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Which speakers for McIntosh tube amp MA2275-Why?

I would like to get advices on how to select the best speakers for my McIntosh MA2275 tube amp at 75 Watt per channel. Using these opinions I will limit my search to a handful of speakers. It would be best to listen to as many as possible but there is no high-fi in my area and even listening to a hand full of speakers would require significant traveling.I live in a remote area. My budget? I would buy used,$6000 maybe? Size is not an issue and would like efficient speakers.I need fair bass response for pipe organ. Transparent with low distorsion and a huge sound stage would be nice. I listen to 30% classical 30% rock 30% Jazz 10% other. Being a physicist technical discussions may help in my preselection.

Thank you,
dmartine
sounds_real_audio
1,012 posts
 
I know the speaker you are looking for. It will exactly fulfill your requirements for huge sound stage, high degree of transparency and low distortion. It is located at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest which is a terrific hi fi show in Denver October 14th. 15th. and 16th. From your remote area you can simply fly in to DIA and for $30+- get a round trip shuttle to the hotel where the weekend rates are very low. There you can list to lots and lots of speakers and see or hear what floats your boat.
I remember one year I bumped into a guy who was shaking his head. He had purchased speakers unseen and unheard and realized there was so much stuff out there that would have been better and some cheaper.

The best
Jim
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,987 posts
 
Jim makes a great suggestion. It is a great idea for a person who lives far from audio dealers, or anyone who wants to hear many different brands in one place.
rsimms
150 posts
 
You mentioned that you wanted pipe organ bass. Here is a short blurb on some of the issues of speaker design. My reading of it would suggest that, with your amp, you will need a large cabinet to play low and loud.

http://www.salksound.com/wp/?p=56

Bob
lokie's avatar
lokie
528 posts
 
The two manufacturers that I like with Mac gear are Thiels and JM Labs. I would guess the transformers on the Macs seem to mitigate the detailed nature of these speakers. JM Labs might be a better fit for the 2275's due to Thiels impedence dips.
dmartine OP
4 posts
 
My room size, hard wood floor, is about 26 feet deep 30 feet wide. I cannot place the speakers to benefit from the 30 feet and there is too much furniture in it. I feel that it interfere with my tone. When I moved it will be a different story:)

I know that it might be possible to buy some vintage Tannoy Autograph with wooden horns to be placed in corners. Is this what you have in mind?

My wife could likely live with 15 speakers but no room in the corners

My room cannot accomodate such large corner horns. Also they are 15 inches and I would be afraid that they might be too heavy to have fast transient and well defined bass. Also how does a 15 inches cope with its upper range? After all these coaxial speakers are only 2 ways and are supposed to be wideband.

Thank you

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