What amplifier does the Harbeth M40.5 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 196 amplifiers against it.

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Passive speakers only — a powered speaker already has its amplifier inside.
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Harbeth M40.5 XD2
Harbeth M40.5 XD2
Bookshelf
86 dB · 6 ohm
$21,990 a pair
Full specs →
Power needed
25–400 W
per channel, into 6 ohms

To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of Harbeth M40.5 XD2, you need at least 25 W a channel. Anything from about 50 W to 400 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
  • -82.8 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 86 dB, used as 82.8 dB per watt.

Marantz PM-10 with the Harbeth M40.5 XD2

Excellent match
11 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 (200 W to 400 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Full Marantz PM-10 specs · Clear this amp
 
$199 $10,500

149 integrated amplifiers suit the Harbeth M40.5 XD2

Also show the 29 we do not recommend
1
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.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
2
Marantz PM-10
Marantz PM-10
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 200 W into 8 ohms · $8,999
Excellent match
11 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 (200 W to 400 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
3
NAD Masters Series M33 V2
NAD Masters Series M33 V2
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 200 W into 8 ohms · $7,399
Excellent match
11 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 (200 W to 380 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
4
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.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
5
Naim Nova PE
Naim Nova PE
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 150 W into 8 ohms · $9,999
Good match
9 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 (150 W to 250 W).
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
6
NAD Masters Series M33
NAD Masters Series M33
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 200 W into 8 ohms · $5,999
Excellent match
11 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 (200 W to 380 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
7
Advance Paris NOVA A-i190
Advance Paris NOVA A-i190
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB-T · 185 W into 8 ohms · $7,999
Good match
10 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 (185 W to 275 W).
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
8
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.
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
9
Buchardt I150
Buchardt I150
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 150 W into 8 ohms · $2,500
Good match
10 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 (150 W to 300 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
10
Arcam SA45
Arcam SA45
Integrated Amplifier · Class G · 180 W into 8 ohms · $5,500
Good match
10 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 (180 W to 300 W).
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
11
Devialet Expert 220 Pro
Devialet Expert 220 Pro
Integrated Amplifier · ADH (Analog Digital Hybrid) · 165 W into 8 ohms · $10,000
Good 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.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
12
Cambridge Audio Edge A
Cambridge Audio Edge A
Integrated Amplifier · Class XA · 100 W into 8 ohms · $6,499
Good match
8 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.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
13
Cambridge Audio Evo 300
Cambridge Audio Evo 300
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 300 W into 8 ohms · $3,999
Good match
12 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (300 W to 550 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
14
Michi Prestige X430
Michi Prestige X430
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB · 210 W into 8 ohms · $4,999
Good match
10 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 (210 W to 340 W).
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
15
Advance Paris A12 APEX
Advance Paris A12 APEX
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB-T · 180 W into 8 ohms · $4,999
Good match
10 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 (180 W to 270 W).
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
16
Rotel Diamond RA-6000
Rotel Diamond RA-6000
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 200 W into 8 ohms · $4,500
Good match
10 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 (200 W to 350 W).
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
17
Advance Paris A12 Classic
Advance Paris A12 Classic
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB-T · 190 W into 8 ohms · $4,499
Good match
10 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 (190 W to 280 W).
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
18
Onkyo Muse Y-50
Onkyo Muse Y-50
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 125 W into 8 ohms · $1,500
Good match
9 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.
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
19
Sonos Amp
Sonos Amp
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 125 W into 8 ohms · $699
Good match
9 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.
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
20
Peachtree Carina
Peachtree Carina
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 300 W into 8 ohms · $1,999
Good match
12 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (300 W to 580 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.

Showing the best 20 of 149. 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
Cambridge Audio Edge M
Cambridge Audio Edge M
Power Amplifier · Class XA · 200 W into 8 ohms
Good match
9 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.
No current price on file for this amplifier.
2
Anthem STR Power Amplifier
Anthem STR Power Amplifier
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 400 W into 8 ohms · $6,500
Good match
12 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, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
3
McIntosh MC830
McIntosh MC830
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 300 W into 8 ohms · $5,500
Good match
11 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
NAD Masters Series M23 V2
NAD Masters Series M23 V2
Power Amplifier · Class D · 200 W into 8 ohms · $4,999
Good match
9 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.
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
5
Rotel RB-1590
Rotel RB-1590
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 350 W into 8 ohms · $4,599
Good match
11 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.
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
6
Advance Paris X-A220 EVO
Advance Paris X-A220 EVO
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 220 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Good match
9 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.
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
7
Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2
Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 225 W into 8 ohms · $2,300
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, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
8
McIntosh MC152
McIntosh MC152
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 150 W into 8 ohms · $6,500
Good 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.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
Were these amplifier recommendations useful?
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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 Harbeth M40.5 XD2 specs.