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High Sensitivity Speakers

Within the last year I purchased a Pass Labs XA 60.8 ... which I am pleased with.  It’s a great match with the rest of my system which includes Avant-garde Uno Gen 1 speakers (sorry about the hyphen but the spell check insists).  I like the speakers a lot but they are now 17 years on so I assume speaker technology has moved in quite a bit in thus time.  So as I considered new speaker alternatives I discovered that the Pass Labs 60.8 (69 w class A, 120w class A/B) are “underpowered” for a number of speaker brands.  I am not keen to trade my amp up but it’s an option.  So looking to upgrade speakers I an looking at Avant-garde Duo Gen 3.  Any input on other speaker brands that might be sensitive enough to match with the amps I currently have?  I live overseas so by brand choice is a bit limited to “well known” brands.  My system: SME 20/2 tt, Tom Evans The Groove phono preamp, Brooklyn + DAC, PS Audio 15 Power Plant, Joule Electra line preamp, 4 Rel 812 subs, room size 30’x21’x10’ ceiling), assorted decent power cables and interconnects.
chilli42

Showing 2 responses by elliottbnewcombjr

elliottbnewcombjr
5,249 posts
 
moving air is moving air, with good parts, in properly designed enclosures. seems like yours are.

some old designs are still fabulous.

removable covers? inspect the cones/rings, spring action while off and while playing music.

most any driver can be re-coned, get another 15 years. My 15" woofers, made in 1958, cloth (not foam) surrounds, the paper weakened (and who knows how tired the cloth surround was (didn't appear so).

Pro re-coned them, many years later I bought the kit and re-coned them myself. Videos help, it ain't rocket science, hardest part is cleaning the old mounting ring off.

I re-coned my Velodyne 12" sub (foam surrounds), sounds like new.
elliottbnewcombjr
5,249 posts
 
Efficient speakers.

I would say, not brand, just look for sensitivity, say 89 or higher, don't even listen/get hooked by less efficient speakers. Horns are the most efficient, but not for every space or every person. Also look at resistance, ohms, avoid low numbers, you will find a corralary between efficiency and low ohms, especially smaller enclosures, like the much loved small KEFs.

The primary reason I recommend efficient speakers is so you can try a relatively low powered TUBE amp.

Avoiding high power needs, SS or Tubes, keeps the initial cost down, lots of great vintage stuff, lots of competitive new stuff, reduced heat from tube amps, ....

I have been quite satisfied with all tube amps over the years, range of 25-45 wpc. Perhaps I could use less, but, the momentary peaks, I stay in this range.

My friend's system, 8 wpc, not too efficient speakers (custom made) sound great, but he is not moving big woofers, moving a pair of 6" with a tweeter. Less bass than me, but, there is a thread here about how much you can get out of 6-1/2" drivers.
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