Speaker and Cable Suggestions Please


Greetings, some time ago (maybe over a year ago) I asked for some advice as to what tube integrated amp to buy. It was to be my first tube amp and I needed a lot of help. After a long search and much study, I decided on an ARC VSi75. Now I need your help again. I currently have a pair of Focal Aria 926. My listening room is small, 15'7" x 11'7" (4.75m x 3.5m).

I'm looking for a speaker for a near-field situation that extends into the upper mids and high frequencies. Since my amp puts out 75 watts of output, I need something with decent sensitivity, say at least 91db. I also need new speaker cables. I'm using circa 1980s Monster Cable now.

One more consideration, I have lost some hearing due to a neurological autoimmune condition. Yet, when I auditioned Paradigm Persona Bs recently through an ARC, I could here all the sound that I remember hearing when I was a teenager. The point being, I know that upper range I'm chasing is possible I just don't know if it's achievable on my budget. I have about $4,000 to spend on speakers and cables. I was thinking about DH Lab Q-10 for cables and the rest for speakers. What do you guys think? I don't mind buying used. Thank you.

diminishedchord

Showing 8 responses by diminishedchord

Thank you all for your responses. I hope to read more. I may go with good cables first. I was thinking about Hologram II. The Audience AU24sx are out of my budget range, even in the used market. I want to keep speaker cables under $1,000. I was also looking at Avanti Vivace. I find the company's use of separate cables for the positive and negative an interesting concept.

I'm beginning to think I should just get better cables and bid my time, use my Focal Arias, and wait until I can better afford a more appropriate speaker for my room. It's just that my trade-in value for my Arias is never going to better than right now.

Thanks carlsbad2. My Aria's are at a relatively high sensitivity at 91db, that fact was why I chose the 75 watt output amp. I'm considering different speakers to achieve more definition and air in the mid and higher frequencies. In terms of volume, the Arias do quite nicely. 

Now I have a new question. As marco1 suggested, my Focal Arias operate at a nominal 8 ohms but at a minimum impedance of 2.9 ohms. I don't know what this means. Does the impedance fluctuate during operation? If so, what makes a speaker have a fluctuating impedance? Should I use the 4 ohm speaker terminals on my integrated or the 8 ohms?

Thank you all for your input. I learned some things from all you guys. For example, I had no idea that speaker impedance fluctuates, sometime drastically. I may give Fritz Heiler a call. His claim to fame is producing Tube-amp (SET amp) loving speakers with stable impedance. His speakers, however, are not the most sensitive. It will be one of the things I will ask him about once talk to him.

I will hold off on speaker cables for now and put the money towards better speakers. After careful consideration that seems like to most sensible course of action to take. If it wasn't for all of your contribution to my plight, I would have continued to chase my tail in my quest for better sound without even being aware of it. Again, Thank you all.

Thanks @marco1. Your sentiments seems to be the consensus in this discussion. I am going to try some old Paradigm monitors I’ve had in the garage for about ten years first. If they don’t work out, I will then try some Aerial Acoustic Model 6s I’ve had in my closet for a while. I remember really liking the sound they produced. If I wash out with those, then I’ll be on the look out for some used Dynaudio Contour 20i or may consider Fritz Speaker Carrera be. Sadly, Paradigm Persona Bs are way out of my budget. Thank you to all in this forum for your considered suggestions. I feel a lot more comfortable going forward.