So far, I don't care for any of them. |
Mapman,
I think Audio Note, Stellovox, beauhorn, lamhorn and perhaps Latour do. |
The Tonian approach to cabinet design and resonance control (more "instrument" like) was something I had not heard of before that sounds very interesting. I'm wondering do any of these others take a similar approach? |
One of the best I've owned was the ADS 1530, with an efficiency rating of 95 db. They could play loud, could handle 500 watts,and sounded great. They were Telarc's studio monitors for years, until they updated and went to Waveform Mach 7's. Their only drawback was their immense size, being 2" wide, 52" high, and weighing over 100 lbs. Sometimes I still wish I had them back. I'm currently using their 1590's, not quite as efficient as the 1530's, but only 12" wide towers. |
I have owned or heard all of the following and in general favor these high efficiency designs
Audio Note AN/E sec
Exemplar Horns
Lamhorn
Beauhorn
KCS SEAS Exotic
Tonian TLM-1
Tonian Classic 12.1 (currently own these)
Stellovox
Magico Ultimates
Klipsch Corner Horns
JBL Parragon
Merlin VSM MXE
Horning Alkibiades
Acapella (not sure which model..ion tweter) |
You cannot talk about high efficiency speakers, without mentioning Avantgarde.
Also Classic Audio Reproductions T1, with field coil drivers, are very, very good.
Acapella (the model escapes me now)- I should put it after the Avantgarde Duo G2, which were outstanding at this year CES, and CAR T1. |
I am glad somebody chimed in on 92,cause I had Montana esp's; which are 92, and no way/no how for SE reproduction.
I then bought Lowther and for the price you get a lot. |
Horning, Followed by Tannoy, and Zu a distant third |
I really like my Serious Stereo Altec 604-H based speakers. I have heard the Sunny Cable horn speakers and they are very good. Would love to hear the Shindo Latour's. |
My pick would be Horning Aristoteles. I have heard a few high efficiency speakers and this is my favorite. Good luck! |
I have heard a few high efficiency speakers and this is my favorite. Good luck! |
A friend had a pair of BSL(Brentworth Sound Labs)single driver floorstanding speakers.While the Superhemps are my favorite single driver speakers due to their big/warm sound,the BSL speakers were incredibly detailed and their imaging was also first rate. |
The new Soundquest H-10,H-12,& H-15 are exceptional speakers.I find the H-12 to be the sweet-spot in the line-up and my favorite! My favorite single driver HE speaker is the Omega SuperHemp. |
Belle Klipsch.
Best sound/appearance/price package to be found. |
surely high efficiency is over 95bd/watt? Can you really call 92db high efficiency? |
Klipsch Cornwall, Fostex 166 in a BLH and Snell E MkII |
ess with heil drivers. infinity qab,s.,4001, klh scxa |
Living Voice speakers are easy to drive and work well with tubes, but not a good value IMHO. Distribution was never good in US and getting worse. |
Audiokinesis, Coincident, Classic Audio Reproductions. |
I suppose you could look at Living Voice as well. Although it seems their distribution in the US is dwindling. |
Cerwin Vega CLS-215. Test measurements here. About 92 dB efficiency plus 500 watts power handling plus bass extension well into the 20's. |
Tannoys with 15 in. concentric drivers
Klipshorn
Lamhorn with AER full range |
Shindo Latour, Auditorium 23 Solovox, and Omega Max Hemp. |
The Tonian TL-D1 is an interesting design. Think of it as a single driver wannabe, but with super tweeter and very simple crossover. I had been wanting to try these for 4 years (up until recently they listed for $1750) and found a great deal on a used pair here. Unless you pay extra, the finish is basic and will easily show some flaws, but the sound is extremely fast and transparent. They go down to the low 40's, and placement is flexible as you can tune the bass via the adjustable bass port. The cabinet is lightweight and has very thin walls (think acoustic guitar, violin, or similar instrument body) using the reverberations to voice the speaker.
Duke and Tony make great speakers (the new Audiokinesis Prism is interesting too for $2500), but take some opposite approaches in design. I don't think the TL-D1's have the timbre of the Jazz Modules, nor the punch, but they play a lot bigger than their size and are slightly more balanced tonally. In many ways they remind me of my old Spendor's but more neutral. |
Altec A7, finest speaker at any price. |
I'd give a listen to 'Coincident' and 'Devore' speakers.
They're at the top of my list. |
Klipschorn
Klipsch La Scala
Cain and Cain Abbey |
Clio-
I've been looking at those Tonians for a week or so now. I just got a price list today. They have some pretty expensive models in their line up. However that model you have $2500 retail I think. How good is it? |
Another vote
for Audio Note |
Clio,
The Tonians are a very interesting design! Thanks for sharing! |
|
klipsch heritage series, coincident, various vintage cabasse models..clipper, sloop, sanpan, etc |
Audiokinesis Jazz Modules
Tonian Labs TL-D1
Cain & Cain Abbeys
I own the first two pairs, would love to own a pair of the third someday. |
I have not heard many like that actually.
Some I would like to hear are Avantgarde and Classic Audio Reproductions (I think their horns qualify though I do not know their efficiency specs).
Cardersound is a reasonably priced line that I would like to hear.
Of course the usual culprits, the Klipschorns (the only ones I have actually heard though its been a while).
The thing with these very high efficiency horns is they tend to be BIG! You have to have the right room for a lot of them, althoughif WAF is not a concern, I've seen some monster horns fit into pretty tight quarters!
Also Cain & Cain Abbeys. Very slick looking! |
Tannoy 215 DMT II
Infinity Prelude MTS |
Let's say 92 db or higher and preferably at least 6 ohms avg. Single ended triode stuff. |
How highly efficient?
Is 89-90 db enough? I think that gets you into the ballpark with most good tube amps. Or are we talking only horn loaded or similar designs much higher than that? |
Loth-X Polaris
Klischhorn
Haven't heard anything else in that league. |
