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Speakers for Luxman SQ-N150

I've become quite interested in this integrated amp.  I currently have the original KEF LS50 wireless.  The sound is truly spectacular--as good as I have ever found at that price range--but after only two years of owning them I had to send them back to the KEF factory to get the internal amp repaired as it started producing really egregious distortion after about 30 minutes of listening.  I'm guessing it's due to an overheating issue, but we shall see.

Because of that issue (and the unbelievably bad app that accompanies those speakers), I am a little gunshy, and am thinking of selling them once I get them returned from the factory.  With the exception of my Vincent PHO-700 phono stage (another GREAT piece, by they way), I've been an entirely solid-state person my whole hi-fi life.  I'd like to get more into tubes, and the Luxman integrated would allow me to do so.  I heard it about a year ago at a CA dealership (I live in MN where there are no Luxman dealers, but was visiting my in-laws out there), and was blown away.  Problem is, I never found out what speakers it was playing on.

So, my ideal situation would be to get the new, passive KEF LS50 Metas, but I assume the 10-watt/channel output of the Luxman would not be nearly enough for the relatively insensitive KEFs.  Is there any chance anyone out there has heard this combo?  Is it feasible?

My other options are much more sensitive speakers.  The Klipsch Forte IIIs and Heresy IVs are supposedly great matches with this amp, but they are way too big for my 10'x20' room.  DeVores are too expensive for my budget.  So, that leaves Zu (and maybe Decware or Icon Audio speakers) as the only affordable, sensitive-enough speakers that fit in my room and in my budget.  I'm considering the Soul or Soul Supreme.  Any thoughts on that combo?   I heard a Zu model four or five years ago at RMAF that sounded very good, but it was also cranked to some very high volumes in that room. And I don't remember what amp was driving them, but it wasn't the Luxman since that model just came out a year or so ago.  I won't every need that much volume--or at least very seldom. I'd appreciate y'all's thoughts.

In short, can the Luxman drive the KEFs?  If not, are the Zu Souls/Soul Supremes any good?
zachzins
zachzins OP
6 posts
 
This is why I posted here!  I know you’d all come up with good suggestions.  Cube, Charney, and Vaughn are probably all out of my price range.  I think $4K is the top price I can go—maybe $4.5K if I go with the Zu Soul Supremes.  I’ve heard good things about the Tektons for sure, but I gotta say, I find them, well, ugly to look at it.  But boy, the Coherents and the Omegas sure are intriguing, within my budget, nice-looking, and seem to have all the right characteristics.  So, thanks to charles1dad and the carpathian for the suggestions.  Now I have to figure out to listen to these speakers....

Jmolsberg, sorry, I should have clarified: When I said the Klipsches are too big for my room, I meant literally, not just volume/output-wise.  I’ve got a little less than 10 feet to play with where the speakers go, and the media cabinet on which my stereo equipment (and TV) rest takes up 6 of those feet.  So, I’ve only got about 22” on either side.  The Heresys would take up more than 15” of those 22 considering toe-in.  That’s awfully close to the sidewalls.  I’m hoping for something narrower.

Has anybody here ever tried the KEF LS50s with a low-power tube amp?  It seems like an unlikely pairing, but boy, I sure love the KEF LS50 sound.  And if I could go passive, then I wouldn’t have to sweat the electronics going out again like they did on my actives....
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,236 posts
 
Zachzins,
As the old adage says "You never know until you try"
The KEF LS 50 85 db sensitivity and speaker impedance dip to 3.2 ohms does represent a potential challenge. If you pretty much listen at modest levels at only 7 feet away you might ’possibly ’ get away with it.

I believe however that you’ll achieve a superior match with higher sensitivity speakers which possess easy/friendly impedance characteristics. Put the 10 watt tube Luxman amplifier in the most favorable circumstance for sonic performance success.
Charles
rwanda
67 posts
 
Late to the game but I actually owned Coherents for awhile and now have switched to Altecs. I am using 601c in a custom cabinet with the Luxman, and I have used numerous other amps with these speakers but the Luxman is hands down the winner (though my Fi 2a3 is also amazing with the Altecs).While I loved the Coherent speakers once I started to listen to horns everything went to another level.I also have a pair of Altec Model 14 which sound great with the Luxman....you could find a set used of course and have the cabinets redone and still be way ahead of the game price-wise.
cns1946's avatar
cns1946
66 posts
 
The Luxman SQ-N150 drives a pair of Altec A7-8 VOT speakers, with a sensitivity of 97db and easily fill a 24'x 24' room with 10' high ceilings at 1/3 power to 85 db. A small room as you describe, with efficient bookshelf speakers should be doable as Charles1dad recommends.
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