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Speaker Suggestions for 300b SET Amp

I built an Elekit 8600 300b set amp recently.  It's amazing. I maxed out upgrades (all Takman resistors, Mundorf top end caps, solder/wiring, etc.).  It's a wonderful amp. It cost me $2k to build it and it's glorious.


My issue hasn't been the amp, but finding speakers that I want to use with it.  


I started with Omega XRS 8 Juniors (~$2k). I broke them in for 300 hours and, while they did get better, they largely sounded like the top and bottom ends were just truncated off at both ends the sound spectrum. They sounded more akin to a transistor radio speaker. I feel terrible to say that and I hope others really love them and hear them differently, as the company is great and the owner is wonderful. They just weren't for me.


So, I just paired the 300b up with some inefficient speakers (both KEF LS50s and Wharfedale 80th anniversary Dentons). Both speakers were part of other systems I have.  Both sets, and especially the cheaper Wharfedales, just sing with the 300b.  They do not play particularly loud given their efficiency ratings, yet they sound wonderful for very close nearfield listening. 


But what I'd like to do is go a bit more into the full range speaker category without buying a massive product. Or, I consider a smaller bookshelf/monitor if it were more efficient.


What speakers do folks like with their 300bs?  


jbhiller

Showing 1 response by br3098

br3098
1,000 posts
 
jbhiller,

Your experience with the Omega XRS 8 Junior is surprising to me.  I don't own a pair of Omegas but I have a couple of friends with them and I think they sound great.  I wil add that the 8 Jr. is probably a better speaker for jazz than classical, IMO.

I have recently heard the Rethm Bhaava speakers and was very impressed.  They say that they are not as good as their Rethm's more expensive offerings.  If so, the upper speakers must be f***ing fantastic because the Bhaavas I heard were great.  Musical and detailed (more of the former) and lots of bass, provided by an active woofer.  Made in India (may be a problem for some, not for me) and quite affordable.

I may be out of fashion here but I believe that the final transducer (speakers or headphones) are the most critical components in a system - more so than the amplifier.  When outfitting a new system I usually try to selecting an amp to match the speakers and not the other way around.

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