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Truly High Efficiency, High Quality, Nearfield Usable, Affordable Speakers, Do They Exist?

Trying to help a friend who loves music realize a lifelong dream. He finally has a room all to himself for listening, and wants to put together a SET system. He has acquired, in barter for work, a wonderful 2a3 based SET amp (3.5wpc) and has everything else necessary but the speakers. His room is 10 x 10 x 8, with the limitation that it must also house his desk to operate his business from. So the speakers will be in the nearfield, no more than 5-5.5 feet or so from his listening position, and within a foot to a foot and a half of the front wall, depending on speaker depth His budget requires these speakers to be reasonably affordable (bought used) to maximize his spending. He will be listening to music while working, and also purely listening for pleasure, a good fifty hours a week, so this systems performance is very important to him. 

I'm aware of larger designs, and expensive speakers, though not any that can be used in the nearfield for his needs. Any recommendations, suggestions or expertise in this matter would be immensely appreciated. Thanks.


nightfall
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Honestly, at that distance in that small a room just about any good quality bookshelf/mini-monitor type speaker will do. Especially if he's not out to blow his socks off. Which is not a strength of SET anyway. Listening for quality, inner detail, that spooky-real SET character is gonna come through just fine almost no matter what he uses.

If the room was a lot bigger, or your friend was a lot more experienced, I would offer different advice. But another perfectly good reason for prioritizing sound you like over efficiency and "SET compatible" is he gets going and finds out without too much trouble. One sure way of sucking the fun out of anything is making it harder than it needs to be.

You know another reason, the signal matters more than the speakers anyway. Sorry. But it does. The most awesome SET amp and speakers in the world are not gonna cut it if connected with lamp cord and plugged into rubber freebie power cords. Good wire and peripherals on the other hand (HFT, etc) along with that SET will make just about any speakers perform like he won't believe. 
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
Altec Model 19's will get the job done with low-power tube amps! Can be found on the used market for around $3K.
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
The Model 19 is a direct descendant of the Altec Valencia - which I have owned. And a favorite of Art Dudley (Stereophile).
nightfall OP
224 posts
 
We are looking at Omega speakers. Will also check on your Decware recommendations, although, they apparently also sell Omega speakers, interesting. 
melvinjames
416 posts
 
The Omega/Decware pairing is well known on Audio Circle where Omega has a presence:

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=31

I use Omega’s Super 3i Monitors with a Decware SE84UFO (2 wpc) in a 13’ x 18’ room. There’s more than enough volume for my taste and listening habits. Your friend’s amp should be just fine.

After a year or so living with the Super 3i’s I added Omega’s DeepHemp 8 Subwoofer to the mix. In my room the sub was a nice addition. Obviously not needed in your friend’s smaller space but if his space changes in the future he can always add a sub if need be.

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