What amplifier does the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 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 297 amplifiers against it.

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Passive speakers only - a powered speaker already has its amplifier inside.
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Harbeth P3ESR XD2
Harbeth P3ESR XD2
Bookshelf
83 dB · 6 ohm
$3,790 a pair
Full specs →
Power needed
50–65 W
per channel, into 6 ohms

To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of Harbeth P3ESR XD2, you need at least 50 W a channel.

No amplifier will get you there. Harbeth rates the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 to 50 W, and it needs 50 W to reach 95 dB at this distance. Listen a step quieter, sit closer, or add a subwoofer to take the bass load off it - that is where most of the power goes.
Show the working
  • 95 dB target at the seat
  • +4.8 dB for 3.0 m of distance
  • -3 dB for a stereo pair
  • -79.8 dB effective sensitivity
  • 1.2 dB taken off to convert the 6 ohm 2.83V rating to dB per watt
  • 2 dB allowed for optimistic published sensitivity
  • Published sensitivity 83 dB, used as 79.8 dB per watt.

Hegel H150 with the Harbeth P3ESR XD2

Workable with care
Just barely enough (2 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, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Full Hegel H150 specs · Clear this amp
 
$90 $25,000

168 integrated amplifiers suit the Harbeth P3ESR XD2

Also show the 85 we do not recommend
1
MOON 250i v2
MOON 250i v2
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 50 W into 8 ohms · $2,400
Workable with care
Just barely enough (2 dB of headroom). Fine at normal volume, no reserve for peaks.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
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.
2
Technics SU-G700M2 Grand Class
Technics SU-G700M2 Grand Class
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,700
Excellent match
3 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
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.
3
Cambridge Audio Evo 75
Cambridge Audio Evo 75
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 75 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Excellent match
4 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
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.
4
Rotel S14
Rotel S14
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Excellent match
4 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
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
Denon PMA-3000NE
Denon PMA-3000NE
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $3,799
Excellent match
4 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
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.
6
Denon PMA-1600NE
Denon PMA-1600NE
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,099
Excellent match
3 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (70 W to 140 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
7
Denon PMA-1700NE
Denon PMA-1700NE
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,099
Excellent match
3 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (70 W to 140 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
8
Denon AE PMA-A110
Denon AE PMA-A110
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $3,999
Excellent match
4 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
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.
9
Advance Paris A8 APEX
Advance Paris A8 APEX
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB-T · 75 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Good match
3 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (75 W to 110 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
10
Marantz Model 40n
Marantz Model 40n
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Good match
2 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (70 W to 100 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
11
Audiolab Omnia
Audiolab Omnia
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 50 W into 8 ohms · $2,300
Workable with care
Just barely enough (1 dB of headroom). Fine at normal volume, no reserve for peaks.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (50 W to 75 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
12
Marantz Model 30
Marantz Model 30
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 100 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Excellent match
5 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
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.
13
Roksan Attessa Streaming Amplifier
Roksan Attessa Streaming Amplifier
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $3,199
Good match
3 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (80 W to 130 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
14
Primare I15 Prisma
Primare I15 Prisma
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 60 W into 8 ohms · $2,195
Good match
2 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (60 W to 100 W).
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
15
Yamaha A-S1200
Yamaha A-S1200
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 90 W into 8 ohms · $3,000
Good match
4 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (90 W to 150 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
16
Audiolab 9000A
Audiolab 9000A
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Good match
4 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 160 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
17
Roksan Attessa Integrated Amp
Roksan Attessa Integrated Amp
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $2,099
Good match
3 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (80 W to 130 W).
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
18
Rega Elicit MK5
Rega Elicit MK5
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 105 W into 8 ohms · $3,345
Good match
4 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (105 W to 160 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
19
Hegel H150
Hegel H150
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 75 W into 8 ohms · $3,600
Workable with care
Just barely enough (2 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, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
20
Rotel A14 MKII
Rotel A14 MKII
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $1,600
Excellent match
4 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (80 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.

Showing the best 20 of 168. Narrow it with the price range below, or a different budget split.

44 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
MOON 330A
MOON 330A
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 125 W into 8 ohms · $4,400
Excellent match
6 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
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
Parasound Halo A23+
Parasound Halo A23+
Power Amplifier · Class A/AB · 160 W into 8 ohms · $2,500
Good match
6 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 rises usefully into 4 ohms (160 W to 240 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
Onkyo Icon M-80
Onkyo Icon M-80
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 130 W into 8 ohms · $2,000
Good match
4 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
4
Advance Paris X-A160 EVO
Advance Paris X-A160 EVO
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 160 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Good match
5 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
NAD C298
NAD C298
Power Amplifier · Class D · 185 W into 8 ohms · $3,099
Good match
6 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
TEAC AP-701B
TEAC AP-701B
Power Amplifier · Class D · 170 W into 8 ohms · $4,000
Good match
5 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Audiolab 9000P
Audiolab 9000P
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $1,499
Good match
3 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
8
Rotel RB-1552 MkII
Rotel RB-1552 MkII
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 130 W into 8 ohms · $1,699
Good match
4 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
Were these amplifier recommendations useful?
It helps us tune the matching, and we read every comment.

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 Harbeth P3ESR XD2 specs.

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