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best 5-20K speakers for high-end tube amp?

I have a Jadis JPS2 tube preamp and Jadis 845SE tube amp combination, and want to get a pair of speakers which really show off their sound. I currently have a pair of B&W804s, and I figure that seriously upgrading my speakers will give me a significant improvement in sound (these speakers are in a much lower budget range, and not ideal for tube amps I believe). What speakers would you recommend to really get the best out of my equipment? I heard the magic with my Jadis amp in the store with a pair of Wilson Puppys 5.1 in the store. My home system has decent sound, but not at all 'magical'. My currently listening environment is about 17 x 25 feet (9 foot ceiling), and I generally listen to jazz, pop, world (everything from indian classical to spanish flamenco to andean flute music, etc...), and vocal music of all kinds.

I figure the budget will be between US$5K and 20K somewhere, and I will try to buy used, but this will be difficult since I live in China.
no_slouch
no_slouch OP
48 posts
 
I am considering used Acapellas or Kharmas, but have some concern about their power requirements.

The Acapella website lists 25 watts as minimum recommended power for the Violon, while my amps put out only 20 watts.

From the low sensitivity (89db) and high power handling specs on the Kharma website, I get the impression that they all require large wattage- however, a pair of Kharma (Ceramique 3.2s?) were reportedly driven by 18 watt Lamm L2 amps at a CES show (conflicting reports stated L2 and L1 amps, however). And a magazine reviewer stated the L2s would work well with "high efficiency speakers such as the Avantgarde Trio, the Nearfield Acoustics Pipedreams, the Wilson X1 or X2, or virtually any Kharma."

Any help on this?
jwells
60 posts
 
Merlin, merlin, merlin. The Merlin VSM-MXs fit your needs perfectly. I can't say enough about them. The TONS of user reviews here, at audioasylum, and at audioreview as well as the numerous professional reviews are VERY well deserved and don't lie. Not to mention, Bobby Palkovic, the Merlin designer and CEO, is always available to talk to anyone about audio, not just owners. If you gave him a call, he could really help you with your quest, even if the right speakers for you aren't merlins. He readily recommends Kharma speakers, soundlabs, rockports, and others to potential customers.

All the buzz surrounding the merlins is NOT hype...they are that good and will SING like mad with a nice tube, or even solid state, amp.
audiojoy4
98 posts
 
Do not buy the Avantgardes unless you are looking for high detail, transparency and speed in the upper octaves, with possible mild harshness also. The Mid range is very good but lacks the tonal warmth, soundstaging and solidity of imaging brought by paper cones. The bass is in a word despite modifications AWFUL.

As an example,of design flaws in this model. If you change the interconnects supplied by Avantgarde even with 10 buck ones you will get dramatic improvements - same with the internal wiring. Doesnt make sense does it?
Luke
dseid's avatar
dseid
48 posts
 
"everything from indian classical to spanish flamenco to andean flute music"

No slouch - not to hijack your thread, but any recommendations for these 3 would be appreciated. I'm on a "expanding my horizons" kick, and this is right up my listening desires.

Thanks
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Avantgarde horns would do well within your budget, You won't get the good Acapellas for your budget. I have a pair of current spec AG Duos with valve amplification (Tron Meteor preamp www.tron-electric.com and GT Audio rebuilt Quad IIs). Hence I have significantly less power to play with than you. My listening room is 35 x 18 ft and I barely have to push the volume past about 10 o'clock before my wife say that's enough from another room/floor. You can get deafening levels even from a PX25 amp with 5W with Avantgardes. It's true that you need to set them up well, otherwise they can sound, well, crappy. that's true of many things in hi fi, esp turntables.
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