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Efficient Speakers with SS Powered Subwoofers for SET amps?

Been loving my Martin Logan Expression 13a but I need my tubes back. Been enjoying low powered SET amps again and would love to use them in my primary setup. Currently running a Woo Audio WA5 that is doubling as my headphone rig. Will probably end up with something else in the near future. 

Trouble is I'm having a tough time getting off the powerful authoritative bass coming from the Martin Logans and their 300 watt class D 10 inch woofers. I've seen the Zu Audio definition's with their powered woofers but I'd like to spend less. Ideally under 10k. Looking to run the tubes for all the mids and highs with solid state running the lows. 

I realize I could simply run a separate dedicated sub but an all in one package is more appealing and space is a concern.

Can you guys make any recommendations?

Thanks!
chrisallen
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Two brands that come to mind are
Rethm Audio
Vaughn Loudspeakers 
Both are highly regarded brands and offer a variety of models.
Charles 
rodge827's avatar
rodge827
619 posts
 
@chrisallen- What is your room size?
soix
9,456 posts
 
Personally, if you're looking at a new amp in the near future -- especially if it's a tube amp -- I'd decide on that first before buying any speakers.  The amp you choose could change everything and you may regret your speaker choice later.  But given that...

I certainly understand the appeal of a tower speaker with powered bass versus using subs, but my concern would be there are so few options that might meet your requirements that you may be greatly limiting your choices and may not find something that sounds optimal to you.

Using a sub is obviously a less elegant solution, but the obvious benefit is that you’ll have many more speaker options that will work with your amp and may appeal more to your particular tastes. Also, with proper and likely better bass integration with your room you’ll likely end up with both significantly better and deeper bass with a sub (or even better, 2 subs) than you had before.  With a budget of $10k you could get really nice monitors (or smaller floorstanders) and one or even two very good subs resulting in true full-range sound that meets with your personal tastes as well.

All that said, I’d also definitely check out Coincident Technology and specifically their Super or Total Victory models. They don’t have powered subs, but they are designed to be highly efficient/tube friendly and appear to go as low as your MLs (at least on paper).  Great speakers that might meet all your needs if they sound good to you.

Obviously you could also bi-amp other paaive floorstanders with a SS amp driving the bass, and that might be a great option too but I really am not familiar with which speakers would work well with that.  I'd be concerned about a potential mismatch in sonic character using the two radically different amps unless the speaker was specifically designed for that purpose, but that's just my personal neurosis speaking so take with big grain of salt. 

Hope me this helps, and best of luck!

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