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Tube Friendly High End "Big" speakers

I've been upgrading my system from good to great. I addressed the analog front end first and now have something respectable (Brinkmann Oasis w/ Graham Phantom II Supreme, Lyra Delos, SimAudio Moon 310LP, and Acrolink 8N Reference Phono Cable.

The system is being driven by a PrimaLuna Premium Dialogue Integrated and the speakers are Opera Seconda's in a smallish dedicated listening room. I'm moving into a much larger house, but will no longer have a dedicated listening room.

The room is 21.5' x 14.5' with lots of big windows and a high v-shaped vaulted ceiling which I'll treat with GIK acoustic panels. Not looking on advice on the room. It is what it is. Just giving a bit of info since I suspect it will be on the lively side. Here's a video. The room starts around the 2:10 mark: http://youtu.be/wrDpTsBDD_M

I'm looking to upgrade the Opera's. I really want a "big" speaker, something that will move some air and pressurize a room like this. My preference is for something tube friendly and I'll likely need to use my PrimaLuna for at least a few months. Not really interested in horns though.

I'm looking for a very 3D soundstage that's velvety smooth. Detail is great, but definitely nothing fatiguing as I tend to listen at higher volumes for extended periods. While I do listen to a lot of Classic Rock and Jazz, I also listen to a lot of more modern music. I want something that isn't going to make this stuff sound terrible.

I'm planning to buy used, so anything that retails up to $55-60K might be doable. TAD and Focal are on my radar right now, but it's difficult to read between the lines from reviewers to understand what will work.

Which speakers should I be considering?
128x128bgupton
bgupton's avatar
bgupton OP
15 posts
 
I like a beefy looking speaker like the TAD R-1 (which is out of my price range) or the Focal Maestro's (which isn't). Both of these (I've read here) are efficient enough to work with the right tube amps. So I'm looking for efficient "big" speakers, but not necessarily the MOST efficient speakers.

The other really efficient speaker I've already auditioned was the DeVore 0/96's. I liked the sound on it a lot on certain material. It sounded fantastic on jazz and even some rock (Jimi Hendrix was amazing). But the sound kinda fell apart when I put on more "complex" music. When I say complex, I guess I mean music with a lot going on. My go to test track for this is the opening track of The Cure's "Disintegration".

I've found that a lot of high end speakers are voiced to handle less "complex" music like Jazz or a vocalist REALLY well, but can't really handle an explosion of sound like this Cure track. I listen to a lot of shoegazey stuff that has a thick sound with a lot going on. I want a speaker that doesn't turn it to mud. I found that the 0/96's (at least with the amplification I've heard it with) wasn't able to handle "thick" sounds as well as my Operas. I'm hoping to identify some big speakers that can, but really like how tube amplification can take the bite off of some of the more modern recordings I spend a lot of time with.

Does all of that make sense?

p.s. Try not to get caught up in the "complex" description. It's sometimes hard to describe sound as I'm sure most here know.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,760 posts
 
Here is another vote for the Audiokinesis. Get the big one- the Dreammaker- sounds like you can afford it. This is an excellent speaker and is 16 ohms- it is very tube friendly and one of the better bargains in high end loudspeakers.

Also, Classic Audio Loudspeakers would do nicely as well. I have a set of T-3s with the field coil drivers. They are everything you described in your want list. They work quite well pushed right up against the wall too. Mine go down to 20Hz, and are 98 db 1 watt/1 meter. They are 16 ohms and thus a very easy load for a tube amp. In your room I recommend at least 60 watts- its nice to be able to shake things up. The retail is likely over $30,000 to get a set like mine, so used they might be in your range.

My taste is classical, modern electro-ambient, ethnic folk music, some jazz, rock from the 1960s-21st century, and more. So I am not satisfied unless I get good bass, excellent detail and stage definition, etc. I can live out my days with complete satisfaction with either loudspeaker above.
hevac1
812 posts
 
You may want to look at Verity speakers. They are very efficient and are voiced with tube equipment.

There are a few here on audiogon for sale.

To be self serving, I will be selling my SarastroII's here shortly.
bgupton's avatar
bgupton OP
15 posts
 
@Atmasphere - The Classic Audio T 1.4 Reference looks like a good possibility. I go back and forth between wanting an old school SET system and something much more modern like TAD or Focal.

Not sure if Classic Audio has a dealer in the Bay Area or not. Don't see a dealer locator on their site. Never heard their speakers before, so not sure about their sound. I'll dig around. Thanks for the suggestion.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,249 posts
 
I have heard the Acoustic Zen Crescendo on three separate occasions driven by 50 watt PSET amplifiers and the sound in a fairly large room was excellent. The Audiokinesis Dream Maker is very interesting given its design. A 16 ohm speaker load is a gift for amplifiers(cruise along nice and easy). I would imagine that this speaker sounds exceptional with a good quality tube amplifier.
Charles,
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