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Speaker Pairing - First Watt F8

Entering into 2024 with a mid-term (12 month ) plan to add a set of new speakers to my system.  I have the time to do the research and as geography permits to listen to a narrowed down list of choices - would like to consider three finalists.  

My system consists of the First Watt F8, Modwright LS 100 preamp, Aurender N200, Schitt Yggy LIM, ClearAudio Concept with MCRU power supply & AT- ART9XI cartridge and Modwright PH 9.0 phono stage.  Speakers are the Zu DW6 Supreme.  I plan on repurposing these speakers to a separate system.  I find the Zu's to be easy to listen to and a sound that I would describe as warm, clean and able to punch.  I would like to take it up a notch and have a more detailed speaker thats in line with my other components.  

Listen to mainly jazz, female vocals ( think Melody Gardot, Madeline Peyroux, etc), R&B and Indie. Large room thats a combination great room/ kitchen/bar  thats 23' by 27' with 10 ft ceilings. Furniture, rugs, island etc with the speakers on a back wall and 12' apart.  

In an article by Herb Reichert in Stereophile, Herb asked Nelson Pass what speakers could most effectively be driven by the F8.  Nelson goes on to say the F8 excels with efficient speakers ( 90 db & above ) that have good dynamics and an impedance above 8 ohms.  The article also has Herb stating that in his experience choosing a speaker with high impedance and a benign phase characteristic is more important than high sensitivity.   Maybe someone can help me out with what is meant by "benign phase characteristic" ? 

Lastly, budget is in the neighborhood of $7.5K and certainly would entertain lightly used preowned speakers.  On my beginning list to further research at this time are the Zu Soul 6, Living Voice Avatar 4, Devore O 93 and Volti Razz.  

Net is that I would really appreciate your thoughts on the above.  Thanks in advance!  

norust
norust OP
42 posts
 

Appreciate all the input to date.  Helpful and food for thought .....

A couple of points - 

  • re room size - yes, the room is large but I have limited space on a back wall either side of the fireplace for speaker placement.  There would be no way that I could put a speaker the size of the Cornwall IV's into this space.  Width is the issue - not height or depth.  The Volti Razz would fit.  
  • @timkrone and @rmdmoore - I see your points and agree with most.  I do listen to music in this room all the time as its a main gathering point and not a listening room.  I would love to have available the speakers ( Vandersteen, Devore, Klipsch ) you all have to listen to in my system!  I will continue to build my system around the F8 and Modwright components and wish to add a new set of speakers that will compliment these fine components.  
  •  @sounds_real_audio - to your question I would answer I am working to improve the sound and not simply wanting to swap speakers.  
  • I am keeping the Zu's and moving them to another room and will be using a Rotel A14 to drive them.  As I stated these are a solid speaker and they make me happy. My original purchase a few years back in starting my system was the Zu DW 6's and the Rotel.  
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,223 posts
 

Sure, a horn loaded speaker with an impedance of 8 ohms or above. In terms of value you can not beat Klipsch Cornwalls. 

snopro
385 posts
 

Hornings would make a great combo. I pair my Hornings with a FW SIT-3 and Frankenstein 300b mono blocks. The sound is so lifelike and natural especially with Jazz and female vocals. 

The F8 would drive them with ease.

snopro
385 posts
 

norust, I read  you are from the Southeast. If you are going to visit Greg at Volti Audio. You should definitely check out Colin at Gestalt Audio in Nashville. He has Horning speakers and Wolf Von Langa speakers. The WVL Son speakers would be a good match too!

He has a good ear and a really nice guy!

norust OP
42 posts
 

@snopro - I will definitely be in Nashville and will check out the Horning and WVL Son speakers at Gestalt Audio.  Many thanks for the heads up! 

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