Best speakers for 2A3 SET amplifier?

Phil, I wasn't denying your right to your opinion -- I didn't say that everyone would be happy with less efficient speakers, as you obviously would not be. But if you read Kweifi's latest post, you might agree, given the size of the room and the intended use, that he could possibly be satisfied with lesser dynamics or sheer loudness than might satisfy you in favor of other trade-offs, so your blanket rule might not apply to his particular case. So enjoy your system in peace -- but please don't state that your "need" applies to everyone, as I, for one, certainly don't "need" 100+ dB horns to enjoy my 2A3 and 300B-based systems, okay? You didn't say that "you" need those horns and he might too -- you made a rule for everyone, everywhere, who owns 2A3 amps, that horns, and 100+ dB ones at that, are "needed," thus denying anyone else the right to an opinion that differs from yours. BTW, what horns do you have? I'm curious if I've ever heard them, or if you designed and built them yourself. Regards, Mjm

Mjm, his original question asked what is the BEST speaker for a 3.5 watt amp. He didn't specify anything else in his original question. As such, I recommended a horn. Why? Because a quality horn will play all types of music well. A dynamic speaker can't play symphonic music at anything close to realistic levels on 3.5 watts. I have Avantgarde Duos.

Phill -- Not to beat a dead horse, but there are many who think that horns play no music well (I hasten to add I'm not in that camp -- but also to add that I've never heard a horn that plays "everything" well). And your response was, to quote fully: "You need a horn over 100 dB sensitivity." That's it -- no more. Any "quality" horn? Klipsches? Altec VOTs? Or only your multi-kilobuck horns? What defines "quality?" You've heard horns that fully reproduce the bottom octave? Where? You've heard every dynamic speaker, and not one will reproduce music well on 3.5 watts? Brentworths? Lowthers? And what are "realistic levels?" The average low 80s dB of the concert hall? Or must realistic levels include ear damage and pants flapping? Most audiophile society meetings I've attended have featured music at headache-inducing levels -- is this realistic enough? I can attest that both ProAcs and Von Schweikerts, for example, will do full-scale concert dynamics in a 10 x 20 room, with overhead to spare, on a typical 2A3 amp. And there are many other candidates...have you heard all of them? Any of them? Or are you just telling everybody that you like your speakers, and everyone else needs 100+ dB horns because you do? Or is it possible that your best is not the best for everyone, everywhere?

It is impossible for any Proac or Von Schweikert to do full-scale concert dynamics in a 10x20 room on a typical 2A3 amp. Haven't heard the Brentworth, but don't bother to mention that Lowther junk! I'd rather take a drill to my head than listen to Lowthers.

I agree with the statement disputing the claim, both "ProAcs and Von Schweikerts, for example, will do full-scale concert dynamics in a 10 x 20 room, with overhead to spare, on a typical 2A3 amp." To me, "full scale concert dynamics" range from 100 - 110+ dB. A 5 watt amp, powering even a flat 8 ohm, 93 dB sensitive speaker, would not be able to reach those levels "with room to spare". I am love with a certain 3.6 watt 2A3(and will hopefully buy one). As great as this amp is, with the dynamic speakers I have listened to it with(more benign loads than any Von Schweikert), it never had this kind of drive. Yes, it is ADEQUATE(and a WONDERFUL) amp, but you are making a similar analogy to a car being able to pull a freight train. Ain't going to happen. Let's rejoice in the beauty of a great 2A3(and its superior sound compared to a 300B), but we need to remain realistic.