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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!
badri
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"My amp is an older JD202 model. It is an integrated amp and delivers 40W. My source is a Sonos (without the W4S mods) and while I mostly play FLAC files from my local library, I also stream content from Spotify on occasion."

Given that, I would split the 3k up and use some of it for speakers, and the rest for a new source. The Sonos is only going to get you so far. A new dac connected to your integrated with IC's may make as big a difference as new speakers will.
badri OP
69 posts
 
@Zd542 A new DAC is definitely on the cards - but for a little bit later. I would rather get really good speakers now and invest in a proper outboard DAC and maybe a synchro-mesh device later. I have been looking at DAC+headphone amp combos - and might look into the Benchmark DAC - but not for another year or so after I have saved up some more.
mesch
3,530 posts
 
Badri, I didn’t mean to suggest restriction to monitors, I just prefer them. Always thought they provided better soundstage/imaging for the $$$. That line of thinking may not hold true today. One additional thought I had was that a monitor on solid stand might be isolated from the floor better than a floor standing speaker which may be important in an apartment setting.
badri OP
69 posts
 
@Mesch ah- thanks! I think I missed the emphasis on the isolation bit. I have actually heard some bookshelf speakers which really do give floorstanders a run for their money (the Totem Mani-2, specifically). But apart from that, I had always thought that their bass-extension was less than floor standers. That said - that was before I realized that what I wanted most from my speakers was speed and transparency in addition to just plain old bass extension. So I was wondering if you were pointing me towards any specific bookshelf speakers with that in mind.
mesch
3,530 posts
 
I have a difficult time recommending speakers as i have not heard many of the reported great ones and everyone’s preference differs. I own Esoteric MG-10s and like them for detail, speed, dynamics, coherance and tonal balance. No longer sold in the US and difficult to find used. That said I am not so sure how they would match with your Jolida.

Have you taken your Jolida to any dealers for a listen yet?
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