Hey guys,

What do you think of running the M80's with a low powered SET amp? The amp is rated at 5w a channel, but has pretty beefy output transformers.

I see the M80's rated at 92db (in room), if this is relatively accurate, I suspect it will be OK in a 10x13' room.

Thanks for any input.

Kobee, the usual amplification principles would apply to your situation. You start with the anechoic rating(not the in room)of 88dB for 1 watt at a 1 meter listening distance. Then, in a typical home listening room, the sound level drops off at about 3dB for each doubling of distance beyond 1 meter. In your relatively small room you apparently would be listening at no more than 8-9', which would result in about an 84dB level for 1 watt. 5 watts would allow for a level about 7dB higher, i.e., 91dB. This would be the level per speaker, and with both speakers playing, the level would be 3dB higher, i.e., 94dB.

This is quite loud, although it's about 10dB below the level on brief peaks that highly dynamic(e.g. some classical recordings)music would require when played at a rather loud average in the mid-80s of dB. If you listen at a lower average level or to material with a lesser dynamic range, your amp should be satisfactory.

Wow. Cool... thanks for the very detailed response.

I find that most Mosfat IC receivers tend to over state the watts where Tube amps tend to under state. You might find that your 5amps is continuous power and it will provide well above that in peak.