Seeking speakers under $3K for 10x12 ft room and driven by 20wpc tube amp
I currently have a pair of Apogee Acoustics Centaur Minors driven by a new Black Ice integrated tube amp. The small but dedicated listening room means I’m doing near-field listening with me and the speakers forming a 6’ triangle. As you might expect, these speakers have terrific midrange but at 85dB sensitivity they are a bit difficult to drive and feel limited in dynamics. The room is acoustically treated.
I almost exclusively listen to small combo acoustic jazz and vocals and I’m seeking recommendations for something easier to drive and more dynamic that provides a more “palpable presence” of the musicians when played at louder levels. Prefer small floorstanders for aesthetics but not essential and preferably a brand where I might have a chance to audition them (I’m in SoCal). Also open to used (e.g. something like Wilson Cubs). TIA!
p.s. thanks for the Sonus faber suggestion.
Another thumbs up for Omega monitors. I have the Super7 Mk II's and am getting great results with a 4wpc SET amp. They are in a much larger room than yours and I am shocked at what spl I can achieve with this system. I just added a pair of REL T/X5's. I am amazed with the results. Huge sound stage, dynamic, great detail yet smooth. I can listen all day. This system, including stands, could come in under your budget. My primary system is a bit jealous right now. |
@snookhaus I will go with his recommendation of a set of neat speakers. I have a set up the line a bit in a home theater that is a 50wpc nad receiver I am sure your 20 watt tube amp would run hard against a 50 watt solid state amp. Also more money than your budget unless you can find a used pair I have a set of rigalto horn speakers from Germany that are to dies for with a set 300b amp that has 2 300bs in parallel. So 14 watts I believe. Much bigger room and pure perfection mids and highs and still acceptable in the base. I also have a melody 88h made in Australia amp with Sophia tubes that run a set of harbeth sh5 speakers with ease. That is a forty watt integrated. Also have a set of equation 25s run with a pair of line magnetic 124a mono blocks that is also very good in a small room. At 10watts. Tbey fall om there face when i set it to triode and they put out 1.5 watts those speakers are too hard of drive. My big system has a solid state power that I have never tried anything it could not drive with out ease. So I under stand what a system without enough power sounds like. Any of the above recommendation s I think you would be happy with.
Regards |
