The Reference 3A DeCapo is generally considered to be a very good monitor for someone wanting high-ish efficiency. They are 93 db eff. and are very easy to drive. I've powered mine with as little as 1.5W of 45 SET tube amp power. I've also driven them with an 5 watt 2A3 SET, 30 and 40 watt P-P tube amps, a 40 watt solid state "chip" amp and a 170 watt HT receiver.
The DeCapos also have very good bass for a monitor. The bass extends down into the low 40s and is very articulate.
Enjoy,
TIC |
Agree with Reubent, I was going to post the same monitor. |
Check out what the Pros use. "Monitors" are used professionally for mixing/mastering music. If you want the BEST for "monitoring" then I suggest you look in pro studio/recording magazines or check out pro studio websites to see their equipment lists. For example see this link http://www.atc.gb.net/client_list.htmlMost high end studio Monitors have efficiencies around 90 db because of the SPL levels required in studio applications. |
I agree with the suggestion of the DeCapos. I have been driving mine with a KR Enterprise BSI 18 amp, 15 wpc, and the sound is exceptionally good. The DeCapos do take a little care to set up correctly and match to a good amp but, in my experience, they are the best monitor speaker at anywhere near their price. And they are very easy to drive. |
Silverline SR-17. I believe the current version is rated at 90db. If it is anything like the previous versions (I've owned versions I, II, and (currently) III) it should be on your short list. The previous versions, btw, are rated at 89db, just short of your mark.
Marco |
Not officially 90dB (89 instead), the JM Reynaud Offrande is awesome, and with at least my version, they can be driven great with very little power due to a very flat impedance curve. I am currently driving mine with Wyetech Lab Onyx monos with their huge 13 watts of power, and have never encountered any problems. Also have had some friend's ASL Wave-8's powering them for a short time and although the amps sucked they never clipped or seemed short on power.
Bass hits down into the low 30's, however they don't have a big 100hz bass hump so alot of listeners feel they lack in this department. Me I can't stand speakers with that boost, so they fit me perfectly.
Very musical and emotional sound. Tone is top notch on them. Looks are outstanding, as is build quality.
And best of all at their going used price (if you want to go that route) they are a steal. |
I have been really enjoying a pair of Triangle Comete ES at 91 dB sensitive and although I haven't seen their impedance curve, my CJ MV55 is really happy with them (can't say that about my JM Lab Electra 926s). I bet I could successfully get by with much less power. Their resolution and speed is truly remarkable. Arthur |
Markeetaux,
If you believe that sensitivity rating will help you to choose a monitor speaker you're either completely or partially wrong.
For JM Lab Mini Utopias >90dB rated you'll still need above 100Wpc of an amplification. |
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Ultimate Monitor by Audiomachina. 9odb with a sealed box design. |
Markanetz,
Thanks for contributing to my question. But I have a question
for you. How can I be even partially wrong, I never said this
thread was being used to select a pair of speakers. But if I was, what would you say if my amplification was a 7 watt tube
amp? |
I never said this thread was being used to select a pair of speakers. But if I was, what would you say if my amplification was a 7 watt tube amp? I'll take it for granted that this may be a question you want input on from more than one person. In my experience given 90db at 8 ohms, 7 watts would not be enough for anything but moderate volumes in a small room. Push it any further and you will start to hear quite a bit of breaking up and distortion. That's not to say that, without pushing them too far, that combination may not sound remarkable, but certainly it will not go very loud without distortion. I've tried this combination (actually 8 wpc and 11 wpc monoblock amps) with the SR17's I mentioned, as well as slightly more efficient Soliloquy 5.3's. The Soliliquy's did a bit better, but neither would not be my recommendation of a very versatile/flexible combination. Different amp/speaker combinations may do better than others, but as a broad generalization I'd say you are not in the realms of what I'd recommend for low-watts. I'd be looking at around 96db and up, but, as I think Marakanetz might be implying, sensitivity is only one part of the equation...a piece of the puzzle. Marco |
Markeetaux,
My Reference 3A DeCapos work very well with a 5 watt/ch. 2A3 tube amp and have more volume than I can use in my small-medium sized room. They are very easy to drive with a simple crossover and 93db eff.
Enjoy,
TIC |
Markeetaux,
I figured an ultimate solution which is Avantgarde Solo.
This is a monitor speaker with built-in bass amp. So technically speaking it will be a biamplified system.
Infact, that's the only system that I realy liked from Avantgarde. |
