Power needed
47–100 W
per channel, into 4 ohms
To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB, you need at least 47 W a channel. More than 100 W is wasted here - that is all ELAC 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
- -80.0 dB effective sensitivity
- 3.0 dB taken off to convert the 4 ohm 2.83V rating to dB per watt
- 2 dB allowed for optimistic published sensitivity
- Published sensitivity 85 dB, used as 80.0 dB per watt.
Cambridge Audio CXA81 with the Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB
Workable with care
4 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 (80 W to 120 W).
Full Cambridge Audio CXA81 specs
·
Clear this amp
178 integrated amplifiers suit the Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB
Also show the 76 we do not recommend
1
Excellent match
2 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 (40 W to 80 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
2
Excellent match
3 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Has a 4 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 4 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 ohm.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 80.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 100 W is comfortable.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
3
Workable with care
3 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 (55 W to 105 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
Workable with care
5 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 (80 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
Workable with care
5 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 (76 W to 135 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
Workable with care
5 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 (70 W to 140 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Workable with care
5 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 (70 W to 140 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
8
Workable with care
3 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 (50 W to 100 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
9
Workable with care
3 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 (70 W to 100 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
10
Workable with care
4 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 (75 W to 115 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
11
Workable with care
4 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 (75 W to 115 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
12
Workable with care
3 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 (70 W to 100 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
13
Workable with care
6 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 100 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
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.
14
Workable with care
Just barely enough (1 dB of headroom). Fine at normal volume, no reserve for peaks.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 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.
15
Workable with care
4 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 (80 W to 120 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
16
Workable with care
4 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 (75 W to 110 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
17
Workable with care
5 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 (75 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
18
Workable with care
5 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 (80 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
19
Workable with care
5 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 (75 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
20
Workable with care
5 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 (75 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
Showing the best 20 of 178. Narrow it with the price range below, or a different budget split.
43 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
Excellent match
3 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Has a 4 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 4 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 ohm.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 80.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 100 W is comfortable.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
2
Workable with care
7 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 100 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (160 W to 240 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
Workable with care
7 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 100 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 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
Workable with care
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 100 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (200 W to 320 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
Workable with care
6 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 100 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 190 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
6
Workable with care
3 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 4 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
Workable with care
4 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 4 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
Workable with care
7 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 100 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
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 225 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
Were these amplifier recommendations useful?
It helps us tune the matching, and we read every comment.
Thanks. Anything you would add?
Optional, and it goes straight to the person who maintains this page.
Thanks - noted.
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 Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB specs.
More tools
💰
System Budget Planner
Split a total across speakers, amplifier and subwoofer, then fill every slot with real models that work together.
📏️Will It Fit? Speaker Size Finder
Measure your shelf or alcove and see every speaker that goes in it, with a warning where a rear port needs more room than the box does.
🔌Speaker Wire Gauge Calculator
How thick your speaker cable needs to be for the run length and impedance, and what you lose if it is too thin.
⚡Speaker Impedance Calculator
Wire two or more speakers in series or parallel and see the load your amplifier actually sees.
📏Speaker Placement Calculator
A plan view of your room: speaker spacing, wall distances, where the bass cancels and where the first reflection lands.
🎸Subwoofer Crossover Calculator
Where to set the crossover between your speakers and a subwoofer, and which reason is driving the answer.
🎧Speaker Test Tones
Channel check, polarity, bass extension and frequency sweeps, generated in your browser. Nothing to download.
🏠Room Mode Calculator
The frequencies your room reinforces and cancels, where they pile up, and what to move first.
📣SPL & Amplifier Power Calculator
How loud a speaker plays for a given power at a given distance - or how many watts you need for a target level.