High Efficiency Options?


I’m thinking about assembly a pretty modest second system based on tubes. I think for a basic el34 amp most speakers 85db or higher would satisfy but I’d like to play with low powered tube amps. System will be in a small bedroom and I won’t use it to listen loud often, so I’m thinking anything in high 80db range will work. To give you an idea of my taste I use Harbeth c7s with Primaluna seperates fed from my Audio Mirror Tubadour and Auralic Aries. I don’t have a large budget for speakers, probably 1,000-1,500, and I’ll buy used. I have decent grasp of what’s available for the most part, but not really when it comes to high efficiency speakers. I know of Zu and Tekton but don’t find what I’ve read about them too appealing. Outside of those two I’m not really sure what’s out there in my price range. Any ideas or recommendations would be much appreciated. 

brylandgoodman

Showing 2 responses by ditusa

@brylandgoodman,

Even if you aren’t going to listen loud, higher efficiency translates to better micro and macro dynamics even at lower volumes.

I agree with the above statement @ozzy62!

I don't think you will find a true high sensitivity, 8Ohm speaker, for $1500 a pair, if you did there would be no useful output below 55Hz. With that said I do like Zu speakers, but, 1500$ for a pair? OMEN DIRTY WEEKEND MK. II maybe. To me high efficiency is 2.7% or higher, remember efficiency is not the same as sensitivity. See below efficiency and sensitivity ratings.

 

 

Mike 

Loudspeaker data
Efficiency  Percent  Sensitivity
0.2        20 % 105 dB
0.1        10 % 102 dB
0.05       5 %   99 dB
0.02       2 %   95 dB
0.01       1 %   92 dB
  0.005     0.5 %   89 dB
  0.002     0.2 %   85 dB
  0.001     0.1 %   82 dB