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 4 responses by smctigue1

Tubegroover said, "My experience DOES NOT mirror yours at all with all the amps I've tried them with."

Me either. I am currently driving mine with an Almarro 318B. Impressive little amp with a shocking grip on the bass. Great synergy with the DeCapos.

Tubegroover, just curious, how large is your room and where within the room are your speakers placed?
Tubegroover, thanks for the info. I am in a large area as well. 21' x 24'. Because it is not a shared space I have been free to try many different configurations, some good results, some awful results but never spectacular.

One day on a whim I plugged my room width into the Cardas Calculator and it spit out numbers that I would never had thought to try, 9.5' off of the front wall and 5.5' off of the side wall. That puts the speakers about 10' apart and I am 10'5" away from them, ear to tweeter. SPECTACULAR. I'll echo what you have said about placement. I suspect many people who are constrained by shared spaces or just don't have enough room for experimentation are not hearing their DCs at their best.
Mikirob, my Almarro is actually the 6c33 based model. Although I have heard great things about the Almarro 205 I am quite sure it would be up to driving the DCs. The 318B on the other hand...