Seeking speakers under $3K for 10x12 ft room and driven by 20wpc tube amp


I currently have a pair of Apogee Acoustics Centaur Minors driven by a new Black Ice integrated tube amp. The small but dedicated listening room means I’m doing near-field listening with me and the speakers forming a 6’ triangle. As you might expect, these speakers have terrific midrange but at 85dB sensitivity they are a bit difficult to drive and feel limited in dynamics. The room is acoustically treated.


I almost exclusively listen to small combo acoustic jazz and vocals and I’m seeking recommendations for something easier to drive and more dynamic that provides a more “palpable presence” of the musicians when played at louder levels. Prefer small floorstanders for aesthetics but not essential and preferably a brand where I might have a chance to audition them (I’m in SoCal). Also open to used (e.g. something like Wilson Cubs). TIA!

p.s. thanks for the Sonus faber suggestion.

ristretto

Black Ocean Audio Nick Nacks. Unbelievable soundstage! Imaging, tone, clarity are way above this price point.  The fun factor will leave you beaming! I heard them just last night paired with some equally impressive 20w Apollo Dolos mono’s. 

@snookhaus  I will go with his recommendation  of a set of neat speakers.  I have a set up the line a bit in a home theater  that is a 50wpc nad receiver  I am sure your 20 watt tube amp would run hard against  a 50 watt solid state  amp. Also more money than your budget  unless you can find a used pair I have a set of rigalto  horn speakers from Germany  that are to dies for with a set 300b amp that has 2 300bs in parallel.  So 14 watts I believe.  Much bigger room and pure perfection mids and highs and still acceptable  in the base. I also have a melody  88h made in Australia  amp with Sophia  tubes that run a set of harbeth sh5 speakers with ease. That is a forty watt integrated.  Also have a set of equation  25s run with a pair of line magnetic 124a  mono blocks that is also very good in a small room. At 10watts. Tbey fall om there face when i set it to triode and they put out 1.5 watts those speakers are too hard of drive. My big system  has a solid  state power that I have never tried  anything it could not drive with out ease. So I under stand  what a system  without enough power sounds like. Any of the above recommendation s I think you would be happy with. 

 

Regards

I am owner of the Fritz Carbon 7 SE MK2s. I have no doubt that they can be driven to loud levels with the OP's 20wpc amplifier in a room larger than 10x12'.

My only concern is that they would likely sound best at least 2' from the wall behind.