Seeking speakers under $3K for 10x12 ft room and driven by 20wpc tube amp

I do not think 20 wpc is enough for low efficiency speakers in a small room, just not loud enough for some material/occasions. Some peaks will be out of gas.

Low efficiency speakers, I would want a 30-45 wpc tube amp, and that's too much heat for a small room, so, rather than solid state amp, I would go for efficient speakers, a 10" woofer helps.

Let's not forget the Iron Law, for Bass, you gotta move a lot of air. I prefer larger woofer to smaller 'long throw' and ports, and using corners to get more out of a 6-1/5" (or even smaller), or use a single non-directional self-powered sub like I did with the Wharfedale's 6.5" vented.

You want to remove the low frequencies from your main low powered amp, so neither the amp nor the speakers try to produce low bass.

I am enjoying my 10 wpc tube amp, just enough with the 90db efficiency AR-2ax. More power would be nice on rare occasions, or more efficient speakers would be smartest, but what might sound as good as these AR-2ax's.

Or consider JBL 4349 (91dB, dual compression driver horn, 12 in bass, front port) and either an AR i/50 (50 W PP 6550s) or a Sugden A21 SE Signature (SS, class A 30W) or a Peachtree Carina GaN. The 4349s are excellent at low volumes and at high.

chenry

OP is planning for a small 6’ listening triangle, that might be a bit close to that model JBL.

He mentioned a new Black Ice integrated tube amp, I presume, like me, tube heat in small room, a low powered one. I see they have 12 wpc and 25 wpc models. I never heard Black Ice.

My office, for years I used a Tandberg SS Receiver I liked; after I broke it a Carver Cube SS for years (both from Harvey’s NYC used shelf), because I found my Vintage Fisher 30 wpc mono blocks too much heat for my office.

Redesigned in 2019 for low power tubes/imaging placement the Little Luxman 10 wpc tube amp I took a chance on is the lowest power I ever had, and I subsequently lucked into acquiring a restored pair of AR-2ax Speakers because of a ’nostalgia’ discussion here.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/is-there-any-one-piece-of-vintage-gear-you-most-wished-you-owned

I got them for downstairs, assumed too big for the office, but thought, why not hear them with the Luxman compared to the Wharfedales and self-powered sub. So darn good I kept them here, gave the Wharfedales to my son, and got the 2nd pair of AR-2ax’s I restored myself, those standing ear height horizontal on shelves in my work area in the Garage/Shop system.

When in my office (retired now) I always think of Cousin Brucie (AM) and Alison Steele (FM) as my original pair were new in early 1968, working thru the nights while at college in Brooklyn (Pratt Institute)1966-1970. I was ransacked, they were small enough for the thieves to get them out the window, I always missed them.

I finally re-found the AR-2ax specs, they are 91.5db sensitivity

https://stereonomono.blogspot.com/2014/05/acoustic-research-ar-2ax.html

Take a look at TEKTON

LORE  98 db 1w @ 1m

URUZ  98db 2.83V @ 1m

PERFECT SET 96 db 2.83V @ 1m

Many options available it's worth a trip to the interweb, and then a phone call to the man himself to design yours.

ps, pair of Lore speakers had better be under the tree

If you find an AudioNote AN-K or J in your price range, buy them, perfect for a small room as they are designed for corner placement. Very musical speaker and perfect for low power tube amps in your power range, basicaly they were designed for 20wpc.

Personnaly i find them better then the harbeths, Spendors at similar size. just finding a set in your budget will be the hard part, if you can stretch a bit it would be worth it.

Like these ones, note canadian $ so take 32% off and leave the standes behind should get you very close. 

Audionote UK AN/JD hemp speakers with stands For Sale - Canuck Audio Mart