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Looking for suggestions for a new (to me) pair of high efficiency monitors

Hi,

I’m looking to change out my Legacy Studio HD monitors for something more efficient. The Legacy’s are fine speakers and have served me well, but you all know the drill—time to try something new for the fun of it after several years..

I presently run a Bob Latino VTA ST120 amp. Not a lot of power, but nice sound for not a lot of $$.

No preamp, Mac-mini running Audivana out to my Bryston DAC, which puts out plenty of signal directly into the VTA 120 to drive to full power.

The Legacy’s are rated at 93 dB at 4ohms I believe—interested in getting opinions for alternative high efficiency and detailed monitors. Lost a fair amount of upper freq hearing over the years, in fact I have to wear hearing aids that help hear above 7khz, so mellow mid- and treble doesn’t do it for me. Even so largely listen to acoustic jazz, vocals and lately a smattering of opera. Rarely rock or full range orchestral. 

Thanks in advance!
jsl1234
willemj
1,036 posts
 
By all means use an LS3/5a type speaker in a small room like this. However, the modern Harbeth P3ESR is much better than the original LS3/5a (I have both).
larryi
4,184 posts
 

The BBC monitors I have heard were quite low in efficiency, but, with a 15 ohm impedance they were easy to drive and worked quite well with tube gear with modest output. 

Also, anyone looking for somewhat high efficiency speakers that work well with tube gear has to at least hear Audio Note J and K model speakers. 

willemj
1,036 posts
 
The later improved version of the LS3/5a was 11 Ohm. The modern Harbeth P3ESR is 6 Ohm and easy to drive. It likes a bit of power, but cannot handle too much of it. The ones in my 18 sq m study are driven by a 2x100 watt Quad 405-2 and that is fine, but more would be dangerous.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,605 posts
 
Jsl,

Have not heard those exact models. Similar ones I have heard sounded fine but have not done critical listening. The specs say they should sound pretty good and the efficiency spec in particular jumps out. I’d be willing to give a try at that price. Not much to lose. Just because they are marketed for home theater mainly and not high end audio means nothing.  THey are newer design not old like heritage series.    Would klipsch put out a bad product?   I have Klipsch ear buds and they sound fantastic.     I also have much more expensive Sennheiser phones that also sound very good but cost 5X as much.
audioconnection
1,271 posts
 
((((I fail to understand how a separate preamplifier can improve the sound)))
 I strongly disagree
A real preamp allows the clarity of dynamics to swell as in life or the way we hear.

(((By all means, use an LS3/5a type speaker in a small room like this. However, the modern Harbeth P3ESR is much better))

 I disagree with you again I do agree its a very nice small speaker,
 I know you mean well here but his 60 WPC tube amps are not at their best for driving this small type design for best coherence in that room.
 Best JohnnyR 
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