Looking for advice on these speakers

The Orangs are also designed to be way out into the room and not against the wall like the Audio Notes.

If I may weigh in. . . There are SETs and then there are SETs; there are too many variables to lump all SETs together. I have Zu Def IVs and am happy with my Ancient Audio 300b SET (using Takatuski 300b) that seems to be able to drive these speakers successfully. (I have very eclectic tastes in music that include both solo instrument and fullscale orchestra, jazz, classic rock, female vocals, etc.) I started with a 45 SET and then tried a 2a3 SET; both sounded underpowered in my large space. I have also tried higher powered amplifiers, but was not impressed. On the other hand, Phil (213Cobra) swears by his Audion 845 SET with his Def IVs and his Audion 300b PSET with his Druid Vs and considers a 300b SET underpowered with insufficient drive for Zu speakers.

Personally, I find the number of high quality speakers available for audition overwhelming. Limiting the options to SET friendly speakers narrows the options and makes the selection process more manageable.

I am fortunate that in the DC and NYC areas there are B&M stores that carry a number of high sensitive speakers. However, as I learned the hard way, there is no substitute for a "longish-term" audition of speakers in my own home - with all the know vagaries in room acoustics, listening position, speaker position, etc. As a result, I consider the costs and time involved in dealing with companies such as Zu and Daedalus - who allow 1-2 month in home auditions - to be a bargain.