Question Kef Q900: what amp to pair with?

[nopiano]

Hmmm it will make sense once I have read everything from Pieter and yourself another 32 times 😬.

I have always been a man of letters much more than numbers. Hence while I crave more knowledge in the technical aspects of this wonderful hobby, I find it so very hard 😂

No need to worry about it most of the time, really!

As you prefer letters, I’ll just try an analogy to an amplifier playing into a low impedance speaker... You remember when you were a kid, and would occasionally run down a steep slope, hill or whatever, so fast you couldn’t stop? Maybe you fell, or just stayed upright but lost control? Well, that is the amplifier losing control too!

Not enough strength to stay upright!

 

[Entrigo]

No need to worry about it most of the time, really!

As you prefer letters, I’ll just try an analogy to an amplifier playing into a low impedance speaker... You remember when you were a kid, and would occasionally run down a steep slope, hill or whatever, so fast you couldn’t stop? Maybe you fell, or just stayed upright but lost control? Well, that the amplifier losing control too!

Not enough strength to stay upright!

I like that.

Though now I feel I'd need to further extend that metaphor to understand where the hill is, how come I was running down and where I wanted to go etc...

Thing is, I keep hearing about output /speakers relationship, about output not just being about how loud you play, about how to really get the best out of your speakers you need plenty of power - ever since someone somewhere suggested I needed an amp with at least 150W output to drive my Focal. Even though even I thought that was a bit crazy, that thought didn't disappear, just burrowed deep - and every time I see discussions about amp "power" and speakers, it pokes its head out of the hole and begs to understand a little more.

I think that might be my Christmas holiday project - especially as I'll have my sound tech and former electrician brother captive for a week (his Duracell-powered toddler notwithstanding 😆 )

 

[PieterG]

++ UPDATE ++

The online deals available leading up to Black Friday have convinced me to make up my mind and place an order. The last part arrived yesterday, and everything is now hooked up:

• Streamer: WiiM Pro >> optical out
• DAC: Audiolab D9 >> balanced out
• Amplifier: Hegel H120 >> KEF Q900 speakers

My speakers haven't been properly positioned yet, and i only tested connections briefly. For now, my AVR also uses the Hegel in bypass mode to drive the front stereo channels. The KEFs are going to become dedicated stereo speakers soon, but this gives me the opportunity for some time to play a source through different paths and compare what comes out of the speakers.

If you're interested, i'm happy to share more as i get to know the system and how it sounds in various situations.