Can the WiiM amp power Klipsch KD-51m

[blackburn111]

I’m looking at investing in new speakers. I want to use the WiiM amp platform and am deciding between the Sony SSCS5 ($123) or the Klipsch KD-51m ($99). I wasn’t sure if the WiiM amp can power the KD-51m since it requires 80 Watts continuous at 8 ohms and the WiiM amp can only do 60 watts at 8 ohms. The Sonys seem to be within the WiiM amps power requirements. Any advice on which to go with, Sony or Klipsch? Can the WiiM amp power the KD-51m? I heard it doesn’t need the 80 watts unless it’s at 100% volume.

 

[cooky560]

The Wiim Amp had no trouble driving my 85th heritage edition Wharfedale Lintons before it was moved into the office, it works well with a lot of speakers.

 

[BK308]

My WiiM amp (non pro) is driving my JBL4410a (120 watts) no problem.

 

[harkpabst]

... the KD-51m since it requires 80 Watts continuous at 8 ohms ...

The speaker doesn't "require" 80 Watts continuously, quite the contrary: 80 Watts is really just the max it can take continuously without being destroyed. That doesn't even say anything about how bad it will sound at that level!

So, your ears would be bleeding at 80 Watts being permanently applied, for two reasons: High volume and high distortion.

Driven with just 1 Watt the KD-51m will produce a sound pressure level of 87 dB at 1 m distance. That's pretty darn loud already. At 10 Watts the SPL will be 97 dB. Yes, SPL at e.g. 2 m distance will be ~3 dB lower, but two speakers are (at least) 3 dB louder than one speaker. You get the picture.

 

[blackburn111]

The speaker doesn't "require" 80 Watts continuously, quite the contrary: 80 Watts is really just the max it can take continuously without being destroyed. That doesn't even say anything about how bad it will sound at that level!

So, your ears would be bleeding at 80 Watts being permanently applied, for two reasons: High volume and high distortion.

Driven with just 1 Watt the KD-51m will produce a sound pressure level of 87 dB at 1 m distance. That's pretty darn loud already. At 10 Watts the SPL will be 97 dB. Yes, SPL at e.g. 2 m distance will be ~3 dB lower, but two speakers are (at least) 3 dB louder than one speaker. You get the picture.

Thank you so much, this was really well described. I kept reading that you want 1.5x wattage on your amp so I was confused. I decided to get both speakers and try them out, return the ones I don't like since all the stores are having an extended return period for Black Friday.

 

[k6osx]

Using Polk Monitor XT20 speakers with my WiiM App (non-pro) without any issues.

 

[harkpabst]

I kept reading that you want 1.5x wattage on your amp so I was confused.

Depending on whom you're asking you will hear numbers from 4x over 2x and 1.5 times the power capacity. Don't worry about it too much.

There's a school of thought arguing that an amplifier that ran into clipping (because of lacking power) can roast your tweeters due to excessive amount of 2nd and higher order distortion ...

There's even some truth to that. And a number of "buts":

• ... but you'd have to ignore really unbearable sound quality for a couple of minutes before this would happen.
• ... but the WiiM Amp (and Amp Pro) are designed so that their power amp section won't go into clipping with any digital source. The analogue input would clip when you exceed an input voltage of >>2 Vrms, but no Hi-Fi gear puts out that much voltage.
• ... but it's still easier to fry your tweeters (and woofers) by just cranking up a far too powerful amp.

In the end it's not that much of an issue and you will notice really ugly sound before anything breaks.

Some amplifiers (amongst them many low- to mid-price AVRs) appear to be powerful enough at a first glance, but cannot deliver the current required by certain speakers (when the actual impedance can be a lot lower than the nominal impedance).

The speakers you mentioned don't appear to be overly critical and the WiiM Amp works fine into 4 ohm loads (not so well into lower loads).

 

[cooky560]

ASRs review of the Amp Pro suggests it can handle loads down to 2.17Ohms, which will cover most speakers

 

[harkpabst]

ASRs review of the Amp Pro suggests it can handle loads down to 2.17Ohms, which will cover most speakers

That's the WiiM Amp Pro ... right. We're talking the WiiM Amp, which has a higher load dependency.