Power needed
25–150 W
per channel, into 6 ohms
To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2, you need at least 25 W a channel. More than 150 W is wasted here — that is all Harbeth rates the speaker to take.
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.
McIntosh MC152 with the Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2
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.
A power amplifier: you will need a preamplifier, or a streamer with a volume control, as well.
Full McIntosh MC152 specs
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Clear this amp
149 integrated amplifiers suit the Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2
Also show the 29 we do not recommend
1
Excellent match
7 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.
2
Excellent match
7 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.
3
Excellent 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.
4
Excellent 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.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 150 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
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.
6
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 rises usefully into 4 ohms (120 W to 185 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Good match
7 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.
8
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 rises usefully into 4 ohms (120 W to 200 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
9
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 rises usefully into 4 ohms (130 W to 200 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
10
Good match
7 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.
11
Good match
7 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.
12
Workable with care
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 150 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (190 W to 280 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
13
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 150 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
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.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
14
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).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
15
Workable with care
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 150 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (180 W to 270 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
16
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).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
17
Excellent 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.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
18
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 (160 W to 240 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
19
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 rises usefully into 4 ohms (130 W to 190 W).
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
20
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 rises usefully into 4 ohms (130 W to 200 W).
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
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
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.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
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.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
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.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
4
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.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
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.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
6
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.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
7
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 150 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
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.
8
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.
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 Harbeth C7ES-3 XD2 specs.