Power needed
32–505 W
per channel, into 3 ohms
To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of Magnepan CC5, you need at least 32 W a channel. Anything from about 63 W to 505 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
- -81.7 dB effective sensitivity
- 4.3 dB taken off to convert the 3 ohm 2.83V rating to dB per watt
- 2 dB allowed for optimistic published sensitivity
- Published sensitivity 88 dB, used as 81.7 dB per watt.
Naim NAP 350 with the Magnepan CC5
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 (175 W to 345 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
A power amplifier: you will need a preamplifier, or a streamer with a volume control, as well.
Full Naim NAP 350 specs
·
Clear this amp
23 integrated amplifiers suit the Magnepan CC5
Also show the 260 we do not recommend
1
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.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
2
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.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (150 W to 300 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
3
Good 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.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
4
Good 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.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
5
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 3 ohms, comfortable with a 3 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
6
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. On a 3 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
7
Good 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.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 3 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
8
Good match
7 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 505 W.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 3 ohm speaker 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.
9
Good match
7 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 505 W.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Rated at the same 150 W into 4 ohms as into 8 - the power supply runs out before the load does.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
10
Workable
4 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 505 W.
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.
11
Workable
7 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 505 W.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 3 ohm speaker 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.
12
Workable
7 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 505 W.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 3 ohm speaker 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.
13
Workable
7 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 505 W.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 3 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
14
Workable
3 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 505 W.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 3 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
15
Workable with care
5 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 505 W.
No 3 ohm tap - the nearest is 4 ohm (taps: 4 / 8 ohm). It will play, but the match is a compromise and the amplifier will not make its rated power.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 81.7 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 100 W is comfortable.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
16
Poor fit
4 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 505 W.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 3 ohm speaker 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.
17
Poor fit
5 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 505 W.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 3 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
18
Workable with care
Just barely enough (0 dB of headroom). Fine at normal volume, no reserve for peaks.
No 3 ohm tap - the nearest is 4 ohm (taps: 4 / 8 ohm). It will play, but the match is a compromise and the amplifier will not make its rated power.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so sensitivity decides it. At 81.7 dB this speaker needs most of the 35 W available - it will work, with little in reserve.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
19
Workable with care
3 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 505 W.
No 3 ohm tap - the nearest is 4 ohm (taps: 4 / 8 ohm). It will play, but the match is a compromise and the amplifier will not make its rated power.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 81.7 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 70 W is comfortable.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
20
Workable with care
3 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 505 W.
No 3 ohm tap - the nearest is 4 ohm (taps: 4 / 8 ohm). It will play, but the match is a compromise and the amplifier will not make its rated power.
A valve amplifier makes the same power on each tap, so what matters is sensitivity - and at 81.7 dB this speaker is efficient enough that 70 W is comfortable.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
Showing the best 20 of 23. Narrow it with the price range below, or a different budget split.
24 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
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 rises usefully into 4 ohms (200 W to 320 W).
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 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
Excellent match
12 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 1 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (250 W to 450 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
4
Good 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.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 3 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
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 (175 W to 345 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
6
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 (150 W to 300 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
7
Good 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.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 3 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
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 (250 W to 500 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
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 Magnepan CC5 specs.
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