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

I currently have a pair of Apogee Acoustics Centaur Minors driven by a new Black Ice integrated tube amp. The small but dedicated listening room means I’m doing near-field listening with me and the speakers forming a 6’ triangle. As you might expect, these speakers have terrific midrange but at 85dB sensitivity they are a bit difficult to drive and feel limited in dynamics. The room is acoustically treated.


I almost exclusively listen to small combo acoustic jazz and vocals and I’m seeking recommendations for something easier to drive and more dynamic that provides a more “palpable presence” of the musicians when played at louder levels. Prefer small floorstanders for aesthetics but not essential and preferably a brand where I might have a chance to audition them (I’m in SoCal). Also open to used (e.g. something like Wilson Cubs). TIA!

p.s. thanks for the Sonus faber suggestion.

ristretto
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,807 posts
 

In one or more of those discussions I had kind of got the impression that you favored speakers that had a sensitivity up in the 90s.  Which makes me assume that the Fritz speakers, although have a listed sensitivity of 88, must not drop too far below their 8 ohm impedance?

@immatthewj The problem is if you want a small speaker that can play any bass its going to be sealed and simply won't be very efficient. I chose the Fritz because they get good comments, are an easy load with no weird impedances or phase angles, are built nicely and are compact.

 

tksteingraber's avatar
tksteingraber
624 posts
 

Very happy owner of Fritz Rev 5 SE’s.  They are the runt of the litter but certainly don’t sound small.  The Scanspeak drivers are superb and they are easy on power.  I drive them with a Raven Blackhawk 20W Tube amp barely turning the volume knob sitting 8’ back. Surprisingly nice low volume bass without a sub for their size.  Also, Owner Fritz is an exceptionally nice guy with a great trial period.

ristretto OP
4 posts
 

Yes those Spendor A1s are a great deal, but with their sensitivity I’m still concerned about its sense of scale or dynamics. I have a pair of vintage Aurum Cantus standmounts rated at 87dB and 8 ohms and I still can’t get a sense of a live performance at front row center, if you will, despite the small room. And the volume knob is already 80% of max. My phone app tells me I’m listening at 70-80dB spl.

fritzspeaks
44 posts
 
All my speaker designs have series crossovers which use smaller and far fewer parts than regular crossovers and are a much easier load on the amplifier compared to other loudspeakers.  
 
Google any loudspeaker and see if they have a Stereophile review and go to the measurements page- the impedance and phase curves are all over the place verses a series crossover loudspeaker which gradually rises and the phase curve is mainly a straight line.
 
I have 8 integrated tube amps with EL84, EL34, 6L6, 6550, KT88 & KT90 power tubes with 12 to 80 watts per channel and a 300B amp @ 8 watts, a EL34 single power tube amp @ 5 watts and a Decware EL84 amp with 2.3 watts per channel that drives all of my speakers great in my 14 x 22 ft living room. 

Happy listening...   Fritz

 

https://www.fritzspeakers.com/images/speakers/new/RosewoodCarbon7SEmk22.3wattDecwareEL84Amp1000%20-%20Copy.jpg

 

gotog
133 posts
 

Zu DWX will most likely give you the scale and dynamics you are looking for

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