Many of the pitfalls users are describing that torpedo tube amp performance are just poor speaker design. So I'll add to my suggestions: Buy a well designed speaker. It does not have so be 8 ohms or above. My speakers are 4 ohm, but they are very, very flat and very well designed. I bought them to use with an ss amp. The first time I heard them with a tube amp, I promptly sold the ss amp. Jerry |
The boldened words are correct, of course. Using 4 ohm speakers is all good if your tube amp has a 4 ohm tap. Otherwise not recommended if tube amp has a nominal 8 ohm tap which is probably OK for speakers rated between 6 and 10 ohms. |
@noske You can have a 4 ohm nominal speaker sound just fine running the 8 ohm tap on a tube amp. My experience has been you just have to try and see what sounds best. Even the manufacturer will say this. |
Tubes, typically at least, give a warm sound that had absolutely nothing to do with efficiency of the speakers themselves. Current of your tbe amp would be more important than power. But assuming a typical audiophile 100-200w tube amp you can drive any speaker. For tubes I'd always recommend Magnepans, and which would depend on room size. They will sound great with a tube's warmth (and let's not forget different tubes have different sounds on different amps). And I don't think you specified, I am assuming a tube power amplifier or integrated. If it's pre like my CJ, it would further depend on if you have tube power or SS. |
In my humble opinion, I can't ever picture myself pushing Klipsch speakers with anything OTHER than tube amplification -- to me that combination is just a match made in heaven. I am not that familiar with a wide variety of horn speakers, but music lovers I've spoken with over the years always seem to pair tubes with horns. |
