Power needed
24–60 W
per channel, into 4 ohms
To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of Wilson Audio WASAE Center, you need at least 24 W a channel.
No amplifier will get you there.
Wilson Audio rates the
Wilson Audio WASAE Center to
20 W, and it needs
24 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
- -83.0 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 88 dB, used as 83.0 dB per watt.
McIntosh MA5300 with the Wilson Audio WASAE Center
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 160 W).
Full McIntosh MA5300 specs
·
Clear this amp
191 integrated amplifiers suit the Wilson Audio WASAE Center
Also show the 59 we do not recommend
1
Excellent match
5 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 83.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 70 W is comfortable.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
Excellent match
5 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 83.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 70 W is comfortable.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 150 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
Good match
5 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker dipping to 3.9 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 150 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 150 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 150 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
8
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 160 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
9
Excellent match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
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
Excellent match
6 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 83.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 100 W is comfortable.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
11
Good match
5 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker dipping to 3.9 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
12
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (110 W to 220 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
13
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.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker dipping to 3.9 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
14
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 160 W).
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
15
Excellent 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.
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.
16
Good match
7 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
Barely gains into 4 ohms (90 W to 120 W) - a modest power supply.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
17
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (125 W to 185 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
18
Excellent 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.
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.
19
Excellent match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
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.
20
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
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 191. Narrow it with the price range below, or a different budget split.
47 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
5 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 / 16 ohm.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 83.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 70 W is comfortable.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
2
Excellent match
6 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 83.0 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 100 W is comfortable.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
3
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 (100 W to 190 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.9.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 150 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
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.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker dipping to 3.9 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
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. On a 4 ohm speaker dipping to 3.9 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Good 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 / 16 ohm.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so sensitivity decides it. At 83.0 dB this speaker needs most of the 44 W available - it will work, with little in reserve.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
8
Good match
12 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 (175 W to 345 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
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 Wilson Audio WASAE Center specs.
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