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Speaker Suggestions for 300b SET Amp

I built an Elekit 8600 300b set amp recently.  It's amazing. I maxed out upgrades (all Takman resistors, Mundorf top end caps, solder/wiring, etc.).  It's a wonderful amp. It cost me $2k to build it and it's glorious.


My issue hasn't been the amp, but finding speakers that I want to use with it.  


I started with Omega XRS 8 Juniors (~$2k). I broke them in for 300 hours and, while they did get better, they largely sounded like the top and bottom ends were just truncated off at both ends the sound spectrum. They sounded more akin to a transistor radio speaker. I feel terrible to say that and I hope others really love them and hear them differently, as the company is great and the owner is wonderful. They just weren't for me.


So, I just paired the 300b up with some inefficient speakers (both KEF LS50s and Wharfedale 80th anniversary Dentons). Both speakers were part of other systems I have.  Both sets, and especially the cheaper Wharfedales, just sing with the 300b.  They do not play particularly loud given their efficiency ratings, yet they sound wonderful for very close nearfield listening. 


But what I'd like to do is go a bit more into the full range speaker category without buying a massive product. Or, I consider a smaller bookshelf/monitor if it were more efficient.


What speakers do folks like with their 300bs?  


128x128jbhiller
mrdecibel
3,064 posts
 
 Since "57, the throat and overall shape of the horns have not changed. 
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,841 posts
 
Both the tweeter and midrange compression drivers incorporate Kilpsch’s best- effort phasing plugs to maintain coherent wave fronts, and both have been updated to titanium diaphragms for extended response and lower distortion
The phase plugs are integral to coupling in the throat of the speaker.
mrdecibel
3,064 posts
 
@atmasphere this is why u r da man !

wolf_garcia
6,708 posts
 
I certainly wouldn't recommend the Heresy IIIs without subs as even with putting them on the floor with their angled risers (as I do, although they're maybe 1.5" taller on the blocks I use). Maybe if stuffed into a corner, but that causes more of an imagined low end and these things ain't there below maybe 60hz. Kind of like a PA speaker. Zu is a speaker I had been considering before hearing the Heresys but around here it's "no Zu for you" as I'd have to go to a show or risk buying without hearing, a thing I no longer do. Note that I listen to these things around 9 or 10 feet away (Speaker to my cranium measurement) and they do display a nice soundstage that does't appear to be coming from the floor, so with these the angled bases seem to work well. The horns don't beam to any degree that is noticeable, and I'm surprised by that as I've had non horn speakers beam much worse. 
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,300 posts
 
When you read the reviews of the sound, you read a lot of the same thing about Heresy III that you read about similar priced (and way less efficient) smaller monitors from the likes of ATC, Harbeth, etc. Not much if any bass below 50hz, but what you get is so enthralling you might not care for most music.

I listened at the dealer first with sub then without (by request) on some nicely recorded pop/synth stuff. Without breaking out the spectrum analyzer, in a fairly short and rushed audition granted, I was not thinking where is the bass at all with these. The dynamics and SPL possibilities with the Heresys for the price is perhaps their most unique feature. They were located low on teh stands near the front corners though mind you. They are said to be able to do realistic SPLs with percussion, large scale classical, etc., as well or better than most anything else near their price, and certainly on fewer watts. If those are things that appeal, choices may be limited with just a few watts and a modest budget.   They had my toes tapping very quickly which is always one of my litmus tests.
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