speakers for first watt j2

I'd recommend taking a look at Tekton. These are high efficiency and an easy load to drive and I have heard the designer prefers SS amplification for his speakers as well.

I have also heard several accountings of good results with Ref 3A DeCapo and low wattage tube and SS amps, at least for moderate volume listening.

In general, if you want to listen louder and clear, you'll want higher efficiency speakers. Some common candidates for moderate cost would be tekton, Zu, Klipsch some Tannoy, and Coincident and maybe some Triangle or even Focal.

Then there are aplethora of more specialized expensive larger horn based hi efficiency designs. Of those, the ones I have heard that seemed to repesent the best value was Cathedral Speakears in Virginia.

I have a friend with the First Watt M2 amp driving a pair of Ref 3a reference L'integral with excellent results in a 20'X14' room. 25 watts which I believe is similar or the same as the J2. I second the above recommendation. He is bringing over his M2 to my place in the next week or two for evaluation. I expect very good results based on what I heard at his place although the J2 and M2 are a bit different in their output devices Jfets vs mosfets in the output stages. The Decapo BEs are just superb music makers but I AM prejudiced so take my words with a grain of salt or if for no other reason than to have you listen to them with that J2 if you get the chance. I do believe you will be pleasantly suprised.

Btw, I think you purchased a really excellent amplifier. Now just to find the right speaker. Read, research and listen to everything you can and be patient!

A note of caution in regard to pairing the J2 with the de Capo BE: While the M2 and the J2 amplifiers are both rated at 25 watts into 8 ohms (or 30 watts in the case of the J2 depending on what document is looked at), their performance into 4 ohms is quite different. Specifically a substantial increase to 40 watts for the M2, and a substantial decrease to 13 (or 15) watts for the J2. Also, in the case of the J2, at high power levels distortion performance is significantly worse into 4 ohms than into 8 ohms, as shown in the graphs in the manual.

While the de Capo BE is nominally rated as being an 8 ohm speaker, its impedance in most of the mid-bass region, where lots of energy is typically required, is around 6 ohms (see the graph near the bottom of this page). Presumably the power capability and distortion performance of the J2 into 6 ohms will be somewhere in the middle ground between its 8 ohm and 4 ohm performance, meaning it won't be as good as is specified for 8 ohms. Also, per the measurements shown on that page the sensitivity of the de Capo BE is not nearly as high as specified, at most frequencies.

In general, to get the best possible performance from your J2 I would expect that speakers which are truly 8 ohms or more at most frequencies would be the best choices. Your Revels are most definitely not in that category, BTW, in addition to having low sensitivity.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

Good point Al and now that you mention that my friend did have a concern with the J2 for the reason you gave, the decrease in power at lower impedances.

I would go for an older pair of tannoys. Sometimes you can get an old pair of Arden's for that dough. Then later you could always build custom boxes for the drivers and outboard xovers.
Failing that I second the ref 3a suggestion. Or look at zu.