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High Efficiency Options?

I’m thinking about assembly a pretty modest second system based on tubes. I think for a basic el34 amp most speakers 85db or higher would satisfy but I’d like to play with low powered tube amps. System will be in a small bedroom and I won’t use it to listen loud often, so I’m thinking anything in high 80db range will work. To give you an idea of my taste I use Harbeth c7s with Primaluna seperates fed from my Audio Mirror Tubadour and Auralic Aries. I don’t have a large budget for speakers, probably 1,000-1,500, and I’ll buy used. I have decent grasp of what’s available for the most part, but not really when it comes to high efficiency speakers. I know of Zu and Tekton but don’t find what I’ve read about them too appealing. Outside of those two I’m not really sure what’s out there in my price range. Any ideas or recommendations would be much appreciated. 

brylandgoodman
brylandgoodman OP
92 posts
 

Thanks for all the input. I am starting to check out Omega speakers, and so far I like what I see. 

Far as how low of power, I’m really not sure. I don’t have an amp in mind at this point but probably a set amp of some sort. You guys are probably right that I’ll be better off with something over 90db to give me good flexibility with my amp selection.  I think I want to find speakers first and work backwards from there, but I’m open to purchasing an amp first. Right now I have a pair of Totem Rainmakers, and don’t think a SET amp would be to happy with them. That’s kind of why I was thinking speakers first. I unfortunately will have to buy one piece at a time and build slowly. 
 

The room is truly small, I believe 9x11 with 8 foot ceilings. Also I don’t think Klipsch would be a good choice for me with my tastes. I really prefer I nice full midrange and I’m willing to sacrifice elsewhere to achieve it. My experience with Klipsch was a pair RF5s, and found them fun but not my cup.  In this system I understand I may have to sacrifice significantly considering the budget I’m working with.  I’m hoping to eventually enjoy this system more than my main.  My thinking there is, smaller room = less money, SET = more magic, and also more uniform room with better placement options = better imaging and soundstage. 
 

Hopefully that gives you guys a bit more to work with. 

smolish
2 posts
 

Where is MC? Bet he’d have a recommendation when it comes to sensitive speakers!

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,902 posts
 

@brylandgoodman,

Maybe look at Devore loudspeakers.

Mike

https://devorefidelity.com/

larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,009 posts
 

You need to look at higher efficiency speakers.  Not sure why you would want a sound system in a small bedroom unless you converted it to an office.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,942 posts
 

The room is truly small, I believe 9x11 with 8 foot ceilings. Also I don’t think Klipsch would be a good choice for me with my tastes. I really prefer I nice full midrange and I’m willing to sacrifice elsewhere to achieve it.

@brylandgoodman 

I'm normally a proponent of higher efficiency speakers. But in a bedroom system you usually are not playing all that loud and in a smaller room like this the efficiency isn't going to matter much.

Take a look at http://www.fritzspeakers.com

Fritz does excellent work and his speakers are very reasonably priced. They are in the high 80s for sensitivity. I have his smallest set in my bedroom system and my amp makes 5 Watts per channel. My room is larger and I don't come anywhere near pushing the amp hard. A powered subwoofer is nice, but Fritz is very good about getting low frequency bandwidth.

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