Best speakers for 2A3 SET amplifier?

Wihtout knowing the size of your room, the type of music to which you listen, and how loud you ultimately want to go, it's rather hard to make appropriate suggestions. However, the received wisdom that you NEED, e.g., "at least 97 dB" or a "a horn over 100 dB sensitivity" is not true in all, and I would say most, cases. Many speakers that, on specs alone, would seem not to work well theoretically do in fact produce supremely wonderful sound in a reasonably-sized (say, up to a 10' x 20') room. In this category of smallish and easily affordable speakers would be the lower priced ProAcs and Audio Notes, Dick Sequerra's Metronome II and III, j.c. morrison's wonderful Pipedreams (before that name was filched by another company), Tannoys, and some of the simpler Zalytron designs. If you're handy with a saw, you might also consider a TQWT design -- you can build a pair of outrageously wonderful speakers, including single driver units with amazing coherence, for what is essentially dinner money! There's simply no need to spend 10K+ for a monstrous pair of horn-loaded speakers; I'd say you should consider trying a lot of alternatives first. Have fun coming up with your own "Best of Show" speaker!

The classic Tannoy dual concentrics are tops in my book. I feel it is only with one of these super-quality, super high sensitivity monitors that you can extract all the beauty inherent in the 2A3. However, if these are not your bag, I would consider Lowthers. For a good source, see: http://users.fastrans.net/classicaudio/Lowther.html. Also, I would suggest you go to the Welborne Labs' website at: http://www.welbornelabs.com/home.htm, and check out the Oris Horns and then, the rest of their "Recommended Speakers for SE Amps." at: http://www.welbornelabs.com/recomendspeaks.htm Finally, in case you are not aware, Dr. Harvey "Gizmo" Rosenberg, self-proclaimed Guildmeister of the Triode Guild has THE definitive, must-read website for SE lovers, at: http://www.meta-gizmo.com/Tri/index-1.html Good luck!

Thanks for all your advice. I've learned a lot and will be able to make a better informed choice. But the job is not getting easier, and I'll have to spend a lot of time auditioning speakers (which will be part of the fun!).

Mjm, how can an opinion be true or false? I would NOT be satisfied with any non-horn speaker of less than 100 dB sensitivity with a single ended 2A3 amplifier.

Phill, your last response belies your blood alcohol level: "I would NOT be satisfied with any NON-horn speaker of LESS than 100 dB..." Is that a double or triple negative? And you wonder if an opinion can be true or false? Just what SET 2A3 amp were you thinking of?