[Christo22]

My PMCs FACT 12 are 84db in 8 ohms...
I listen to music quite loud.
I play my 14b3 right now at "noon"... and it seems to me that the speakers could take more power...
Would a pair of 7b3 be a better match to control my power hungry speakers...?

[Elizabeth]

That is a small change to do for the money it will cost!
If you are wanting 'more power... I would start saving for a pair of 28B3 instead.

There are many things that can affect the way the loudness sounds.. impedance beinga key factor. So what preamp are you using? are you using the balanced inputs? and KEY (IMO) if using the balanced inputs, do you have the 23dB 26dB switch set to the 26dB setting.
If you have it on the 23dB, CHANGE IT to the 26dB. It may be all you need.
(there is zero harm using the 26dB setting with the balanced IC.)
I use the 26dB setting with balanced IC in.. Sounds a little better.

[Christo22]

BP26
All XLR
It is 29db. And my 14b3 is switched to 29db.

[Ron D]

Any warning signs of clipping like the amp's light starting to flicker orange or red?

[Christo22]

No sign.
But I feel like I can’t ask the 14b3 more without getting a warning sign...
Speakers seem to be just fine...

[Markwatkiss]

You may want to have your hearing checked.

[CanadianMaestro]

Earwax removal does wonders.

[Elizabeth]

I would also suggest getting a smartphone app decible meter. Plenty of them are free. Most are sort of accurate.. Them main thing is you need a baseline. So you can say when I am playing my speakers at 98dB Average "C' weighted from listening position....
Or when I play my speakers at 82dB... Or at 127dB....
Without that info. any others wondering how loud you actually play music are left in the dark. 

My example I play music from my Magnepan 20.7s typically at 50dB to 70dB C weighted from listening position all the time. Withthe very rare opera aria going to 80dB peaks. (the funny thing is at my fav burger joint the noise level is a pretty constant 80dB too...) Don't get me started on hte car.. But I never play music in the car.. since it usually ends up over 90dB!)
I own both a Radio Shack dB meter and a phone meter.

So get the meter and find out how loud you actually play music.

[avahifi]

Note that a 3 dB difference in speaker efficiency requires either half or double amplifier power depending whether you are going up or down in efficiency.

An 86 dB efficient speaker will play as loud on 100W as an 83 dB efficient speaker with 200W, all other things being equal. A 89 dB efficient speaker under the same conditions wiukd only require 50W of power.

A good way to buy more amplifier power inexpensively is simply to get more efficient speakers, again all other things being equal.

[Christo22]

My chair is 10 feet away.
Listen at 90-95 db.
Volume is at noon...
Question was... if a pair of 7b3 would give me better results...

[Ron D]

Just how big is the room?
Having nothing to do at 6AM this morning I skimmed through 2 reviews on this speaker both of which mentioned using 28B amps so while I think there will be a gain of sorts moving to 7B3s over your 14 likely due to the increased capacitance the 7B monoblocks have over the single chassis 14B though I'm not sure it wiĺl give you what you are looking for. I made the same move a number of years ago from a SST 14B to squared 7Bs. I did not find a huge difference but then I was likely not pounding my speakers as much as you like to.
While I acknowledge that the cubed version is a wonderful series and Bryston's best yet by a mile (just my opinion...) a pair of cubed 28s are a serious chunk of change. Maybe investigate getting a squared pair - they can be found at very reasonable prices, again just my opinion. I suspect that if you are playing at very high levels the last ounce of musicality a cubed amp brings isn't high on your list.

[Christo22]

Thank you Ron.
15x25 approximately...
But I think you have a good point.
28s SST2 are a maybe a good avenue to start with.
And I don't plan on getting rid off my FACT 12 for the moment.

[myview]

Hi Christo22,

I run an audiology clinic.  The levels you are listening to music are unhealthily high and these can lead to noise-induced hearing loss, which will be permanent.  Unaddressed hearing loss has some very far-reaching implications.  There is a lot of information on this topic on the internet so look it up.  If we want to enjoy music for many years to come, keep the volume down.
Happy listening!

My chair is 10 feet away.
Listen at 90-95 db.
Volume is at noon...
Question was... if a pair of 7b3 would give me better results...

[Christo22]

Thanks.
Got 23 years in the infantry...
90db is loud but still acceptable.
I don’t listen 90db + for hours... just when I feel a song deserves it...
Concerts can vary between 85db and 115db...

So when I decide to crank it up... I just want my system to operate.

[Mike-48]

The output power spec of a 14B3 is the same as a pair of 7B3, so no, I would not recommend changing.
A pair of 28B3 will provide more power.

[Elizabeth]

James has mentioned the 7B3 have 'more capacitors' for the power supply, meaning the 7B3 will carry a heavy load LONGER while playing loud... than the same 14B3.. so the 7B3 power supplies are a bit beefier than the 14B3.. for what little it is worth. I still would say the differences would not be woth the money spent swapping. Still say go for the 28B3 and THOSE would be a real upgrade you could really hear. !!!!
As for the 90+dB.. not my problem. Yes if asked I would say it is probably louder than what is safe. But not my ears, not my problem.
I was luckier and had a 30 year job in a very quiet place. No noise at all. Where I live is quiet too... Apartment, but the neighbors are making no noise... (and I try hard to not bother them either)

[Mike-48]

James has mentioned the 7B3 have 'more capacitors' for the power supply, meaning the 7B3 will carry a heavy load LONGER while playing loud... than the same 14B3.. so the 7B3 power supplies are a bit beefier than the 14B3.. for what little it is worth. I still would say the differences would not be woth the money spent swapping. Still say go for the 28B3 and THOSE would be a real upgrade you could really hear. !!!!
As for the 90+dB.. not my problem. Yes if asked I would say it is probably louder than what is safe. But not my ears, not my problem.

I agree with Elizabeth on all points. The small added oomph would not be worth the money, given that you already have the 14B3. The 28B3 would make a difference. But I fear for your hearing, long-term, if you listen at 90+ dB.

[soundmax]

Hello Christo22,

In my opinion there is nothing wrong with your power amp or ears.
You don't need to buy anything for a false problem.
Listening to your 14B through a Bryston preamp "at noon" (for example on BP17 cubed which I know) means very little in terms of output, that's how Bryston volume works on preamps.
12 o'clock for Bryston is roughly equivalent 7-8 o'clock for other amps from other brands.
You need to turn the knob on your preamp towards 3 o'clock and over to start having louder output.
Hope this helps.