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Picking an Open Baffle speaker for 2w SET amp - plus bonus question !?!

https://imgur.com/a/PCQXpKa

I recently purchased a Decware Zen Triode 2.3w amp and want to experience what an OB speaker sounds like - with a budget of $1000. I do own 2 REL T5 subs that could be put to use if needed, and from looking around, especially on the Decware site, one obvious choice would be a Caintuck OB with either a Betsy or Lii Fast-8” full range driver. Others on the user forum site rave about the Lii 15” driver (in the same baffle) for offering a much fuller sound.
Where I get confused is primarily if I should go with one of the 8” driver options or with the 15” big boy. I am guessing the answer will have a lot to do with my particular room situation, which is very restrictive and from what I have read not ideal for OB speakers.

I am hoping someone with more experience could take a look at my odd room (floor plan & a couple pics attached) and make an educated guess what would perform better in my set-up (15” or 8” plus sub).

There are two rooms I’d like to try this out in:
One is my office, a “tidy” 12x12’ box.
The other is the more complicated space, a living room with an interesting layout.
https://imgur.com/a/PCQXpKa
The bonus question:
Is it possible with the addition of another device (and what would that be??) to control / set a crossover frequency for the Decware amp, when connecting a sub via the speakers tabs from the amp?

nkphoto
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,967 posts
 
Not suggesting by any stretch that this is a good pairing, but from everything I have read so far and what I am experiencing with the Gallo 3.1, those Betsy or Lii Audio 8" drivers with 94dB - 97dB efficiency + my REL sub(s) should be PLENTY sensitive for my NYC apartment situation, no?
@nkphoto Hard to say! With any SET that runs zero feedback, if you want to hear what the amp is all about, you really can't run the amp past about 20-25% of full power. If you do, it will start to sound 'loud' and 'dynamic'. This is because it will generate more higher ordered harmonic distortion above that power level, and the ear uses those harmonics to sense sound pressure. IOW both the loudness and dynamics are the result of distortion.


So you might think its 'loud' but may be no-where near loud enough to bother the neighbors.


You can get sound pressure level apps for your 'phone, which can be handy for letting you know how loud the system is actually playing.  At any rate the extra 10dB of the Lii drivers or the like will certainly be helpful!
nkphoto OP
44 posts
 
@mrotino Wow, those speakers, powered woofers. Next level (or next life) for me. Will be very interesting to hear what the little Decware will do for you. I hope you'll post your experience, would love to know how it fared compared to your 30 watts/channels.
@atmasphere this is really great info, exactly the kind of stuff I need to better understand. While I am getting more acquainted with some of the terminology, it's more in passing by while in all honesty I don't really understand the underlying fundamentals. Zero feedback? Higher ordered harmonic distortion? Anyways, I am adding your input to my ever increasing list of things I need to read up on. For now I am taking away that the more sensitive my speakers, the better for getting the most out of my amp. Thanks for your time!
danager's avatar
danager
968 posts
 
@bache because of the sound. It’s only two watts but what a spectacular two watts. It’s also really fun to shape the sound with tube rolling. This isn’t a 300b amp that you have to choose between quality tubes or a new car. I was able to update the rectifier for under $10, power tubes for $2 a piece. The input tube is a Russian 6N1p or 6922 so you can spend big bucks if you want but its not a requirement to sound good.

This is a bare bones integrated amp with two inputs. Has an input bios switch to adjust input tube depth and an impedance selector to further fine tune the sound based on your speaker.

This is a true audiophile amplifier that with the proper speaker selection can compete with any amp in the world... it might not win but it won’t be embarrassed.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,967 posts
 
Zero feedback?
Feedback is the act of taking the output voltage, attenuating it and applying it back to the input, out of phase with the incoming signal, so it can act as a correction voltage. SETs usually do not use it because they rely on the linearity of the output tube which is a triode and thus fairly linear.
Higher ordered harmonic distortion? Anyways, I am adding your input to my ever increasing list of things I need to read up on. For now I am taking away that the more sensitive my speakers, the better for getting the most out of my amp.
All amps generate distortion, and the primary means is harmonics of fundamental tones. When an orchestra tunes up, its usually to A on the music scale; 440 cycles per second. The 2nd harmonic of A is thus 880Hz (Hertz is another way to express cycles per second). The higher ordered harmonics are the 5th harmonic and above. The ear uses them to sense sound pressure and so is keenly sensitive to them. For this reason when they are generated they can cause the stereo system to sound brighter and harsher (since the ear converts all distortions into a tonality and the higher orders get this assignment) and louder since they are cues to the ear of loudness.


The more efficient the speakers, the better, especially if you have a lower powered amp!



dspringham
53 posts
 
I put one of these Zen amps on my Cube Audio Nenuphars and it sounds unearthly good. Using a Vinnie Rossi L2iSE with Elrog 300B's for DAC and preamp duties. With these speakers the Zen sound amazingly natural and open - wide soundstage, wonderful clarity and tonality with great separation of instruments and voices.  Bass is strong and deep. Within it's power parameters I prefer the Zen sound to that of the Rossi's own built-in Mosfet  output stage (@100w/ch). All in all a surprising outcome - I'm sure the crossoverless Nenuphar FRD has a lot to do with the end result.


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