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.
Not sure why you would be put off by Zu Audio. Some of the most enjoyable and satisfying speakers I own and I use them with my Prima Luna PL5. Just ordered a second pair to go with my Rogue Sphinx. In any event, take a look at the offerings from Omega Loudspeakers. I believe the Super 7 are a real steal. Rich
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That sounds like great fun. A few years ago I decided I really wanted to experience a 300B amp. I had upgraded my headphone system in other respects… so I upgraded my headphone amp to a Woo 300B headphone amp… I fell in love with the sound. The problem was my main system didn’t sound as wonderfully musical as my headphone system. Well $70K later my main system sounds that good. Really happy I took the real tube route. My systems sound so much better than I ever thought possible. My systems are shown under my user I’d. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
@ozzy62 is right. You need a speaker in the 90db range for sensitivity. Klipsch heritage series are one option to consider. No direct experience with Omega that @rar1 mentioned, but full rage speakers are often a great option for tube gear. These often do very well in terms of imaging and midrange reproduction. The Omegas are crazy efficient at just short of 95db/watt/meter. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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
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I think it would be hard to make valid suggestions without more information from the OP. Does he want to stick with the tonal balance and sound that is similar to Harbeth? His other components like the DAC also lean towards a warmer musical presentation. When he says low power, how low ... 3 watts or 10 watts? Perhaps the OP has an amp in mind that would give forum readers a better reference point for speaker matching based out of their experiences. What tubes does it run output? 300B tubes or 6bq5s? Both sound very different. Finally, what kind of music and at what volume does he listen to? How small the your bedroom? One man’s small is 10 x 10, another 15 x 15 with high ceilings. The volume of the latter is almost twice that of the first and you would need more efficiency and/or power to fill the room. i once owned a pair of the Harbeth C7s and despite what the specs said, they needed a fair bit of power to sing and worked better with my 100 WPC SS and than my 45WPC tube amp which is not what I expected. I liked the C7, based on a very favourable review without hearing them but they were not the sound for me, and buying used I moved them along at no loss. Here's an idea. Buy your new low powered amp and try it with the Harbeths you own in your bedroom. If you think that works then you will know if a speaker of the sensitivity of the Harbeth will work fine. If it doesn't you can go with more efficiency. Many readers use and will suggest Klipsch as a match for low powered amps. They are extremely efficient and are a good match, BUT, they don't sound anything like a Harbeth. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
