Speaker Advice Needed

[hybridauth_google_113890289425068974483]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to all this HiFi stuff and after some advice on speakers.

I've bought a Sony TA-AX3 amplifier and according to the docs I can find out online about it, it's:

"40 + 40 watts (8 ohm)"

Does this mean that I can have 40 watts per speaker? Or is it 40 watts per speaker set/channel (as it has a A, B, A+B switch on the front, and four speaker connectors on the back)?

Sorry if that's a stupid question, like I say I'm new to all this stuff!

Thanks in advance

 

[Vladimir]

Total output power of the Sony is 80W in 8 ohms.

40W + 40W (A/B)

20W + 20W + 20W + 20W (A+B)

Don't use more than 2 speakers if they are 6 or 4 ohms each. You can use 4 speakers (A+B) if they are 8 ohms each but don't put anything on top of the amp and if you play it loud keep it cool with a small fan.

Which speakers do you plan to use?

Have fun.

 

[hybridauth_google_113890289425068974483]

Total output power of the Sony is 80W in 8 ohms.

40W + 40W (A/B)

20W + 20W + 20W + 20W (A+B)

Don't use more than 2 speakers if they are 6 or 4 ohms each. You can use 4 speakers (A+B) if they are 8 ohms each but don't put anything on top of the amp and if you play it loud keep it cool with a small fan.

Which speakers do you plan to use?

Have fun.

Many thanks for the reply! That's cleared it up a little bit for me.

I'm currently speaker shopping so I'm open to any suggestions for models if you have any, looking for a second hand pair online for a good price (sub £100).

I think I'll stick with two speakers. What kind of wattage should I look for? If the amp is happiest with a pair of 40W 8 ohm speakers I'll make that a priority, but if speakers I see are 6 ohms what kind of wattage would the amp be happy with? And similarly at 4 ohm?

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Vladimir]

Many thanks for the reply! That's cleared it up a little bit for me.

I'm currently speaker shopping so I'm open to any suggestions for models if you have any, looking for a second hand pair online for a good price (sub £100).

I think I'll stick with two speakers. What kind of wattage should I look for? If the amp is happiest with a pair of 40W 8 ohm speakers I'll make that a priority, but if speakers I see are 6 ohms what kind of wattage would the amp be happy with? And similarly at 4 ohm?

Thanks again for your help!

More important than speaker power handling (watts) is Impedance and Sensitivity.

In general run away from 4 ohms speakers, they tax the amp and might kill it from overheating eventually. The smaller the impedance (ohms) of a speaker, the more power it sucks out from the amp, more heat is produced. 8 ohms speakers are easy to drive (most of them), 6 ohms is a mixed bag.

Next advices is to look for high sensitivity speakers (above 90dB efficient). They go louder on less watts from the amp than low sensitivity speakers (80db - 89db). That means even a small Sony amp can go very loud with no distortion, with very clean sound, with high efficient speakers.

So, my suggestion would be, buy these SONY SS-G3.

Specification:
Type: 3 way, 3 driver loudspeaker system Frequency Response: 40Hz to 20kHz Power Handling: 60W Crossover Frequency: 900, 5000Hz Impedance: 8Ω Sensitivity: 92dB Bass: 1 x 250mm cone Midrange: 1 x 80mm cone Tweeter: 1 x 50mm cone Enclosure: 46 litre Year: 1977 Dimensions: 345 x 615 x 335mm Weight: 17kg Things I've indicated in bold letters are very good for your amp and your listening. These are old but very good quality audiophiel speakers. (I have no affiliation with the seller) PS: They play reggea like a mofo.

 

[nopiano]

Just to add to Vlad's advice, I would stress that the aim is not to match speaker 'power handling' with the amp, just make sure speaker has a bigger number. Very few speakers handle less than fifty watts so focus on higher sensitivity, and definitely avoid four ohm speakers.

The Sony power output is forty watts maximum per channel.

Welcome to the madness!