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High value, high efficiency speakers for SET amps

Hi, Gang,
I know that some of what I want to discuss here has been dealt with in other threads, some of them quite old, but I wanted to see if any of you fine, knowledgable folks are willing to help update and consolidate some of this info in a more current thread.
I am currently running my new Audio Note Kit 1 300B SET amp with a pair of Reference 3A De Capo speakers. I think it's a fine pairing and I am really enjoying what the 300B SET experience brings to the table in terms of musicality and emotional connection.
Still the De Capo, while supposedly an easy load due to its crossover-less design (only 1 cap on the tweeter with the mid-woofer directly coupled to the amp), is "only" rated at 92 db efficient, and based on the most recent Canadian NRC specs, that rating may be optimistic.
So, I am toying with the idea of trying a pair of more efficient, deliberately SET-friendly speakers in my rig, something that might also play lower and with greater dynamic swing than the De Capo's. Note that the De Capo's have served me well and I am very fond of them, but I can't help but wonder if my lovely Kit 1 would shine even better coupled to a VERY easy to drive speaker.
Devore and Audio Note are obvious options - the O/96 looks really tasty. Unfortunately, both of those choices are out of my budget, which I'm thinking maxes out (for real) at around $1500. I am willing to consider used equipment.
Tekton Lore 2.0: This is the speaker that Eric Alexander of Tekton has recommended when we've spoken on the phone, based upon my medium-small listening room and amp. I've read the epic "Lore vs. Zu" thread elsewhere in this forum, and clearly Tekton has its enthusiastic fans here. What I wonder is whether the Lore 2.0 has the refinement of the De Capo in terms of resolution, sweet high end and imaging. Audiogon'er Mikirob has pointed me to the many rave reviews of Tekton's speakers and I'm definitely interested.
I've corresponded with the Sonist folks (who are super nice) but their really high-efficiency, nearly-full-range floor stander is out of my budget.
Then there's the "vintage" route, going after some used JBL's or other high-efficiency "classics" from the 80's (or '70's). I am not inclined to go in this direction, but mention it because it's been suggested to me.
And then there's Omega. I spoke to Louis some time ago and he recommended his 7XRS hemp cone model. But I know all the raps on single driver designs and I'm cautious, although I would like to hear from any of you who own or have owned Omega's.
I'm in no rush to make a switch but I am very interested in your thoughts. Thanks, folks!
rebbi
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi Lew,
Yes that was my point. At your typical listening levels you are "far" below that 20% threshold and would hardly if ever even reach it. At your listening levels that utilizes so little power, distortion is minuscule. This is the beauty/advantage it the SET. With your situation Lew you're using likely 1/50-1/10th of a single watt! Maybe less. Well below that 20% margin. To hit the 20% power range the sound would be unbearably loud IMO. Probably 95% of my listening is done with less than 1 watt of power and as a result ultra low distortion. That's is a good deal.
Charles,
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Lew,
Here's my situation. My speakers are 94 db and 14 ohm load. I sit 10 feet from them. Average listening volume for me is 75-80 db C weighted. I'm drawing 1/4 to 1/8 of a watt from my amplifier. Theres plenty of reserve if needed(8 watt s at full output). I use my SET full range(speaker has two 10' woofers each).

In comparison your speakers are more sensitive(100-102 db) and you're not requiring your amps to do bass duty as I am. It would seem to me a good quality SET would just coast under your desired circumstances. Your use of SET is much less demanding than mine and I have no problems(best amp and sound I've ever had). So you should be fine IMHO. If you decide to choose a SET just be sure it has a good quality output transformer(this the worse area to go cheap and settle for a poor part).
Charles,
lewinskih01
909 posts
 
Thanks Charles. Your amps look fascinating, but out of my budget and space constraints for my configuration as 4 monoblocks would be required. The Dynamo looks appealing from cost and space perspective, and obviously from the reports about the way it sounds.

I guess my bottom-line-question is whether the vanishing distortion at lower output level that is a trait of SETs is also a trait of SEPs, like the Dynamo?
saki70
907 posts
 
Rebbi ;
Two pages and counting !
Good luck man . LOL .
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
04-26-15: Lewinskih01
I guess my bottom-line-question is whether the vanishing distortion at lower output level that is a trait of SETs is also a trait of SEPs, like the Dynamo?
Hi Lewinski,

Ralph can most likely provide the best answer to that question, but pending his response I'll say that the vanishingly low distortion of SETs under small signal conditions is presumably due to a combination of two things: Absence of crossover distortion, resulting from the single-ended operation, and the inherent linearity of good triodes, especially under small signal conditions.

The Dynamo, being single-ended, will provide the first of those benefits, so the question becomes the degree to which the linearity and distortion characteristics of an EL34 operated under small signal conditions can approach those of a good directly heated triode such as the 300B. I don't know the answer to that question, but I think it's worth reflecting upon the fact that a lot of very highly regarded amplifiers over the years have used the EL34 in a push-pull configuration, crossover distortion included.

Best regards,
-- Al
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