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How to Choose Speakers Appropriate for My Amp

Greetings,

I'm starting my journey into the better realms of audio gear and I'm looking for some help matching speakers to my newly acquired amps.

I've never had the budget for higher end audio, but some equipment has more or less falling into my lap. So, what I'm currently working work:

  • Bang & Olufsen Beogram RX2 Turntable w/ SMMC4 Cartridge
  • Deja Va Audio LTD 300B Pull Pull Monoblock Amplifier x2 (One needs some work, so I won't be immediately heading out and buying anything until this is fixed)
  • MOSCODE Super It Phono Stage (Picking up tomorrow)
As you can surely see, the list is missing speakers. Sure, I have some extra bookshelf speakers that I've used as surrounds in my home theater, but it seems kind of silly to use them when there's something much, MUCH better out there.

The amps are hand built and on the underside note the output as 30W/8Ω. You can see an image of that here:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/180HQu90tLWnNFlIB_ugAGdoWTY1t6_YE or a folder w/ images of one of the amps here:  https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1bEqqi_-50ki9y8H8i81bwie7vVTbU99A if you're more curious.

So, what I'm seeking is help choosing some speakers that will provide reasonable to good performance at a price that won't break the bank. Like I said before, my budget isn't exactly large. The only reason I have the amps and the phono stage that I do is because they more or less fell into my lap. I obviously have no issue buying used, and I also would not be averse to building a kit. I have reasonable woodworking skills (at least enough to build/assemble a cabinet) and my soldering skills should be adequate.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks,
Andy
andymckay
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
I can recommend the DCM Time Windows. I am now on my third pair (after acquiring pairs one and two in ’77 and ’78). Nearly perfect impulse and phase response. Floor-standers with superb horizontal dispersion (thanks to a prism-shaped cabinet). Sensitivity of 90db, bass down to at least 30hz. Easily driven by a 20 watt amp (tube or ss). A true classic design from the genius of Steve Eberbach. And a successful production run of 30,000 pairs. Sold new for $660/pr in ’76, ended at $1200/pr ten years later (when production started on Eberbach’s next-generation Time Frames). I paid $219 + shipping for my present pair! A true bargain and competitive with today’s expensive speakers!
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
I used the Bedini 25/25 class A amp with my second pair of Time Windows. My third (and present pair) is being driven by a GAS Son Of Ampzilla (as was my first pair in '77). My modded Dyna ST70 tube amp would also work well! 
andymckay OP
10 posts
 
At a price like that, the Time Windows sound like a tempting option. 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
PM sent!
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Sweet pair of amps you got there Andy. Not often I see "300B" and "entry level" together, not to mention B&O! Bit of an eclectic system for sure, but so what? From what I've been able to gather the MOSCODE is a bit of a question mark (some think killer deal, some say its dark) but sure looks like it could be a nice little piece  https://www.audiogon.com/listings/phono-nyal-new-york-audio-labs-moscode-super-it-phono-preamp-power...and anyway its hard to go wrong with a 300B and a turntable so unless the IT turns out bad you have the makings for a pretty damn fine starter system. 

What I would do first and as soon as you can is hook up the speakers you have with whatever you can scrounge up and just see how (if!) everything works. 

The real strength of a 300B system is midrange magic and holographic imaging. Inner detail, in other words. If everything works you'll probably be surprised how good it sounds even with cheap little bookshelf speakers, lamp cord wire and patch cords. 

Most important thing with any stereo is speaker placement. You'll never have anything easier to experiment with speaker placement than your cheap little bookshelf speakers. So move em around. Have some fun. Cobble together some kind of stands and then after you hear how hugely placement affects tonal balance, bass support, etc, how nearby walls change the sound, then use a tape measure to line them up with precise symmetry, sit back and experience the wonders of imaging.

That's it. I've seen far too many systems of expensive name brand components that sound bad, and also enough no-name rigs that sound wonderful, to think that components have all that much to do with it. Much more has to do with your ability to listen, understand, set up, and tweak. 
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