2. speakers
  3. 1220077404

High efficiency speakers

Hi,
I am getting into low wattage SET amps (specifically the 18w Lamm ML2.1). I am told that to realize the full benefits of such low powered SETs, you need high efficiency (>95db) speakers with benign impedance curve. But when I look around, these speakers are often horn based, huge and unattractive (to my eyes), and have problems with low bass (either no low bass or needs powered woofers whose integration is a problem).
My question to the experts out there. Have you come across well designed high efficiency speakers that are full range, don't take space like Avantgarde Trios, and look as nice as a Kharma?
Thanks for your suggestions.
128x128alectiong
ludimagis
128 posts
 
See a couple of sugestions that I can agree with, but if it were my situation, I'd be looking into Zu Audio, which I've owned and used with an 8w/ch 300B amp and Rethm Saadhana. Great amps hope you find the right match.
audiokinesis
2,724 posts
 
That 18-watt Lamm amp really gives you more options than most single-ended triode amps do. I think you can reasonably look at speakers below 95 dB efficiency, assuming a benign impedance curve. I've shown benign 92-dB speakers with SET amps of 5, 6, 12 and 25 watts, and the only time we ran into audible clipping was with very loud solo piano on the 5-watt amp, and real-world that conservatively rated Lamm amp is probably more powerful than the 25-watter.

Duke
dealer/manufacturer
alectiong's avatar
alectiong OP
110 posts
 
Hi all, thank you for your suggestions. I have the Kharma 3.2.2s which are borderline efficient at 90dB and not getting the full benefits of the SET design from what I've been told, but probably Ok in my current smallish room. Going forward I am looking for full range SET friendly, high efficiency speakers. No more of the Kharma limp bass I hope. I do have pre-conceived biases against side-firing woofers and powered woofers, but maybe unfounded.
Alec
jax2
3,031 posts
 
I'll echo the suggestion of Coincident and Silverline. Both have excellent SET-friendly solutions. With your bias against d"Appolito alignment might eliminate Coincident though they sure sound great to me. I heard Daedalus speakers sounding absolutely superb at their room at RMAF and I believe that was with ArtAudio SET amplification. They have a very specific look to them as well using some interesting joinery on the cabinets which I'd imagine wouldn't be everyone's taste, though I thought they looked and sounded great.
alectiong's avatar
alectiong OP
110 posts
 
Jax2, I haven't had the pleasure of hearing the Concident. My bias against side firing woofers is from listening to one of the models from Rockport. I heard less integrated bass, the same way some people would say about the rear firing woofers of the Verity speakers. My bias against powered bass in high efficiecy speakers is just a thought that since these designs use transistor amps for ther woofers, are they forgoing the supposedly sonic superiority of SET over SS amps (even in the bass quality.)?
Alec
More to discover