Power needed
3.8–60 W
per channel, into 8 ohms
To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of Focal Aria 948, you need at least 3.8 W a channel. Anything from about 7.5 W to 60 W a channel is comfortable; past that, more watts stop buying you anything.
Power is not your constraint. The
Focal Aria 948 is efficient enough that essentially any
amplifier we list will drive it at this level. Choose on inputs, streaming, phono
stage and price instead — and if you like valve amplifiers, this is a speaker
that suits them.
Show the working
- 95 dB target at the seat
- +4.8 dB for 3.0 m of distance
- -3 dB for a stereo pair
- -91.0 dB effective sensitivity
- 2 dB allowed for optimistic published sensitivity
- Published sensitivity 93 dB, used as 91.0 dB per watt.
Hegel H150 with the Focal Aria 948
Good match
13 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
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 2.5 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Full Hegel H150 specs
·
Clear this amp
224 integrated amplifiers suit the Focal Aria 948
Also show the 1 we do not recommend
1
Excellent match
15 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
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.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
Excellent match
17 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
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.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
Excellent match
15 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
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
Good match
13 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
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 2.5 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
5
Good match
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
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 2.5 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
Workable with care
13 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Has a 8 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 8 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 ohm. This speaker swings from 8 ohms nominal down to 2.5, and a valve amplifier follows that curve - expect an audible tonal shift, not damage.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 91.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 70 W is comfortable.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Workable with care
13 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.5. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (80 W to 160 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
8
Workable with care
13 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.5. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (80 W to 160 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
9
Workable with care
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
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.
10
Workable with care
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.5. 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.
11
Workable with care
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Below the 50 W minimum Focal recommends for this speaker.
Has a 8 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 8 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 ohm. This speaker swings from 8 ohms nominal down to 2.5, and a valve amplifier follows that curve - expect an audible tonal shift, not damage.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 91.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 42 W is comfortable.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
12
Good match
16 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
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 2.5 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
13
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Below the 50 W minimum Focal recommends for this speaker.
Has a 8 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 8 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 ohm. This speaker swings from 8 ohms nominal down to 2.5, and a valve amplifier follows that curve - expect an audible tonal shift, not damage.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 91.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 44 W is comfortable.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
14
Good match
16 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
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 2.5 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
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Has a 8 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 8 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 ohm. This speaker swings from 8 ohms nominal down to 2.5, and a valve amplifier follows that curve - expect an audible tonal shift, not damage.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 91.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 100 W is comfortable.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
16
Workable with care
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.5. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (90 W to 150 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
17
Workable with care
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
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.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
18
Workable with care
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.5. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 160 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
19
Workable with care
13 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Has a 8 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 8 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 ohm. This speaker swings from 8 ohms nominal down to 2.5, and a valve amplifier follows that curve - expect an audible tonal shift, not damage.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 91.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 70 W is comfortable.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
20
Workable with care
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.5. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 160 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
Showing the best 20 of 224. Narrow it with the price range below, or a different budget split.
67 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
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
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.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
Excellent match
17 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (175 W to 345 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
Workable with care
13 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Has a 8 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 8 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 / 16 ohm. This speaker swings from 8 ohms nominal down to 2.5, and a valve amplifier follows that curve - expect an audible tonal shift, not damage.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 91.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 70 W is comfortable.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
Excellent match
18 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 1 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (250 W to 450 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Below the 50 W minimum Focal recommends for this speaker.
Has a 8 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 8 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 / 16 ohm. This speaker swings from 8 ohms nominal down to 2.5, and a valve amplifier follows that curve - expect an audible tonal shift, not damage.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 91.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 44 W is comfortable.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
Workable with care
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Has a 8 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 8 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 ohm. This speaker swings from 8 ohms nominal down to 2.5, and a valve amplifier follows that curve - expect an audible tonal shift, not damage.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 91.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 100 W is comfortable.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Good match
16 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
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 2.5 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
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Below the 50 W minimum Focal recommends for this speaker.
Has a 8 ohm tap, which is exactly what this 8 ohm speaker wants. Taps: 4 / 8 / 16 ohm. This speaker swings from 8 ohms nominal down to 2.5, and a valve amplifier follows that curve - expect an audible tonal shift, not damage.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 91.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 44 W is comfortable.
Sensible value pick against these 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 Focal Aria 948 specs.