Reasonably sensitive speakers for tube amps, max $2k/pair, new or used
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In my opinion the guy is a prick. He’s dismissive to questions over email and just wants you to call so he can ignore your call for weeks on end. Once you do get him on the phone, he treats you like a moron who should stop asking questions and just give him the money. Asked about the return policy and he went into a rant about people who complain about paying a restock fee of hundreds of dollars and how it’s a criminal act against small business owners like himself to be pressured into offering free trials to sell their products and that companies that do it are desperate and that I’d be stupid to expect a free trial. I said it wasn’t a super attractive proposition to have to pay a couple hundred bucks if they end up not being what I want and he just sighed and said he’d call me back some other time. Also, I’m less than an hour from the factory and said I could pick them up and bring them back personally in the event they didn’t work to save the costs he said he incurred to necessitate the restock fee. He refused and said I had to pay no matter what. Other people have had better experiences I’m sure and maybe I caught him on an off day, but didn’t make me want to buy anything from him. Seems like he wants to make his margin off of you whether you buy or don’t buy. There are better products with better and more gracious folks behind them is all I’m saying. |
@missioncoonery "Tekton but don’t return them or you’ll regret it. The owner is a prick and doesn’t care what nice you decide to return".....seems the flavor of the month in low fi speakers is finally getting exposed as the junk they really are along with their bs send em back you pay big bucks policy. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Good Post ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ |
Sorry, mine are the Modern CAMs. Pic added to virtual system. The SAMs are out of your price range but both the regular CAMs and my Modern CAMs should be in budget. Louis also has other offerings but my research and experience with his Super 3 HO XRS tell me to go Alnico driver in whatever cabinet line you can afford or want. My next speaker will probably be a SAM (large monitor) or XRS (floor standing) in HO (high output) dual Alnico driver config. The CAMs are considered small/medium monitors. Good luck...not affiliated with Omega. |
The KLH 5 is getting many positive reviews. You should check them out! https://klhaudio.com/model-five-pair https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYi4mptKrfo KLH Strikes Back! BEST Loudspeakers UNDER 2000! Model 5 Speaker Review - YouTube https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=klh+model+5+loudspeaker&docid=608033460753098552&mid=6F... |
+1 on what speakermaster said. For DIY look at GR Research. Danny has some amazing stuff, most very efficient. I have XLS Encore, and they are crazy good for less than $1k with flat pack box kit and every crossover upgrade offered. Don’t rule out designs like KLH model Six, Advent large, and Warfedale models. I rebuilt a pair of model Sixes eliminating the tweeter level switch, using nice mid level crossover components, and they are jaw dropping with 12 watts of EL84 power. Most of these models would likely perform admirably with similar upgrades. You can’t really begin to narrow the field till you add room size, music genres taste, and desired listening levels. My room is small, and I like rock. I doubt I use more that 2 watts in normal listening, that give me plenty of reserve power for dynamic swings. |
Tekton but don’t return them or you’ll regret it. The owner is a prick and doesn’t care what nice you decide to return. Zu is super patient and takes returns no questions asked. They make really good matches for tube amps just take care in your tube selection to maximize the good virtues and minimize the bad. I found 6922 tubes and KT66 in my Decware amp to produce the best Sonics and balance with none of the distortion or shout that they can have. Used try spatial audio. I ended up with these after Zu and love them |
The lower power only means peak SPLs will be more limited in general and that may or may not be an issue depending how loud they need and how far from speakers they will be when listening. 40 watts can drive many speakers to decent levels and if a tube amp the amp will likely soft clip if overdriven which is good thing. Some or maybe most Class D amps will soft clip as well. An easy load will help any amp perform it's best, allowing decent SPLs with minimal watts. I’d add Fritz or Ohm Walsh for that myself. Two very good and very different additional ways to go. Use this calculator to help assess speakers based on efficiency. Crown Audio - Professional Power Amplifiers |
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@hilde45 @tvad a top authority on this subject, i don’t have much to add to his thoughts, which i agree with -- all of the named speakers have what i hear as troublesome colorations or other issues that rule themselves out for me, despite them all also having some clear strengths only thing to add is that fritz’s speakers, while not that efficient nominally, work quite well with lower powered amps - i know you are quite familiar with those as you have had them... but not sure if you tried them with silky smooth flea watters... also... search out on earlier threads for writings by @bjesien and @phd (iirc) on their thoughts on omegas |
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Great suggestions so far. Thanks. TMR has an Omega at the moment, the only situation in which one can *try* an Omega. Ascend Acoustics popped to mind for me, too, but I have not looked at their specs. Mozartfan's list of ingredients will be helpful if my friends want to climb the DIY learning curve, otherwise, they'll need a Rosetta Stone. |
I’ve been driving 89db speakers with a pair of old tube amps that are 20wpc in triode, and 35wpc in ultralinear mode. I typically use triode for the preferred sound quality, and almost never feel I lack power. It plays loud enough to disturb my wife and kids. It depends a lot on the room and their preferences, but average sensitivity isn’t a liability for many folks, which opens up many other outstanding choices. Wharfedale, Monitor Audio, KEF would be on my audition list for them to see and hear. |
after 49 yrs, I realize these Seas Magnesium midwoofers are excatly what I was looking for,,and soon to add a Crescendo tweeter. I can't think of a better combo, Dual W18's, But since you are starting from scratcgh, go dual W22ex. more bang in the lows. w22's are low sens . well lets say avg sensitivity, , 8 ohms, 87 db, the Crescendo at 6 ohms/92db 40 watt tube = easy drive w dynamics. |
