I'm with charles1dad--it is the combination of higher efficiency speakers and low-powered amps that is important to that kind of sound. Most of the better high efficiency speakers suitable for low-powered amps are not budget items unless someone buys used, or builds their own. There are some not so efficient speakers that present an easy load so they are suitable too, albeit, not playing at ear-splitting levels.
As the OP noted, Audio Note and DeVore speakers are quite good with low-powered amps, and they are not that extremely efficient. Klipsch Cornwalls are another candidate. My current favorite brand for high efficiency are the speakers from Charney Audio. I heard an expensive, but terrific speaker from Cube Audio (Nenuphar Basis) that is also a good candidate.
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I did not realize the budget was in the Avantgarde Zero range (good speaker). In that case, something like the Voxativ Ampeggio is also a candidate. In that price range my favorite remains the Charney Audio Companion speaker (particularly with the AER driver option).
At the most recent Capital Audiofest, I heard, and really liked, the Fyne F1 speakers. They were being shown with solid state amplification (Chord), but, they are reasonably efficient so they would probably work well with low and medium power tube electronics. The engineers for Fyne came from Tannoy, so the drivers are similar to the coaxial drivers that Tannoy also use.
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Given how much you enjoyed the Audio Note room at the Capital Audio Fest, I would suggest, of course, Audio Note speakers, DeVore 93 or 96, Charney Companion , Pure Audio Project, SoundKaos Wave 40, and maybe the Volti Rival. While I like the Horning mentioned above, it is on the leaner side which is just the opposite of the ultra warm and rich Audio Note and DeVore sound. Likewise, I would think a Zu speaker would be less to your liking. But, you never know until you hear it, so by all means find a way to audition as many candidates as you can.
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The Audio Note setup at Deja Vu is better than what was at the show. Also, they have their own custom systems that are terrific sounding and they can show you what medium and low-powered tube amps can do with even not so efficient speakers like Harbeths and ProAcs, and Nolas. Even very low efficiency speakers, such as the Falcon LS3/5A sound great there with modest output tube amps.
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One more reason to go with Audio Note: There stuff retains its value, so it is not quite as expensive to trade-up when you decide to improve your system. They don't make much changes to their gear just for the sake of churning the market, so the older stuff remains current for a longer period of time.
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I am also a fan of field coil drivers. I've heard a number of Western Electric cone and compression field coil drivers, G.I.P. Laboratory clones of Western Electric field coil drivers and an outrageous improved version of the Western Electric 597 compression tweeter (the G.I.P. souped up version costs something like $60k a pair), Classic Audio speakers with field coil drivers, Voxativ drivers, Lowther field coil full range drivers, Supravox woofers, Goodman woofers, Feastrix full range drivers, and a couple of other full range drivers that I don't know who made them. I particularly like both the orginal and clones of Western Electric 597 tweeters and the 555 midrange compression driver. I also love the Goodman field coil woofer. But, what I really would love to have the most is the Jensen/ERPI M10 fullrange driver (13" driver) with a 597 tweeter on top--that is sort of my dream system.
Also, while I do like quite a few field coil drivers, I also like many competing permanent magnet drivers. I think that the permanent magnet version of the Western Electric 555 compression driver is at least as good (but a whole lot rarer and more expensive) and my very favorite midrange compression driver is the Western Electric 713b, which is a permanent magnet driver.
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I heard that rumor too. That would be sort of in keeping with Audio Note having developed a field coil phono cartridge. I like the idea of Audio Note improving on the dynamics and "speed" of their woofer/midrange driver--something I would expect with a field coil magnetic structure. I hope they can handle any issue with heat from the magnet in a smallish box, and avoid any issue with the owner/user having to adjust voltage to optimize the sound. Audio Note appears to make it a priority to keep operation of its gear simple and easy (e.g., they employ cathode biasing so that bias doesn't have to be adjusted by the owner).
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I liked the Volti room too, but, they had a little bit of a problem with bass response (probably the room and show conditions)--the bass was not well integrated with the rest of the sound. Still, the old school technology (horn drivers, tube electronics) was quite impressive at the show when it came to just presenting music.
You will probably have even better sound in your own home, given that you will have more time and resources to make the speakers work well for you.
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spirtofradio,
I am a fan of horn systems too. I think that some cornerhorn systems don't develop a free-floating image and a sense of depth because of the placement close to the back wall. I hear the same sort of limitations when non-horn systems are also placed close to the back wall (and/or side wall). As you noned there are always trade-offs involved. I have owned all sorts of systems, including ESLs and I've liked certain attributes of all these systems. ESLs can sound very pure, delicate, and "fast," but most don't have the midrange "punch" that makes horn and certain other high efficiency speakers come alive in the midrange.
While I do tend to hear tonal issues that seem to follow the type of material used for the driver, I find there are enough exceptions that I don't hold to any kind of hard and fast rule. I tend to not like ceramic cone speakers, for example, but, with some brands, I don't seem to mind the material nearly as much as is the case with others (Tidal speakers don't bother me as much as other brands).
While some people relish finding certain guiding principles and rules, I actually like being surprised by stuff that defy my expectations (prejudices?). For example, I've heard many single driver fullrange systems and liked their liveliness but I never expected them to be smooth enough or extended in frequency enough to be satisfying. But recently, I've heard several examples, from the likes of Charney Audio, Voxativ and Cube Audio, that have changed my mind. Perhaps, some day, I will hear a high-powered tube or solid state amp that will change my mind about those type of gear.
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I really like the Charney Companions too. I've heard them with Voxativ and AER drivers. I like the AER drivers a little bit more better extension of the treble range), but, in any case, these are incredibly good speakers for the money and are very efficient. I think that efficiency is important because many of the best sounding amps are quite low in output.
I think you have a terrific speaker.
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