[LarsHP]

From a technical / power viewpoint 200W @ 8 Ohm is much more than enough, but will it sound the best for the money you spend? That will only a listening test tell you.
 
A high end class A speaker amplifier rated at 30W may very well sound much better than a cheap run-off-the-mill 200W amplifier. In other words how good it sounds is not as much about the power, but more how transparent / resolving etc. the amplifier is. Many has reported very good results with the First Watt F1J which according to the designer, Nelson Pass, delivers about 1 Watt in 50 Ohm. This translates to about 6.25 Watt in 8 Ohm.
 
Some amplifiers has an extra emphasis on bass, some sound bright, some are warm sounding etc. etc. and all may measure well and neutral. The sound characteristics should of course match your taste (in combination with the other gear you use).
 
For the record I just listened to the Anthem Integrated 225 (225W in 8 Ohm) and it did have an extra emphasis on bass. However, I didn't like it half as much as my 50W class A speaker amp. The Anthem is a bit lean sounding in the mids to my ears and it's not nearly as resolving / transparent.
 
If you do the "Fuzzor" mod (put felt on the inner grill) http://www.head-fi.org/t/692494/hifiman-fuzzor-mod-driver-backwave-felt-damping-modification
and mount Audeze pads with double sided tape, you will get the bass you want. No need for a high powered speaker amp. A speaker amp might sound the best, but not because of the super excess power (like 200W) it has.
 
These are my experiences with the gear that I have heard.

 

[preproman]

I would say this is spot on^^^
 
I think the F1J is about 10W @ 8 Ohms..

 

[LarsHP]

  I would say this is spot on^^^
 
I think the F1J is about 10W @ 8 Ohms..

You are of course right. The spec in 8 Ohm is 10W. I recalculated from the 50 Ohm value that Nelson Pass estimated.

 

[kernel8888]

has anyone used a Yamaha rx-v371 or 373 home theater receiver off speaker taps? I know its not high end quality wise, but hoping the power will make up for it and give good sound.

 

[svo360]

  has anyone used a Yamaha rx-v371 or 373 home theater receiver off speaker taps? I know its not high end quality wise, but hoping the power will make up for it and give good sound.

i tried my old pioneer receiver 521 that i replaced before i sold it, used it was with the adapter box to be safe and i must say i was surprised how good it sounded actually blew me away the soundstage just opened up i thinking the extra power gave the 6's what they needed ran rings around my conductor. I used the conductor as the dac.

 

[guido]

Sounding sublime with 2 Norh LeAmp monoblocks out of the pre out of the BMC Puredac!
 
http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/norhleamp_e.html

 

[NZtechfreak]

Sounding sublime with 2 Norh LeAmp monoblocks!

http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/norhleamp_e.html

Wow, tempting! Just started thinking about power amps and such like since getting the CMA800R, since they have preamp capabilities.

EDIT: Ah, I see, very old product not really available anymore.

 

[svo360]

Wow, tempting! Just started thinking about power amps and such like since getting the CMA800R, since they have preamp capabilities.

EDIT: Ah, I see, very old product not really available anymore.

I was just about to say the same thing cant find them on the website?
 
Did you by them second hand then?

 

[NZtechfreak]

Time for a showdown..   Or an amp down:

So, which one won the day? I think I saw you tried the Yggy with the INT30, so that one took the win? Asking as still considering the Pass Labs as my 'I'm done' speaker amps, I also happened to find somewhere selling them here in NZ...

 

[preproman]

Yup,  I went with the INT30 for a number of reasons..  I'll list them below.
 
They're very similar sounding (on headphones).  I had to put them on speakers (Paradigm Studio 100's v3)  So I could really crank them up.  The INT-30 held it's composure longer and better compared to the INT-150.  Or should I say the INT-30 stayed smooth while the INT-150 started to get a little hot up top (shouty).  Also female vocals stayed consistent with the INT-30, They kind of thinned out just a little with the INT-150.
 
I also noticed I had a little bit more volume knob play with the INT-30.  It was never a factor with the INT-150, but I figured with the HE1000, Abyss and the Ethers that be an advantage.  The downside is the INT-30 gets hot to the touch, the INT-150 never did.  I can deal with that, no issue for me but may be for others.

 

[NZtechfreak]

Thanks for that, sounds like the way to go.

 

[daltonlanny]

Surprisingly my Beta 22 that I had modified from 2x gain to 8x gain actually drives my grill modded HE-6 well and with authority.
It has never sounded better.
The B22 didnt have the balls to drive the HE-6 at 2x gain though.
Cant wait to try out the Betas together. Lol (Beta 22 and Beta HE1000)
IThe HE-6 sounded just ok, but alittle thin and somewhat lacking bass with both my Harman Kardon HK 3490 120 watt receiver and a Marantz PM 8500 70 watts per channel integrated amp.
Color me very surprised!

 

[preproman]

Surprisingly my Beta 22 that I had modified from 2x gain to 8x gain actually drives my grill modded HE-6 well and with authority.
It has never sounded better.
Color me surprised!

Well, we can talk about the beta 22 at length..  You should enjoy it, it's a mighty fine amp.  What config do you have?

 

[daltonlanny]

Surprisingly its single-ended.
Much better authority than my former GS-1 had with the HE-6.

 

[daltonlanny]

I know that the HE-6 would sound even better with a good speaker amp, much better, but right now it is better than anything I have tried so far.
My HE-6 actually sounds amazing for a change.
The HE1000 will have a battle on their hands.
Its probably because the GS-1 and Gustard were weak driving the HE6, and the Harman Kardon and Marantz are sort of lacking in the bass dept., and both were alittle thin sounding at certain frequencies.y particular B22 is smoother, more transparent, and slightly warmer than any of the above.