What amplifier does the Focal Chora 826 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 197 amplifiers against it.

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Passive speakers only — a powered speaker already has its amplifier inside.
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Focal Chora 826
Focal Chora 826
Floor-standing
91 dB · 8 ohm
dips to 2.9 ohm
$2,398 a pair
Full specs →
Power needed
6.0–95 W
per channel, into 8 ohms

To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of Focal Chora 826, you need at least 6.0 W a channel. Anything from about 12 W to 95 W a channel is comfortable; past that, more watts stop buying you anything.

Show the working
  • 95 dB target at the seat
  • +4.8 dB for 3.0 m of distance
  • -3 dB for a stereo pair
  • -89.0 dB effective sensitivity
  • 2 dB allowed for optimistic published sensitivity
  • Published sensitivity 91 dB, used as 89.0 dB per watt.

LEAK Stereo 230 with the Focal Chora 826

Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (75 W to 115 W).
Full LEAK Stereo 230 specs · Clear this amp
 
$199 $10,500

178 integrated amplifiers suit the Focal Chora 826

Also show the 1 we do not recommend
1
Denon PMA-1600NE
Denon PMA-1600NE
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,099
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. 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.
2
Denon PMA-1700NE
Denon PMA-1700NE
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,099
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. 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.
3
ELAC DS-A101-G
ELAC DS-A101-G
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 40 W into 8 ohms · $850
Excellent match
8 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.
4
Rotel A14 MKII
Rotel A14 MKII
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $1,600
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. 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
Cambridge Audio Evo 75
Cambridge Audio Evo 75
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 75 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 2.9. 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.
6
Rotel S14
Rotel S14
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB · 80 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 2.9. 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.
7
Technics SU-G700M2 Grand Class
Technics SU-G700M2 Grand Class
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,700
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. 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
Primare I15 MM
Primare I15 MM
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 60 W into 8 ohms · $1,995
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 rises usefully into 4 ohms (60 W to 100 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
9
Marantz Model 50
Marantz Model 50
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $1,800
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. 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
Primare I15
Primare I15
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 60 W into 8 ohms · $1,695
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 rises usefully into 4 ohms (60 W to 100 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
11
Primare I15 Prisma
Primare I15 Prisma
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 60 W into 8 ohms · $2,195
Workable with care
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (60 W to 100 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
12
Audiolab 8300A
Audiolab 8300A
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 75 W into 8 ohms · $1,699
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. 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.
13
LEAK Stereo 230
LEAK Stereo 230
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB · 75 W into 8 ohms · $1,695
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. 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.
14
Roksan Attessa Integrated Amp
Roksan Attessa Integrated Amp
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $2,099
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (80 W to 130 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
15
Audiolab 6000A Play
Audiolab 6000A Play
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 50 W into 8 ohms · $1,700
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (50 W to 75 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
16
Marantz PM8006
Marantz PM8006
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $1,499
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. 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.
17
JBL SA550 C
JBL SA550 C
Integrated Amplifier · Class G · 90 W into 8 ohms · $1,999
Workable with care
12 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. 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.
18
Marantz Model 40n
Marantz Model 40n
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 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 2.9. 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.
19
Audiolab Omnia
Audiolab Omnia
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 50 W into 8 ohms · $2,300
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (50 W to 75 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
20
Onkyo Muse Y-50
Onkyo Muse Y-50
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 125 W into 8 ohms · $1,500
Workable with care
13 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. 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.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.

Showing the best 20 of 178. 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
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 2.9 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
Audiolab 9000P
Audiolab 9000P
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $1,499
Workable with care
12 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 2.9 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
NAD C 268
NAD C 268
Power Amplifier · Class D · 80 W into 8 ohms · $1,299
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 2.9 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
4
Onkyo Icon M-80
Onkyo Icon M-80
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 130 W into 8 ohms · $2,000
Workable with care
13 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 2.9 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
Rotel RB-1552 MkII
Rotel RB-1552 MkII
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 130 W into 8 ohms · $1,699
Workable with care
13 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 2.9 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
McIntosh MC152
McIntosh MC152
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 150 W into 8 ohms · $6,500
Workable
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 2.9 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.
7
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
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 2.9 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
8
Rotel RB-1582 MkII
Rotel RB-1582 MkII
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 200 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Workable with care
15 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 2.9. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 8 ohm speaker dipping to 2.9 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 Focal Chora 826 specs.