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Speaker Suggestions for 300b SET Amp

I built an Elekit 8600 300b set amp recently.  It's amazing. I maxed out upgrades (all Takman resistors, Mundorf top end caps, solder/wiring, etc.).  It's a wonderful amp. It cost me $2k to build it and it's glorious.


My issue hasn't been the amp, but finding speakers that I want to use with it.  


I started with Omega XRS 8 Juniors (~$2k). I broke them in for 300 hours and, while they did get better, they largely sounded like the top and bottom ends were just truncated off at both ends the sound spectrum. They sounded more akin to a transistor radio speaker. I feel terrible to say that and I hope others really love them and hear them differently, as the company is great and the owner is wonderful. They just weren't for me.


So, I just paired the 300b up with some inefficient speakers (both KEF LS50s and Wharfedale 80th anniversary Dentons). Both speakers were part of other systems I have.  Both sets, and especially the cheaper Wharfedales, just sing with the 300b.  They do not play particularly loud given their efficiency ratings, yet they sound wonderful for very close nearfield listening. 


But what I'd like to do is go a bit more into the full range speaker category without buying a massive product. Or, I consider a smaller bookshelf/monitor if it were more efficient.


What speakers do folks like with their 300bs?  


128x128jbhiller
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cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
Just a quick caveat that you need a "beefier" SET to run the coincident pre's. I've tried it with coincident's own Frankensteins (7-8 watts) and they just can't control the bass. Two other owners and Israel himself all confirmed that the speakers really need 20-30 watts. Very disappointing for me given the company's marketing and my love of the amps. I'm trying to figure out whether to look for a new amp or new speakers.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
I own the Coincident Statement Line Stage, Frankenstein 300b 8 watt mono blocks and their discontinued Total Eclipse II speakers. This is a very easy to drive speaker and matches very well with the Frankenstein.

The Pure Reference Extreme (PRE) speaker is better off with more than an 8 watt 300b. Not every Coincident speaker mates well with the Frankenstein and this point should be made clear on their website. It is a superb SET amplifier but only with an appropriate speaker load match.

IMO the PRE would be better matched with a good quality 845 or 805 output tube it one prefers a SET topology. High quality moderate power push pull tube amplifiers would also be a good choice. The Frankenstein is an exceptionally natural sounding amplifier with excellent purity, it deserves a proper speaker mate. I suspect that the Canadian Coherent Audio speaker would mate very well with the Frankenstein. 
Charles


charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi Cal,
Which direction are you leaning toward,  keeping the amp or speaker? Didn't you have a good match with your prior Coincident Super Eclipse?
Charles 
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
@charles1dad Still 6 months until I get my stereo back, so I have no idea. I do really enjoy the SEIIIs, but think I'm pushing them too hard in my space (21ft ceilings in an open floor plan). The PREs were definitely more precise, but I wasn't able to extract any bass with the Franks. The tweeters were "hotter" as well. Hopefully I'll get the chance to start figuring out what direction to go in August when I move back into my house. Money may be a bit tight though so I'm not sure I'll be able to pull off the full shootout I'd really like to do.
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