Speakers for a 20 watt receiver? (2024)

Well, it took a while, but I finally have my first Sansui (well, working Sansui...)
- it's a 350A. It's a pretty, clean, sweet looking little guy with only 20 watts.

I'm used to my Yamaha CR-2020, Pioneer SX-1050, etc, and have never
had such a small powered amp. Any suggestions for some nice vintage
speakers that would go well with such little power? I assume they'd have to
be very efficient...?

I want to hook it up to hear it, but all I have are speakers that will work with 20
watts, but really want more to shine (ADS L880, Boston Acoustic A150, Ohm C2, etc).
Set up will be in a small room (kitchen/bedroom/office).

What do you all use for speakers on your low wattage Solid State amps?

Thanks,
Alexander

Yeah, put a stack of these honkers in your bedroom! (avatar)

They double as bookshelves, bedframes, cupboards for trinkets....:thmbsp:

Coytee said:

Yeah, put a stack of these honkers in your bedroom! (avatar)

They double as bookshelves, bedframes, cupboards for trinkets....:thmbsp:

Click to expand...

Don't forget small doghouses!

Well I was gonna say Klipsche to but any 90 db plus speaker should serve you well, however counter to what I just said I think the RS LX5's might work for you.
I have had mine for years and I have always like them but it was mostly because they were cool.
The other week I hooked the LX5's with a small passive sub up to my Rotel 603 and turned them on in a near field environment and I was astonished at the sense of air,space and transparency this combo produced!

I don't know how far out it can extend the image cause it's on my bench at the moment but it did take me by surprise!

I had always used my LX5 's for HT and this was the first time I used them on a vintage piece and I was stunned ( in a good way at what I heard!)

I was driving Boston A-60s with a HK-330B for a while. Rated <20 watts. Sounded great!

You'll find it helps a lot that your 20 watts are HK watts.

I've been running kg4's off a H/K 430 for years now (on the vinyl rig). The first time anyone hears it, they think it's a mega watt system (25 watts).

Unless your looking for high spl with low eff speaks, 20 watts will drive most speakers just fine, and high eff speakers quite well (anything 90 db+).

I haven't owned any Sansui stuff yet, but I'm confident the little fellow will surprise you. I find more often than not 1/2 to 1 watt is all I'm using.

Let's see what Gordon Miller Music bundled with a (very good) 20 wpc receiver ca. 1977...

(hmmm... not so sure about those...)

(better...)

These are worth considering, too ('specially the one on the left):

Thanks for all the great suggestions...

I guess I haven't gotten it through my head yet that we don't
always need at least a 100 watts!

(also, I'm always wary about the advice that too few watts can be
more dangerous than too many....)

I have a 20wpc amp, my speakers are 91 dB 4 ohm, my room like 20 x 12 feet, and I never turn the volume more than 11 or 12 o'clock...

It's true, with small amps distortion is always there ........

elnaldo said:

I have a 20wpc amp, my speakers are 91 dB 4 ohm, my room like 20 x 12 feet, and I never turn the volume more than 11 or 12 o'clock...

It's true, with small amps distortion is always there ........

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What amp are you using? My little Sherwood S-7010 receiver is pure sweetness.