Tube Amplifier & Speaker Matching?

Not sure what your budget is but I just put together this bedroom system.

Antique Sound Lab Orchid 2A3 integrated (3.5w/ch)
Coincident Triumph UHS (94 dB, 6-8 Ohm)
Cal Audio Sigma II DAC
Marantz changer (from 10 years ago)

Excellent clarity in voice production. Not much bass control, but quite sufficient for the bedroom.

For a larger budget, you can go with Cary 300B-SEI, Audio Silver Knight and a horn based system like a pair of restored antique Klipsch Horn. I am not a big fan of horn speakers myself but no harm testing. I am also not a big fan of single dynamic driver speakers. The top end is just too rolled off for me.

If you want decent bass with 300B, you also add a sub. Use a low level cross-over in the tape loop to remove bass from the amp and send directly to sub.

Look for speakers with high impedance (>8Ohm avg with 6Ohm min) and good efficiency. (92dB min). Coincident, Reference 3A are two excellent starting point. Also check out AudioAsylum's SET and high efficient speaker forums. A lot of useful information, but the posters tend to love horn speakers.

Eric

Thanks Eric for a quick response, I will start listing speakers with high efficiency rating which may be tedious. I will be actually considering monitor types only for more optional placements. Alas, most of the carried brands locally that sounds great are of 89dB (B&W, Totems, Focus audio)or less that requires more wattage. Anybody has heard the new Paradigm S2 monitor? It is fairly new and tnere is not much on the web on it. Speaker & Integrated tube Amp budget is from U$3K-4K.

What is your price range for the amp, and the speakers?

If you can only get 89 dB or so, I would stick with amp power >30 w/ch.

Also, if you are going with a bookshelves, it might be better to go with one with very little bass. Trying to get any decent bass out of speakers tend to make them difficult to drive for SET amp.

I would pretty much rule out B&W for low powered SET. EPOS and ProAc would be a better brand to go with mid-powered SET. (10-20w/ch) SET compatible speakers are not that common in my area as well. I ended up just with going by other people recommendatation and purchased over the net.

Eric