I've owned 572s and have borrowed (for 4-5 day at home listening sessions) two different 300b amps. I've also done extended, hours at a time, listening sessions with 811s at a high end store. And I've owned Cary 2A3s for the last 15 months. With the right speakers, the 2A3 is the best SE experince I've had. Don't worry about losing anything in the bass regions. With the right speakers 2A3s have tremendous bass extension and definition. I think they're the ultimate tube experience as regards simple music enjoyment. However, you do have to have the right speakers. I auditioned Coincidents at my house and found them uninvolving. It's all a matter of taste anyway, and I think you're right on target with your current thoughts on horns. I hear some of the Silverline speakers are SET friendly as are, of course, some of the Soliloquy models. Try to find your amp first then locate speakers that work well. I've heard the Alons spoken of above and they sound very good. I sometimes bi-amp with a Transcendent Sound OTL on the woofers of my Proac 2.5s and the combo works great. The 2A3s will not drive the Proacs properly alone unless you don't mind "plasticy" sounded cymbals on your jazz records and very resticted dynamics.
Jumping into SE tube amps. Suggestions?
After having purchased a small integrated tube amp for my son, I find myself wishing to venture into the SE tube amp world. I own an SF Line 3 pre, but am for the most part a tube novice. The Cary SE amps interest me, the 300SE caught my eye, but I have "0" listening experience with any tube amps and don’t really wish to limit possibilities based on manufacturer or output tube type. My taste in music is very much varied. I don't wish to assemble this system based on a specific musical style, but if I were to pick a specific genre that I listen to the most, it would be the Blues, Jazz a close second. After reading many of the threads on tube amps, I realize that there may be trade-offs, and a little loss of bottom end could be tolerated, but I still like to hear the “Big Drum” move the room in the “Blue Man Group” CD. Don't know if this is going to be possible without a sub, but give it your best shot.
To make this an even more open ended proposition, I would most likely have to replace, or purchase a second pair of (hope "she" doesn't read this!) speakers, as the Aerial 10t's are not going to like a 5-15 watt tube amp. So, if you have suggestions as to high sensitivity, high impedance speakers that work well with a specific SE tube amp, I welcome those suggestions as well. Please, no horns need apply.
Total cost? Let’s try and keep it <3k (used) for amp(s), and if you wish to recommend a speaker, <3k (used) as well.
Bottleheads, let’s hear from you. Thanks all.
To make this an even more open ended proposition, I would most likely have to replace, or purchase a second pair of (hope "she" doesn't read this!) speakers, as the Aerial 10t's are not going to like a 5-15 watt tube amp. So, if you have suggestions as to high sensitivity, high impedance speakers that work well with a specific SE tube amp, I welcome those suggestions as well. Please, no horns need apply.
Total cost? Let’s try and keep it <3k (used) for amp(s), and if you wish to recommend a speaker, <3k (used) as well.
Bottleheads, let’s hear from you. Thanks all.