Need ideas to match a pair of monitor with 40WPC tube amp

Here are a few i just found that might be good. I think the Salks represent the most exceptional value on the list.
I might not have followed your parameters exactly but did a decent job.

Salk: https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649654271-salk-songsurround-iis-in-pau-ferro-rosewood/
Legacy: https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649651024-leagacy-audio-large-bookshelf-speakers/
ATC https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649672256-atc-scm7-v3-pair-in-cherry-open-box-but-never-installe...
Ascend Acoustics:
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649673078-ascend-acoustics-sierra-2-with-cardas-binding-posts-an...
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649669442-ascend-acoustic-sierra-2-bamboo-raal/
Revel: https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649647620-revel-m20-reference-performa-speakers/
Scansonic: https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649639647-scansonic-mb1-monitors/
Joseph Audio: https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649633132-joseph-audio-rm-7si/

op

i guess you already have the amp

you probably know that if you approach system building from a clean sheet, you shd identify speakers you like and that work in your room, then you get amplification to drive the speaker suitably

there will be older proacs spendors maybe harbeths that will fill your bill - strongly suggest using a rel sub to accompany... makes a world of difference to overall SQ and presentation - otherwise buchardt s300’s will give an almost full range soundscape, some may appear used at a grand a set

I use and would suggest Omega Loudspeakers.  I currently have the Compact Alnico Monitors (w/ Croft Hybrid Integrated), as well as the Super 7 MK2 (w/ Prima Luna PL5 Amp) in play.  

For your budget, there are the 

Super 3i @ $700

https://omegaloudspeakers.com/collections/monitor-speakers/products/super-3i?variant=32116925196

Super 7 MK2 @ 1000

https://omegaloudspeakers.com/collections/monitor-speakers/products/super-7-monitor-speaker?variant=...

These speakers work best with tubes.  Plenty of detail and speed.  They can be finished to your liking.  Even though they are rear ported, they sound pretty good against the back wall.  They are single driver speakers, so they are non-fatiguing and have less distortion.  Vocals and acoustic music are sublime.  Play well at low volumes.   

I think there is only so much you can do with a bedroom system.  The room is chock full of furniture and your listening positions are limited ... you are laying down or in a chair and the room is only so big.  

Get the music to sound good to the ears. as opposed to trying to get the audiophile niceties checklist right.  


Best regards,

Rich   

Triangle Comete, or Focal?

@rar1 

i have been curious about omegas for some time, like their simplicity and efficiency and benign impedance

i have had poor experiences with these types of speakers, the super lightweight drivers seem to have a coloration i disliked... tried cabasses and zu's... maybe i will give these omegas a try

Silverline Minuet Supreme Plus would be great for bedroom and tube friendly, but they do have a small rear port if that’s a dealbreaker.  Where are you placing the speakers?

"i have had poor experiences with these types of speakers, the super lightweight drivers seem to have a coloration i disliked... tried cabasses and zu’s... maybe i will give these omegas a try".

Ditto @jjss49
And here all this time I thought it was just my ears ringing or hyper-sensitivity to ultra efficient speaker drivers. :) Then folks changing tubes to try and make it right with high $ 300B tubes. Seems like low watt tube people are constantly changing tubes and speakers to find the sweet spot.  Too much of a costly balancing act for me. 

My favorite is Dali Spector 2, very inexpensive but sounds great. I have Klipsch Quartets (upgraded) so I know decent sound.

@jjss49 

If you do have interest in the Omegas, give Louis Chochos at Omega a call.  Very helpful guy.  

I have been using the Omegas primarily in my den system for 17 years or so.  Started out with the Super 3i then graduated to the Super 7 MK2 and went with the Alnico Monitors (CAM) when a great price was offered for a pair on the Omega web site store.

The driver has seen improvements over the years.  17 years back I found the whizzer cone gave vocals a bit of 'hooty-ness'.  That has long been dealt with.  I like the Super 7's especially with rock and ballsier music, the driver moves a lot of air.  The Alnico driver at 6 inches is a very nuanced and refined listening.

Tubes make the difference.  I was using a Rega Brio for 5 years and while it was fine, that was the problem ... it was just fine.  

I understand what decooney is saying, but I am not chasing the SET, 300B amp dream with the Omegas.  Doesn't sound like you are either with a 40 wpc amp. I also don't tube roll, not nearly as much as I did 20 years back.  Most new production works out just fine.   

Obviously I think the Omegas are worth a try.  


Rich   

I'd recommend auditioning prior to purchase. EL84 output tubes can really shine on efficient speakers but prefer an "easy" load without much impedance swing. I recall hearing a rare Harbeth NRG series of loudspeaker being driven by a Manley Stingray and being blown away. Synergy matters.

@rar1 

thank you

omega is on the list for down the road

just got a set of spatial m3 sapphires, so hands are full at present - they sound wonderful but even with their somewhat high efficiency, they are not suitable for flea watt amps, so i will come back to omega at some point

I really appreciate everyone so far with your suggestions. Your ideas prompt me to add more information about my references. I like to listen to pop rock, jazz, blues, chamber, male/female vocals. Background music is Cinemix all days when I'm working at home or weekends. My source is high quality Tuner and transport/DAC combo. Vinyl set up is in my main system.
- I have no choice but my future speakers will be against the wall so monitors with front ported bass reflex is desirable 
- As long as the overall sound is musical within my compromising budget and bandwidth is around 50hz  is good enough bass for me. No sub is required since I will listen mostly at normal level at around 9 o'clock or below. 
- I have good experience with single driver/horn loaded design, supertweeters, ribbon tweeters, however as I grow older I keep going back to cone speakers since they give me the most comfort listening to music with hours on end and listening fatigue is much less with cone speakers IMHO.
@rar1 thanks for recommending Omega which I've known for a long time but haven't tried their speaker yet. They are sure look pretty and high quality made. 
@soix Thanks for recommending Silver line speakers. I'm very familiar with them as I owned a few models of their floor standers in the past. I may consider their mini monitor and the specs looks good.
@grinnell I had the Comet before and quite familiar with Triangle's line ups. Thanks.
@aburnhamuu thanks but the Dali Spector 2 is rear ported so I have to rule it out. The price is incredible cheap though and Dali has been around for years so I trusted your opinion.
@jjss49 I love Spendors since I currently own the Eiii Type C pairs. I may try to look for small older ProAcs, I keep hearing good things about Harbeth however I'm not fond of their boxy, rectangular design and they may be too big for my shelf. 
@hilde45 Thanks for recommending those speakers. Some of them I'm not familiar at all but some are quite interesting like Joseph Audio, I like the Revel pair but it's rear ported  :'-(
@ boothroyd I like the Stingray too but again Harbeth is not for me same reason I replied to @jjss49 

Here's something else to consider -- Golden Ear makes three models of bookshelf speakers. I had a set of Aon 2s for several years that I used in an office system that I really enjoyed. They are $900 a pair new and they've been on the market long enough that there should be used models available. The Aon 3 is a shade bigger and costs a bit more. I recently traded my 2s for a pair of their new BRX bookshelf speakers which are listed at $1,600 a pair. They use the midbass and tweeter from GE's reference series and are another step up in sound quality. All of their speakers have passive bass radiators on the sides of the speakers, so can go on a bookshelf as long as you don't have anything against the sides. 

My other speakers are Ohm 1000s and I've also owned Spendor SP1/2Es in the past that I really enjoyed, so that'll give you an idea of my taste in speaker voicing. I had to move on from the Spendors as my wife didn't like the 1970s looking box. I can recommend the GE bookshelfs.