$16K new/used speaker question?


Opinions on options for full range, 8ohm, 90db or above speakers. So far I have heard and liked both Devore GibbonX, and Acoustic Zen Crescendo's and really like them both a lot.  I'm using an all BAT tube system with the VK-150se tube amps. Any thing else I should be listening to? I've heard the Wilsons sound great with BAT gear, but on paper they look like they would be really rough on my amps.
tom_hankins
If you haven't already set your mind consider a new pair of Nola KO/2's for drivers and Quad 2912's, if you're up for an electrostatic.  Great sound, especially with tubes, and you'll save a few bucks to boot.  


Good luck and enjoy the search.


Tom: You may want to look into Daedalus Audio. Lou has several designs at that price point which may float your boat sonically. The Daedalus sound would be at the opposite end of the spectrum from the Wilson's, which have always left me feeling unmoved. Lou's designs are all handcrafted (from real hardwood) heirloom pieces that are easy loads and very high efficiency. He has been on a steady mission of continual improvement and his latest creations are considered by many to be among the best out available, particularly in terms of tonal realism, seamless coherence and the ability to play well with a variety of electronics. Highly recommended.

Acoustic Zen Crescendo's are one of my favorites. Sounds Of Silence sells them for way below list if ever interested.
I'm just a happy customer.
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As a very happy Daedalus owner (the Ulysses model), I'll second the comment by Dodgealum.  I'll add that their combination of high efficiency, high power handling capability, and an unusually flat impedance curve provides exceptional versatility with respect to amplifier selection.  And I wouldn't be concerned about the fact that the Ulysses and some of the other large Daedalus models are rated at 6 ohms, rather than the 8 ohm rating indicated in your criteria.  The lack of significant variation of their impedance over the frequency range, as well as the lack of significantly capacitive impedance phase angles, result in their 6 ohms being very unchallenging.

The one uncertainty I have relative to your stated criteria, though, relates to your specification of "full range," and what that may mean.  The Ulysses and other similarly sized Daedalus models have bass extension rated to 28 Hz, while I note that the two speakers you referred to are rated to 23 and 20 Hz respectively.  But in the absence of evidence to the contrary I would apply many grains of salt to those and most other specs for speaker bass extension.  Partly because such specs rarely indicate the volume level, distortion level, or anticipated room gain that they are based on (although the Crescendo's specs at least indicate a tolerance, that being +/- 3 db).  And partly because I would not expect most speakers having a pair of 8 or 9 inch woofers to provide bass extension below the mid to upper 20's, at least at realistic volumes and with reasonably low distortion.  Regarding the Ulysses, though, I have made measurements in my room that are very consistent with the specified 28 Hz figure, at reasonably high volumes.

Good luck in your search.  Regards,
-- Al