifier · Class G · 120 W into 8 ohms · $3,300
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (120 W to 200 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
19
Rotel RA-1572 MKII
Rotel RA-1572 MKII
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 120 W into 8 ohms · $2,100
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (120 W to 200 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
20
Advance Paris A10 APEX
Advance Paris A10 APEX
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB-T · 120 W into 8 ohms · $3,499
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (120 W to 185 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.

Showing the best 20 of 177. Narrow it with the price range below, or a different budget split.

18 power amplifiers that would also drive them

Listed separately because they are not a complete system: a power amplifier has no volume control and no inputs to speak of, so you need a preamplifier or a streaming preamp as well. Worth it if you already own one, or if you want to buy the two halves separately.

1
Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2
Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 225 W into 8 ohms · $2,300
Good match
12 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 3.2 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
McIntosh MC152
McIntosh MC152
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 150 W into 8 ohms · $6,500
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 3.2 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
3
Advance Paris X-A160 EVO
Advance Paris X-A160 EVO
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 160 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Workable with care
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 3.2 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
Rotel RB-1582 MkII
Rotel RB-1582 MkII
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 200 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 3.2 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
NAD C298
NAD C298
Power Amplifier · Class D · 185 W into 8 ohms · $3,099
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 3.2 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
Advance Paris X-A220 EVO
Advance Paris X-A220 EVO
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 220 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Workable with care
12 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 3.2 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Onkyo Icon M-80
Onkyo Icon M-80
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 130 W into 8 ohms · $2,000
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 3.2 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
8
TEAC AP-701B
TEAC AP-701B
Power Amplifier · Class D · 170 W into 8 ohms · $4,000
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 3.2 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
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Sensitivity and impedance figures are the manufacturer's own. We read sensitivity as dB at 2.83 V/1 m and take 2 dB off it, because published figures run high. Treat the result as a well-founded starting point, not a measurement. Full KEF R5 specs.