High Efficiency Speakers Your top 3 or more

If somebody can show me a SET based system that can deliver Radiohead's "In Rainbows" with the authority and rock solid iron grip in the low end that I hear currently in my system running the (not so) big Bel Canto Class Ds, in a typcial sized listening room, I will be gladly convinced.

I don't think there is a standard unless someone else knows of one. Early in the thread I set a limit of 92db at 6ohms minimum so as not to exclude anything on the cusp. However I think most of us would agree 92db is not really high efficiency. I think I personally would classify 92-96 db as higher, and 97+ as high. However if your reference is horns that may be low.

MMike84,

Is it a safe assumption that you are looking for different speakers to go along with your tube gear? You aren't looking to replace the amp you have with a SET are you? That makes a big difference I would think on what speakers would work well. I don't think you need super high efficiency speakers necessarily with your amp. I would think 89-90db and a smooth 8 ohm load more or less is all that would be needed for your stuff to sing!

All of my favorites were custom-built speakers using old parts, particularly Western Electric drivers and horns (all insanely expensive too). Of the commercial speakers, I like the pair I own (S.A.P. J2001: twin 12" woofers (paper drivers and pleated paper surrounds) in an Onken cabinet, horn midrange, Fostex bullet tweeter).

Most high efficiency speakers have pretty significant tonal aberrations, but, some are reasonably neutral. I like the big Classic Audio Reproduction speakers (I believe the model number is the T-1), and the EdgarHorn system (these are tonally quite good, but they do give up a little of the extreme speed and dynamics compared to some other horn systems). Classic Audio Reproductions also makes a copy of the JBL Hartsfield that sounded pretty good.

As to the Audionote speakers, I like the sound of those speakers too, though I prefer what I own. But, given their compact size, and the ability to use them in the corners or along the back wall, they are VERY practical speakers as well as ones that sound pretty good. The cheaper models are outright bargains, the more expensive ones are exemplars of the law of diminishing return -- your have to pay a LOT more for ever decreasing increments of improvement. Ultimately, they deliver the goods if one can afford them.

A friend has a single driver system with Feastrix drivers. It is currently a work in progress, but, the sound is quite promising. I think the tonal balance and reasonable lack of sibilance in the high end put them way ahead of any Lowther-based systems I've heard.