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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
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Rob,
My budget is whatever I can get for the De Capo's! (Seriously.) I've got nothing else to throw at this other than what they sell for. Now if someone wants the stands, too, that may help. They're the Osiris stands by the long defunct Audionics. Probably one of the best 24" stands ever made. So if I get lucky, I'm looking at between $1700 and $2000, give or take.
My room dimensions, FWIW, are actually about 16 x 13 x 8, but due to a slightly odd shape at one end and placement of furniture (it doubles as a guest bedroom) I only have about 11 feet of the long wall to play with. I sit about 9 feet from my ears to the front plane of the speakers. Maybe that makes things clearer.
I don't listen at very loud levels, especially for extended periods.
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Zu Omen Mk II?
mikirob
955 posts
 
Charles,
You are right on.

As you can see from my post from Jeff Day Blog what my values are. In that spirit I want to pass along some other info that Day wrote about. While doing a Review of the SPEC SS Integrated for Positive Feedback, build by a Japanese 300B aficionado, Yazaki-san, Yazaki-san suggested to Day that he try NOS Western Electic 16ga stranded tin copper wire for speaker wire on Day's Tannoy Westminster Royals ($1.39 foot) as well as Belden 8402 microphone cable as interconnect (about $3.25 a foot) and to terminate them with Swichcraft SWC 3502AAU RCA, which Day did with great success. He had industry friends over for a shootout between this stuff and Sablon. 2 voted Sablon, 2 voted WE and Belden, Day said equal but different presentation. Reading between the lines and subsequent posts later I think he gives slight nod to Sablon. Yazaki-san has been using this combo for about 10 years and compares the sound to the ancient NOS 40s 274b tube, not the later iteration. Yazaki-san calls it an artistic tube incorporating all the values I mentioned above in "Listening Values". With the Coincident Dynamo I changed out my PS Audio Statement/Kimber 8TC/Silnote speaker cables as well as Goertz silver/Kimber Hero/Silnote interconnect and was floored. Of course, not many here believe me I suspect. But about 600 folks on Day Blog/Cable Asylum/Decware site seem to be buying this We and Belden. I only heard one person grumble, then after more break-in he became a ”believer”. Best, Rob
mikirob
955 posts
 
Rebbi,
You read the Audiogon thread Zu Omen vs Lore, it came out overwhelmingly for Lore. But as always trust your own ears in your environment . Wishing you the best. Rob
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Rob,
That is the beauty of constructing and developing your home audio system, it is what sounds best to your ears and not to others. There are no gurus when it comes to deciding what suits you best, this is something we all must decide for ourselves. My push pull amp has good tone, timber, harmonics and dynamics, in fact very good. The fact of the matter is as soon as I inserted the SET into the system, its superior sound and presentation was indisputable in my opinion. People can tout power all they want and if that works for them and is the better solution then that is fine for them obviously. In terms of emotional engagement, organic/natural
reproduction and purity of tone the SET amplifier has been consistently
superior in my listening experience. Other's mileage may and will vary.
Charles,
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