Best speakers for 2A3 SET amplifier?

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.

Trelja -- Is 100 - 110 Db necessary to replicate the full dynamic scale of an orchestra? Having sat in the orchestra with SPL meter in hand, even Wagnerian climaxes barely nudged into the 95- 97 Db range, orchestra in fullest throat. I think what happens is that people confuse the sheer volume pressure of air being moved by the orchestra with loudness (even a soft tympani strike will move lots of air, albeit at very low volume) -- and no home speaker of any stripe will reproduce that effect with realism, horn, planar, or dynamic design. So instead, the volume control moves skyward to compensate, to give us that feeling of being enveloped in huge masses of air -- and we wind up listening at levels that far exceed the actual concert levels (please note that this applies to an unamplified symphonic concert orchestra -- the last Who concert I attended went waaaay over 110 Db, but then, my ears rang for quite some time afterward! Have you ever left a 3 hour Mahler concert complaining of the loudness?). So in my former living room, peaks in the mid-nineties were indeed sufficient to reproduce realistic levels, i.e., the actual concert level -- but as noted, no speaker will allow you to believe that 120 instruments are playing in that same 10' x 20' room.

Mjm, I understand your points. I myself, do not listen very loudly(80 - 90 dB). I am basically relating my experience in dealing with a member of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He came to a store I was involved with for audio equipment. He listened SO loudly 115 db and higher, we all had to leave him to his own devices. Absolutley ear bleeding. He maintained that this was the realistic volume of an orchestra(I guess from where he was sitting). He demanded his equipment be able to play that loud. I would wager that he is not the owner of a 2A3 based system. As I have evolved from quantity of sound to quality of sound, 80 - 90 db is fine for me. This level is certainly attainable with tube or SET amps, and easy to drive loudspeakers. So, I really don't worry. I also maintain that horn or dynamic speaker, if you are happy with your system, THAT is all that matters. Happy listening.

Check out speaker suggestions at Wellborne labs website. They have a comprehensive listing for tube friendly speakers along with links to mfrs.

I recently listened to the new Silverline Sonatina and Sonata driven by a 2A3 SET amp and was blown away. The Sonata was fantastic, with great sound reproduction over a wide frequency range, excellent resolution, air, soundstaging, etc. Moreover, the stated efficiency was 96 dB with an even impedance of 8 ohms. A number of us thought that the sound was comparable or better than the JMLab Utopia at 1/5th the cost! I am going to sell my Coincident Super Eclipses and buy a pair of Sonatas!