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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 14 responses by charles1dad

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Glenn,
Your typical listening range is the same as mine with my 8 watt SET or even when I was using my push pull tube 100 watt (60 watts triode mode which I preferred). I Seldom go louder but have gotten 100db peaks with the Frankenstein SET. It’s funny when the 60 watt was my main amplifier I was so impressed with its organic nature and transparency. Best I’d had up to that point. The Frankenstein instantly changed that perception , 8 watts! More open, natural, less electronic character (relatively speaking). Most significantly, a higher level of pure emotional involvement. It absolutely just pulls me right into the music, deeply.  I suspect you’ll be happy with the parallel 300b amplifier approach.
Charles
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Mapman,
I appreciate your comments.  The Hersey is a modest size speaker, did you here it on speaker stands or placed on the floor with its risers that allows tilt back? Given their short height does the sound stage seem lower(floor level) or was the perception in line with typical floor standing speakers?
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Mapman,
Interesting recommendation of the Klipsch Hersey. Wolf Garcia has waxed poetically on this forum about this speaker and how well it has mated with his low watt Had SEP amplifier. I tend to get the impression that it provides suitable refinement and tonality (I haven’t heard it).

It seems it would be a possible competitor to the Tekton Double Impact which I have heard with my SET amplifier. It was a very good sounding match. I can attest to the fact that it was easily driven by my 8 watt amplifier.
Charles
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi Cal,
Which direction are you leaning toward,  keeping the amp or speaker? Didn't you have a good match with your prior Coincident Super Eclipse?
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
I own the Coincident Statement Line Stage, Frankenstein 300b 8 watt mono blocks and their discontinued Total Eclipse II speakers. This is a very easy to drive speaker and matches very well with the Frankenstein.

The Pure Reference Extreme (PRE) speaker is better off with more than an 8 watt 300b. Not every Coincident speaker mates well with the Frankenstein and this point should be made clear on their website. It is a superb SET amplifier but only with an appropriate speaker load match.

IMO the PRE would be better matched with a good quality 845 or 805 output tube it one prefers a SET topology. High quality moderate power push pull tube amplifiers would also be a good choice. The Frankenstein is an exceptionally natural sounding amplifier with excellent purity, it deserves a proper speaker mate. I suspect that the Canadian Coherent Audio speaker would mate very well with the Frankenstein. 
Charles


charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
One aspect missing from this type of discussion (though no fault of atmasphere) is input from talented builders of successful SET amplifiers.  Not to argue or necessarily disagree with atmasphere but to on an equal footing (As highly competent builders/designers) explain why SET can sound so "right" and pure. 

This forum lacks this SET manufacturer perspective so as a result SET attributes are left to satisfied/happy owners (such as myself) to share their listening experiences.  I can simply share what I hear versus other topologies (-subjective) but am not qualified to debate on engineering or technical grounds . 

I wish The builder of my Coincident or the builders of for example Viva,Audion,Triode Corp, Tron, Wavelength and many others would post here and explain why SET are so capable with the right speakers. For what ever reason this doesn't occur. 
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Jond,
You re right 😊, meant legions. 
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Byang12,
Atmasphere has over a period of many years provided this forum with consistently very high levels of knowledge concerning audio and electronics. A lesion of members here are grateful and genuinely appreciative of his contributions.

People are willingly going to let him tout the merits of his own highly regarded products and be an advocate for OTLs in general. I believe that many here are perfectly fine with this situation.

I’ll assume the majority of members here rely on their own ears and judgement when deciding what Audio component is best for them.
Charles
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
The Goldmund Dialogue has a reputation for being highly resolving yet natural in character.  In my experience this type of speaker exploits the most of what a good quality SET amplifier has to offer.  SETs  need very  good quality resolving speakers to fully uncover the musical  beauty and nuance available. 
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
What a very nice bonus to get the 2 recordings and especially those two jazz giants and particularly from that era. You re right,  some mono recordings from the early 1950s were well done. The Had amplifier with Heresy speakers seems to be a very good   match 
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Jbhiller,
These are high efficiency speakers worth looking into.
Vaughn Speakers,  USA (California)
Coherent Audio speakers,  Canadian (Toronto)
Tonian Lab,   USA (California)
Tekton Double Impact and SE versions,  USA (Utah)
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hello Wolf,
Glad to hear that the Herseys are such a good match with your Had SEP amplifier. Did you lose or gain in terms of refinement, musical involvement, nuance tone/timbre compared to your Silverline Preludes?
Charles
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Glenn,
I just finished viewing your system pictures, very nice!!  You have a music library that would suffice for several lifetimes 😊.  Your Finale 300b SET integrated looks to have very serious iron on board.  I am certain that your audio system reproduces music  most beautifully. 
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Glennewdick,
Many owners of the Audio Note E  type speakers (numerous versions of this model I realize)say they are well driven by 300b SET  and similar power(8 to 10 watts) amplifiers.  Have you found the Living Voice Avatar as easy to drive as the AN  speaker? My understanding was that the Living Voice require a bit more power than the AN E  type. The LV Avatar is reported to have exceptionally good sound quality. 
Charles 
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