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What is your favorite High EFF speaker

Hello Everyone!


The most interesting item on my horizon lately are high efficiency speakers. 


Better said, speakers which can easily be driven by amps whose output is from 15 to 70wpc. And likely lower, ala 300B  amps, or a pr of Els or KTs, etc. there are a ton of 30 to 75wpc tube amps out there that perform at fascinating levels, and are very interesting. 


Having exactly no EXP in this realm other than a former interlude with Silverline Sonata IIIs (reputedly 93db, @ 8 ohms) some time back, I’m asking for members EXP on current or  recent production  speakers  still available you have used which check all the boxes IYO.


 imaging, resolution, bottom end accuracy, impact and honesty.


I listen to sensible  music. Nothing urban or inner city, rave, etc.., but I do enjoy twisting up the ‘fun’ knob on the preamp from time to time. 


Many thanks.


blindjim
hemi04
57 posts
 
My New Klipsch RF7 III
dseltz
150 posts
 
My favorite is the Rethm Saadhana (101 dB)  I have owned the Maarga also.  My other speakers have all been in the 85 dB range.  I would say you will obviously have to listen for yourself, but I think you cant go wrong with a good horn.  I like the Rethm as they have built in powered bass for the lows, have a small footprint, are aesthetically nice (IMO) and the sound is heaven.  Currently driving with a First Watt SIT-3 and getting a AUDION Super Sterling KT120 SE to demo (for a tube experience).  
pixelrod's avatar
pixelrod
13 posts
 
I've used klipsch heresy iii with a 12 watt set amp and I think they sound great.  Not enough bottom end for some people but you can add a subwoofer.  Currently using forte iii with a 22 watt set amp, and they rock.  Reviews on Devore orangutan 0/93 and 0/94 are excellent, but they're pricey.  I've ordered a pair of zu audio dirty weekend omen 2s and am looking forward to listening to those as well.  All of these speakers are 98db or higher, so they would be considered high efficiency.
engineears
36 posts
 
I recently picked up a pair of absolutely cherry vintage 70s Klipsch La Scalas off Craig’s List of all places. They’re re the oldest ones with the metal capsules on the horns instead of Delrin and are all original including the crossovers. I really need to rebuild trhose crossovers, because 45’ish-year old paper in oil capacitors are sounding somewhat veiled.

At 105 dB per 1-watt, these things run very happily off a pair of the Amp Camp Class A amps bridged into monoblocks and running off a balanced differential input. Each puts out roughly 18-Watts of power when bridged and a whole heckuva lot of heat!
alexwichai's avatar
alexwichai
6 posts
 
I currently have a pair of Heco Direkt  Dreiklang (98db, 19-30,000 Hz) that replaced my B&W 800D2 and very happy with the sound of my system.

If cost no object, I would go for Living Voice horn system with Kondo amplification. I heard it once at an audio show and never forget the sound of that system. I hope that someday I can afford that system.
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