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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
wolf_garcia
6,711 posts
 
I now have my Heresy IIIs on the floor with no support blocks, and am using Vibrapods under the corners of the supplied tilt back risers with felt pads applied to the bottom of the pods so the speakers can easily be moved around a little on my suspended wood floor. This works really well. As stated previously, I eschew (never "chew" spikes, but it’s OK to "eschew" them) spikes with speakers since I’ve become a "decoupler." I also liberated my larger sub to the right of my rig so I now can move that around also as sort of an "instant room tuning" thing. My smaller sub is set in a small corner formed by a fireplace directly behind the left speaker. For room tuning I always listen while wearing a gigantic grizzly bear suit.
bache's avatar
bache
525 posts
 
To get good sound without shortcomings, you can use you 7-8 watt
just only  to powered wideband and tweeter.   Use a powered bass, but is not enough
to get full body sound, you need also fill the gap between low bass
active module and wideband, driver,   become all wide band drivers
 is no good in midbass also.  Most of the folks dont realize this and keep
thinking ZU is the best.   to get this is only one way to supplement
with midbass driver, Take a look on my Bache audio-002, and if you
close to NY or NJ ----listen
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,437 posts
 
I moved houses and now have a dedicated listening room. I got stuck in analysis paralysis and haven’t pulled the trigger on anything yet. Usually I move more decisively. I think all the house projects are slowing me down too. Houses are expensive!
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