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High value, high efficiency speakers for SET amps

Hi, Gang,
I know that some of what I want to discuss here has been dealt with in other threads, some of them quite old, but I wanted to see if any of you fine, knowledgable folks are willing to help update and consolidate some of this info in a more current thread.
I am currently running my new Audio Note Kit 1 300B SET amp with a pair of Reference 3A De Capo speakers. I think it's a fine pairing and I am really enjoying what the 300B SET experience brings to the table in terms of musicality and emotional connection.
Still the De Capo, while supposedly an easy load due to its crossover-less design (only 1 cap on the tweeter with the mid-woofer directly coupled to the amp), is "only" rated at 92 db efficient, and based on the most recent Canadian NRC specs, that rating may be optimistic.
So, I am toying with the idea of trying a pair of more efficient, deliberately SET-friendly speakers in my rig, something that might also play lower and with greater dynamic swing than the De Capo's. Note that the De Capo's have served me well and I am very fond of them, but I can't help but wonder if my lovely Kit 1 would shine even better coupled to a VERY easy to drive speaker.
Devore and Audio Note are obvious options - the O/96 looks really tasty. Unfortunately, both of those choices are out of my budget, which I'm thinking maxes out (for real) at around $1500. I am willing to consider used equipment.
Tekton Lore 2.0: This is the speaker that Eric Alexander of Tekton has recommended when we've spoken on the phone, based upon my medium-small listening room and amp. I've read the epic "Lore vs. Zu" thread elsewhere in this forum, and clearly Tekton has its enthusiastic fans here. What I wonder is whether the Lore 2.0 has the refinement of the De Capo in terms of resolution, sweet high end and imaging. Audiogon'er Mikirob has pointed me to the many rave reviews of Tekton's speakers and I'm definitely interested.
I've corresponded with the Sonist folks (who are super nice) but their really high-efficiency, nearly-full-range floor stander is out of my budget.
Then there's the "vintage" route, going after some used JBL's or other high-efficiency "classics" from the 80's (or '70's). I am not inclined to go in this direction, but mention it because it's been suggested to me.
And then there's Omega. I spoke to Louis some time ago and he recommended his 7XRS hemp cone model. But I know all the raps on single driver designs and I'm cautious, although I would like to hear from any of you who own or have owned Omega's.
I'm in no rush to make a switch but I am very interested in your thoughts. Thanks, folks!
rebbi

Showing 9 responses by grannyring

grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,645 posts
 
I must chime in here. I am running 10 DHT watts into my 90db efficient speakers in a 24x18 room with 8 foot ceilings. I sit 7 feet back from the front plane of my speakers and find the combo wonderful. Very dynamic with no hint of distortion, noise or compression at the listening levels I like.

I listen at 75-80 DB and when I get a wild hair up to perhaps 89db weighted average. I have turned it up higher to test and the amp powers my speakers fine.

I was skeptical this combo would work and had been using 300 solid state watts per channel. Well, it is indeed working. My amp is an Ultra Fi Monaco 845 amp that only pushes the tubes to 50-60 percent of their rating. So I think it is a powerful and robust 10 watts. My speakers are 8 ohm and do not drop below 6 ohm I am told. I don't need anymore power. I simply don't.

One must try a combo to know for sure as paper specs can only go so far. Now paper can help you avoid obvious mismatches and one should always start here.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,645 posts
 
I purchased my Yamamoto DAC used. They can be purchased new for under $2800 now direct from the builder. The value of the US dollar is very favorable now vs. a few years ago.

The Jupiter cap upgrade and internal silver wire upgrade have now settled in and the sound is fantastic. I love this Dac.

I have yet to mod the 845 amp, but am mapping out a plan of action!
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,645 posts
 
Jetrexpro, you nailed it. Well done sir. One 8 or 10 watt SET amp can play much louder than another 8 watt SET amp without the distortion Ralph talks about, if the amp has a robust power supply and iron.

10 watts is not created equal in all 10 watt SET amps. One amp may run out of gas well before another based on power supply and iron. This has certainly been my experience. My current 10 watt SET amp drives my 90-92db 8 ohm speakers wonderfully. A past 12 watt SET amp ran out of gas!
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,645 posts
 
I listened to the Tonian speakers at Expona this year and was not impressed at all. Perhaps the room was bad, but the Audio Note room was pretty much the same room and those Audio Note speakers sounded fantastic. One of about 3 rooms I wanted to spend time in and really enjoy listening. The sound coming from those simple and small two way speakers was just breath taking and beautiful.

Now the AN amp driving those speakers may have cost over $15,000 :)

The AN speakers are very special sounding and I would love to hear them in my room. Building the kit would be great.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,645 posts
 
Whoops my big mistake. I meant Sonist, not Tonian. I always mix them up as they look very similar to me. At least my mind thinks so. I did not hear the Tonian speakers, but was unimpressed with Sonist at the show.

Sorry fellow Agoners.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,645 posts
 
Yes Rebbi they do look very nice indeed. I will split the cost of the AN speakers with you and you can use them for 6 months then my turn for 6 months!
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,645 posts
 
Rebbi, what speaker have you settled on? Coming close to one in particular?
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,645 posts
 
Rebbi, where are you? Tell us about your new Omega speakers. Please. I am shopping for a set of high efficiency speakers. I am leaning towards Audio Kinesis as well as Audio Note. Problem with AN is how utterly confusing that line is. What is the pricing? Just a mess to understand.

I know the speakers sound beautiful.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,645 posts
 
Speakers are indeed most important and the pairing with the right amp is part of it. The source is always important, but today many good ones can be had cheaply with the speaker/amp combo really determining the resulting sound to the greatest degree. 

@glennewdick. Agreed that the LV speakers are just wonderful!
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