Advice on relationship between amp power and speakers

[JulianFR]

Hi... I'm resurrecting my old hi fi after a decade or more. I have just bought a recently serviced Musical Fidelity A1 (the original model, not the new one) and realised that my existing speakers may not work well with it as it isa fairly low- powered amp (20 or so wpc).

I'm afraid I have never really understood well the relationship between amp power and how to match the speakers. So I would be enormously grateful for advice.

My current speakers are:

Monitor Audio Bronze BR2 (imp 8 ohms, amp requirements 30-100w)

Dali Lektor 1 (imp 8 ohms, amp requirements 40-100w)

I understand the A1 requires sensitive speakers (though I don't really understand that term). So does that mean the MF A1 is not powerful enough to drive either of those speakers and could damage the amp itself or the speakers?

If so, could anyone suggest which speakers, old or new, could be a better match (I haven't budgeted for speakers BTW).

I don't play music loudly and have a fairly small room for hi fi. I currently listen to classical music and classic rock through a Musical Fidelity B1 amp, a Rega P2 turntable and Arcam Alpha One CD player (all decades old!). The volume is barely turned up to a quarter and gives a loud enough sound... turned up higher, it gets far too loud.

Anyway, many thanks in advance for any thoughts and advice on this question.

Also, I am new to this community so apologies if this is not a good question or topic.

 

[nopiano]

Sensitivity is about how loud the speakers play for x watts input. Typically shown as 86dB for 1 watt, or similar. The larger the dB number the louder they play.

Volume controls aren’t a good guide. Cars sometimes have accelerator pedals that give max at 50% pressed. Amps likewise.

At sensible volumes nothing untoward will happen. Common caution says over driving a lower powered amp can damage speakers with a particular distortion called ‘clipping’.

Try it and see, but beware the A1 is ancient and might be not performing correctly. Any odd buzzes or hums and turn off immediately.

Welcome to the madness! 🙂

 

[daytona600]

A1 was low powered but a gutsy high current little thing
Unless you have a huge room & want volumes like a motorhead concert most speakers will be fine

 

[Al ears]

Your speakers have a very different efficiency rating, the BR2 are much more efficient than the Dali (90dB v 84 dB)
If you are going to use either use the MA's. It should drive these quite nicely.

 

[JulianFR]

Thank you all for your swift replies. It's a relief to know I won't need to buy new speakers... and I will use the BR2s with the A1.

As mentioned I am just getting back into hi fi and have a deeper interest in old equipment rather new (although I couldn't afford new anyway). The A1 I have just bought and my own B1 (which sounds great to me) have both been serviced recently by ARS, so I'm hoping they will keep going for a while.

Again, thanks so much for taking the time to answer a newbie question.

 

[Al ears]

Thank you all for your swift replies. It's a relief to know I won't need to buy new speakers... and I will use the BR2s with the A1.

As mentioned I am just getting back into hi fi and have a deeper interest in old equipment rather new (although I couldn't afford new anyway). The A1 I have just bought and my own B1 (which sounds great to me) have both been serviced recently by ARS, so I'm hoping they will keep going for a while.

Again, thanks so much for taking the time to answer a newbie question.

Enjoy!