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How to Choose Speakers Appropriate for My Amp

Greetings,

I'm starting my journey into the better realms of audio gear and I'm looking for some help matching speakers to my newly acquired amps.

I've never had the budget for higher end audio, but some equipment has more or less falling into my lap. So, what I'm currently working work:

  • Bang & Olufsen Beogram RX2 Turntable w/ SMMC4 Cartridge
  • Deja Va Audio LTD 300B Pull Pull Monoblock Amplifier x2 (One needs some work, so I won't be immediately heading out and buying anything until this is fixed)
  • MOSCODE Super It Phono Stage (Picking up tomorrow)
As you can surely see, the list is missing speakers. Sure, I have some extra bookshelf speakers that I've used as surrounds in my home theater, but it seems kind of silly to use them when there's something much, MUCH better out there.

The amps are hand built and on the underside note the output as 30W/8Ω. You can see an image of that here:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/180HQu90tLWnNFlIB_ugAGdoWTY1t6_YE or a folder w/ images of one of the amps here:  https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1bEqqi_-50ki9y8H8i81bwie7vVTbU99A if you're more curious.

So, what I'm seeking is help choosing some speakers that will provide reasonable to good performance at a price that won't break the bank. Like I said before, my budget isn't exactly large. The only reason I have the amps and the phono stage that I do is because they more or less fell into my lap. I obviously have no issue buying used, and I also would not be averse to building a kit. I have reasonable woodworking skills (at least enough to build/assemble a cabinet) and my soldering skills should be adequate.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks,
Andy
andymckay

Showing 2 responses by millercarbon

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Since you mention cost, HT and woodworking/DIY-

The easiest way to keep costs low and still have great sound is ignore all the conventional HT advice and stick with stereo. I worked at it very hard for a long time before finally reluctantly coming around to realize there is nothing you can do but trade sound quality for surround sound. 

That one I know for certain. Speakers are more of a judgment call. Here's a thread with a lot of ideas. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/speaker-suggestions-for-300b-set-amp
The one with the greatest/most dedicated following may be Lowther. https://www.commonsenseaudio.com/lowther.html
But honestly, in terms of budget, practicality, and availability your best bet especially at a good price is probably gonna be the good old Heresy.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Sweet pair of amps you got there Andy. Not often I see "300B" and "entry level" together, not to mention B&O! Bit of an eclectic system for sure, but so what? From what I've been able to gather the MOSCODE is a bit of a question mark (some think killer deal, some say its dark) but sure looks like it could be a nice little piece  https://www.audiogon.com/listings/phono-nyal-new-york-audio-labs-moscode-super-it-phono-preamp-power...and anyway its hard to go wrong with a 300B and a turntable so unless the IT turns out bad you have the makings for a pretty damn fine starter system. 

What I would do first and as soon as you can is hook up the speakers you have with whatever you can scrounge up and just see how (if!) everything works. 

The real strength of a 300B system is midrange magic and holographic imaging. Inner detail, in other words. If everything works you'll probably be surprised how good it sounds even with cheap little bookshelf speakers, lamp cord wire and patch cords. 

Most important thing with any stereo is speaker placement. You'll never have anything easier to experiment with speaker placement than your cheap little bookshelf speakers. So move em around. Have some fun. Cobble together some kind of stands and then after you hear how hugely placement affects tonal balance, bass support, etc, how nearby walls change the sound, then use a tape measure to line them up with precise symmetry, sit back and experience the wonders of imaging.

That's it. I've seen far too many systems of expensive name brand components that sound bad, and also enough no-name rigs that sound wonderful, to think that components have all that much to do with it. Much more has to do with your ability to listen, understand, set up, and tweak. 
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