High value, high efficiency speakers for SET amps

Mapman, ubetcha! All I want is music that sounds like music.

Rebbi, long, long, ago, in a land far, far away when you started this thread, I drove the deCapos with 3 different amps. If your AN is even remotely close to my Coincident Frankensteins, I am not one bit surprised that you are very pleased with the pairing. Mapman is right. Do nothing without an ability to A/B, and that without financial downside. I am also more than a little interested in the Tekton line, but am in no hurry. Along with everyone else, I am very pleased that things are going well now.

Rebbi, if you recall, I also drove the deCapos with my 500 WPC solid state Cary monoblocks and found the 8WPC Frankensteins drove them better. One of the other posters commented that the deCapos are unusually sensitive to amp/speaker synergy. That is consistent with my experience. I think you are right, well designed 300B SETs may be the pinnacle for that particular speaker. It has been a rewarding experience watching you work your way through this process. This hobby is a place where engineering, physics, biology, and psychology all meet. No wonder it such a meandering path.

A few comments.
I also listen at lower than typical volumes. I frequently have to fight with salon proprietors to turn it down when I audition new equipment. In my case, those lower volumes represent realistic volumes. Bach cantatas are seldom performed at 105 dB. So, Ralph, no worries! You did not confuse me by presenting the facts as dictated by physics and math. My Coincident Triumph Extreme II monitor pairing with the Coincident Franks is not a perfect in every respect set up, but it achieves my goals better than anything I have yet owned or auditioned. What I loose with reproduction of Mahler, I gain in reproduction of a Beethoven violin sonata.

Rob made an especially astute observation with respect to some of us having true timbre as the number 1 priority. Indeed, for me, if a piece is slightly amiss in this respect it is a non starter. I have quickly rejected very well reviewed equipment on this basis. I can make sacrifices in low frequency extension and dynamics, but not with timbre. I suspect this may also be something Rebbi values, based on his love for his new AN 300B.

In Rebbi's case, I am sympathetic to arguments for very high efficiency speakers. It may well be that given his musical tastes and listening volumes, he can't get what he seeks without getting into the 97-100 dB efficient range. His deCapos can certainly be bettered in that respect, and with a higher efficiency speaker he is likely to realize the improved dynamics he seeks. Also, it is my experience that the deCapos, for all their virtues, don't handle the lower octaves all that well. Both Rob and I noted issues with walking bass reproduction.

The problem is his budget. At $1500, there are going to be trade offs. If there were a $1500 speaker that did everything he wants, we would all own a pair. I would have thought something in the Tekton line might have been his best shot. His brief audition of one of the Lores was disappointing. My fear is that while he can probably find a deCapo replacement that betters their performance in one or two respects, he may find a decrease in what he calls refinement may not be an acceptable long term solution. He is not in a position to run experiments that are not cash neutral.

So Rebbi, sorry if I have spoken as if you are not in the room. I can still remember when cash flow was tight. My advice is to continue to audition everything that you can at minimal cost. Too bad you are so far away from Tennessee. I'd love for you to hear my Coincident TE IIs. The performance gap by comparison to the deCapos is startling. Be careful selling the deCapos to fund something that is a pure experiment. It is going to be easier to deoptimize in a cash neutral transaction.

If you had another $1000, i think you would have more options.

Meanwhile, enjoy what you have.

Ralph, I guess I will have to take my dB meter next time I take in a St. Matthew Passion. I favor small ensemble, period instrument, even at times, one voice per part, which I doubt would give anything like 105 dB mid hall. My current set up, with the 94 dB monitors driven by the Coincident Franks, is not the set up I would prefer for Das Reingold. Walala, weiala weia! With apologies to Herr Wagner, the ring gets a couple playings a year. Bach plays night and day around here.

The pairing is, in my opinion, absolutely sublime with the material that garners 95% of my listening time. I could get it all, no doubt, but at what cost? I have $7.5 K in my amp speaker pairing, and for what it does, which addresses 95% of my needs, it outperforms everything I've heard even at 5 x the price. As for the room, it is 15 x 20, with a long wall set up.

I hear what you are saying, but I remain happy where I am. It seems a prudent investment to me.

Tubegroover, I have driven the deCapos with the following amps:
Coincident Frankensteins
Coincident Dynamo
Cary SA 500.1 MB (500WPC solid state)
Had Inspire KT77
The performance of the amp speaker pairing was in the order listed, with the dynamo and the Carys pretty close. My assessment of the deCapos with respect to low frequency performance was as compared to both Magnepan 3.7Rs driven by the Carys and Coincident Triumph Extreme IIs driven by all 4 amps. As compared to the other two speakers, the deCapos suffered by comparison.
It is not as if I don't like the deCapos. I've owned them for over a year, and still have plans for using them. Its just that they don't hold up well in my experience with low frequency reproduction. The TEIIs are much faster and much more resolving at low frequency.

Smctigue and tubegroover. In another thread initiated by threadmaster Rebbi, we did discuss an apparent high sensitivity of the deCapos to synergy with the amp. In my case, I drove the deCapos with the SS Cary amp, and frankly, I couldn't figure out what all the fuss was over the deCapos. Very disappointing. It was a very different scenario with the Franks. The bass response wasn't bad, but certainly suffered in comparison with the TEIIs. In the current discussion, Rebbi is looking for something that "digs deeper." Sounds to me that he also is not enjoying a favorable amp speaker synergy.
Please don't think I am disparaging of the deCapos. I have in fact encouraged Rebbi to keep them until he has substantially more money. And if I did't like them, I would have sold mine long ago.

Rebbi, I occasionally turn the subs on, but I have them set up to provide just a wee bit of low end help. I rarely turn them on. I am in agreement with map man on this. For me, the solution is to go with an appropriate full range speaker eventually.

Rebbi, Both of my parents have fallen victim to AD. Mercifully, my Dad passed 2 years ago. My Mom survives. It is hard watching those you love and respect decline and pass. Take your time and morn. Your friends will still be here when the time is right. May the Lord bless you and keep you!