I have a Dynaco ST-35 (17.5 watt per channel) tube amp and it drives my Bryston Mini-T speakers beautifully. Sound is smooth and enveloping in a fairly large room..
The Bryston Mini-Ts will surprise you.
The Bryston Mini-Ts will surprise you.
Efficient bookshelf speakers for my new (and amazing!) Still Audio EL84 integrated
Hi everyone,
I recently purchased a used pair of Contrast Audio stand mount speakers that are rated 92db, 16ohm with the intention of pairing them with a tube integrated. After some research, I decide to go with the Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier (10wpc). I'm extremely impressed by both the build quality and the sound of the amp. It drives the speakers to good volume levels. And Mark Still's customer service has been exemplary.
What I'm not impressed with, unfortunately, is the Contrast Audio speakers. Since I purchased them used I don't know what might have happened to them before they reached me. The highs are wooden, hollow, grainy, and artificial. I've tried them with a more powerful solid state amp, and the result was the same. They're very well broken in at this point.
So, I'm looking for some recommendations on a stand mount speaker with good efficiency and a reasonably flat impedance. Ideally, I'd like to find a speaker that has actually been tested to confirm its efficiency. I've read quite a few reviews on speakers that have specs in the mid to high 90s but that test in the 86-89 range.
I've looked at the websites for Omega, Blumenstein, and Coherent. The specs all look good, but there are no actual measurements. If any of you have experience with a speaker or can point me in the direction of a review with measurements that confirm high efficiency, I'd appreciate the info. My budget is $2500ish.
Thanks so much, Scott
I recently purchased a used pair of Contrast Audio stand mount speakers that are rated 92db, 16ohm with the intention of pairing them with a tube integrated. After some research, I decide to go with the Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier (10wpc). I'm extremely impressed by both the build quality and the sound of the amp. It drives the speakers to good volume levels. And Mark Still's customer service has been exemplary.
What I'm not impressed with, unfortunately, is the Contrast Audio speakers. Since I purchased them used I don't know what might have happened to them before they reached me. The highs are wooden, hollow, grainy, and artificial. I've tried them with a more powerful solid state amp, and the result was the same. They're very well broken in at this point.
So, I'm looking for some recommendations on a stand mount speaker with good efficiency and a reasonably flat impedance. Ideally, I'd like to find a speaker that has actually been tested to confirm its efficiency. I've read quite a few reviews on speakers that have specs in the mid to high 90s but that test in the 86-89 range.
I've looked at the websites for Omega, Blumenstein, and Coherent. The specs all look good, but there are no actual measurements. If any of you have experience with a speaker or can point me in the direction of a review with measurements that confirm high efficiency, I'd appreciate the info. My budget is $2500ish.
Thanks so much, Scott