Not sure what aspects of sound reproduction (i.e. Neutrality, tonal richness, imaging, soundstage, micro/macro dynamics, pace/timing, disappear as sound source, etc.) are most important to you, but a few that shoot pretty much down the middle of the fairway and are relatively benign loads are Joseph Audio, Silverline, and Reference 3A. If you have any of those available nearby, or even if you would have to travel a bit, those are worth a listen IMHO. And I'd bring the Jolida if at all possible. Best of luck.
Admittedly a bit lost
Folks
I am a long time music lover who is dipping his toes into high end audio for the first time. I have long enjoyed high quality headphones (Sennheiser HD650) and earphones (Etymotics all the time) but have not spent the big bucks (that I don't have) for high-end equipment. :)
However, I have recently acquired a Jolida tube amp (40W output) and am looking for good speakers to pair with them. I intend to go around listening to a bunch of speakers but I need to at least narrow down what sort I should ask my local dealers to have available for me to try. That is what this thread is about.
My constraints are thus:
- My musical tastes run the gamut from classical choral pieces (Bach's cantatas and mass, Arvo Part, Hilliard Ensemble's works etc - i.e. all mid-range frequencies) to experimental electronic music (Autechre, Aphex Twin, Flying Lotus etc - i.e. deep sub-bass and full-frequency spread music with absolutely zero traditional instruments and every sound is synthesized).
- My amp is a 40W tube amp
- I live in an apartment and so listen at volumes ranging from low to moderate.
- My budget for speakers is about $3K (slightly flexible).
With those constraints, my dilemma is that I don't know if I should be trying out high-efficiency speakers or low-efficiency ones? Should I look for 8ohm speakers or 4ohm ones? Something tells me that with low power tube amps, I should be looking at a high efficiency low impedence speaker. However, will that sort of speaker be able to navigate the high speed bass attack of electronic music when driven by an amplifier such as mine?
I am not sure where to begin, so I would really like some advise from folks here. Thank you so much!
I am a long time music lover who is dipping his toes into high end audio for the first time. I have long enjoyed high quality headphones (Sennheiser HD650) and earphones (Etymotics all the time) but have not spent the big bucks (that I don't have) for high-end equipment. :)
However, I have recently acquired a Jolida tube amp (40W output) and am looking for good speakers to pair with them. I intend to go around listening to a bunch of speakers but I need to at least narrow down what sort I should ask my local dealers to have available for me to try. That is what this thread is about.
My constraints are thus:
- My musical tastes run the gamut from classical choral pieces (Bach's cantatas and mass, Arvo Part, Hilliard Ensemble's works etc - i.e. all mid-range frequencies) to experimental electronic music (Autechre, Aphex Twin, Flying Lotus etc - i.e. deep sub-bass and full-frequency spread music with absolutely zero traditional instruments and every sound is synthesized).
- My amp is a 40W tube amp
- I live in an apartment and so listen at volumes ranging from low to moderate.
- My budget for speakers is about $3K (slightly flexible).
With those constraints, my dilemma is that I don't know if I should be trying out high-efficiency speakers or low-efficiency ones? Should I look for 8ohm speakers or 4ohm ones? Something tells me that with low power tube amps, I should be looking at a high efficiency low impedence speaker. However, will that sort of speaker be able to navigate the high speed bass attack of electronic music when driven by an amplifier such as mine?
I am not sure where to begin, so I would really like some advise from folks here. Thank you so much!
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- 59 posts total
Badri -- In light of your circumstances with the Jolida tube amp and stated taste in music comes to mind the moderate to high-ish sensitivity (relative to the sensitivity of typical, direct radiation "hifi" speakers) Pendragon and Enzo XL speakers from Tekton Design, priced at slightly more than $2000/pair. Stereophile's fairly recent review seems to indicate these (the Enzo XL's, and I'm sure the Pendragon's as well, had they been placed on the test bench) are versatile, true full-range speakers: The Enzos didn't just play Rick Laird's bass notes—they let me feel them. The XLs didn't present to my brain the idea of bass, as all of my small speakers do—they massaged me with expanding wavefronts. There was something unique and extremely natural about the way the Tektons projected bass energy into the room. They got not only the tone, the attack, and the decay, but the plucked-string pulling-up emphasis of the bass player's art. The Enzos did an especially good job of connecting me to the humans making the music. http://www.stereophile.com/content/tekton-design-enzo-xl-loudspeaker#1hr8TIyzeXJlEe85.97 And no, I have no affiliation with Tekton Design, it just appears they may fit your bill, one way and the other, quite nicely. Additionally, I'd like to second the comments above made by poster Whart. |
- 59 posts total