Need Help with Stax SR-5 Setup

[ferron123]

Hello,

This is my first post and I have a few questions. Be aware that I am completely lost in this audio thing.

I just found my father's Stax SR-5 and SRD6 energizer gathering dust in my basement. I want to use them but I'm not quite sure of how to amplify them. I have a Bryston 3B, but I cannot use it frequently, and I'm looking for another (and much cheaper) amp for everyday use.

Would I be able to listen to them through a cheap-ish amp or stereo receiver from amazon?
Also I'd like to know how many Watts I need (or something like that, again I don't know much).

Thank you very for your help and patience.

 

[Music Alchemist]

I had an SRD-6SB. All you need is a speaker amp of some sort. It can be a power amp (in which case you'd normally use an external preamp; I'd recommend a passive preamp such as the Schiit SYS for that), integrated amp, vintage stereo receiver, etc. It would be a good idea to get a powerful amp. (If there's not enough power, the sound can distort badly.) I use the Behringer KM750 power amp (which can output up to 400 watts at 4 ohms and 200 watts at 8 ohms) with my speakers and think it's a great value at $150, except it's large, heavy, and the fan system makes noise.

 

[ferron123]

Thank you for your quick reply.

What would you consider to be a "Powerful Amp"?

 

[Music Alchemist]

What would you consider to be a "Powerful Amp"?

I'd go for something that can output at least 100 watts into 8 ohms to be on the safe side.

What happens is that the sound will be fine, but at a certain volume level it will distort when there's not enough power. If you get a weaker amp, that threshold will be much lower.

When I drove an SR-Lambda with an SRD-6SB and Kenwood KR-720 (40 watts into 8 ohms), it was fine about 80% of the time but it was obvious that it needed more power because the sound would distort on some tracks at some volume levels, especially when there was heavy bass. (Which requires more power as well.) It distorted at an even lower volume level with the Lepai LP-2020TI. (Which can only do 15 watts with the included power supply.)