Recommended Speaker for Triode Amp

Thanks Guys.

A family emergency just came up and I'll be out of town. Please continue if you like without me. I'll then have good info when I get back to review.

Thanks guys, I will check these out.

I have a question! Are the horns mentioned above compatible with a fairly small room (15 x 13 x 10h)?

I checked out the KCS speakers, but I have no room for a sub and not sure if the bookshelf models would give me the low end I need.

Good Stuff.

I checked out the thread Almarg, and it is quite lengthy but informative, so thanks. The Audio Notes look appealing and I may be able to pull off the room corner setup. What's easiest, is that I can see the dealer's audio store on the hillside with my spotting scope because I'm in Boulder. At least, I can listen to the ANs.

Audiokinesis, are you refering to the F8-X1 or W8-X2-08 speakers? John only seems to have info on these two models, the third is the sub-bass system.

Thanks for getting involved John and providing such helpful insight. I will keep your suggestions in mind.

The field is starting to narrow...so thanks everyone!

Thanks Rleff, does anyone else have experience with the Merlins? I'm asking because of it's 89dB sensitivity.

Sorry, but I've never been a fan of Klipsch. Another thing I can't explain logically. It may be worth giving them another try because when I heard them last might have been under unfair conditions (wrong type of amplification).

Looks like I'll be leaving tomorrow to take care of family stuff, so I thought I'd add this. I've checked out the designs of KCS, Audiokinesis, Audio Note, Altec 19, and Tannoy speakers, plus others I’m a little hazy about. These are all beautiful and well executed speakers. I do have a question or two.

Even though I can tuck speakers into my room’s corners this would be on the long wall (15’). The speakers would face me across the short wall (13’). My concern is the limited space behind my listening position which is only two feet. This works for the Thiels but they’re away from the corners and rear walls, so about eight feet from me. I had read a review of two Audio Note speakers by Art Dudley (Stereophile) who thought these speakers benefited by having considerable space behind the listener…”I heard the smoothest response when sitting far from any and all room boundaries.” I can’t do that. In fact, if I want to form the proverbial triangle, I would need to pull back my chair closer to the back wall.

Does anyone have experience or opinion about setting up an Audio Note in my space? Many of the pictures I’ve seen from other manufacturers also tend to place their speakers near corners or they are considerably toed-in. When considering these other brands, are there ones that would work well in my room? For example, set up like my Thiels?

I'm finally back (from NYC), and thanks for the additional information.

I checked out the Zu line and they look like a good match for my room's setup. Perhaps the Essence would be a winner, so does anyone have experience with that speaker?

The Partial Eclipse also looks like a compatible design for my room. Good stuff. I will do some research on these designs.

Br3098 - I listen to classic rock but I have mellowed a bit with age. For example, lately I've been playing David Crosby's, If I Could Only Remember My Name and some Dire Straits, the Dead's Reckoning, and The Pentangle's first. These are all vinyl. I really don't need to shake the earth and my Thiels won't, but they do go deep enough to keep that grin on my face. For the most part I mostly listen to jazz and world music, but when I'm feeling dark I'll put on a politically incorrect and twisted Velvet Underground album and then I'm back in The City again.

BTW - The Thiels throw a wide enough soundstage but it's not very deep. This is another characteristic that I crave.

Thanks David, this is a good basis to go by. I will check out your recommendations.

One thing to note is that I'm not using a SET amp, nor is there a 300B involved. I'm having built a one-of-a-kind triode integrated using original Dynaco A470 transformers by Sam's Audio Labs. Besides the transformers, the circuitry is new and Sam uses a push-pull topology with EL34s and his own compensating circuits. Sam usually does restorations and transformations but this is more like a prototype.

Thanks John, I will check them out!

I have shortened my list for room size (small) and setup which now includes:

1. Daedalus DA-RMa - I've heard that they're better with a higher powered tube amp. Anyone?

2. Legacy Focus

3. Sound Quest H-12 - Very little info on these.

4. Audiokinesis Jazz Modules - Best value???

5. Robert Bastani's Prometheus MKII - Has anyone heard or own these?

6. I will check out the Devore 9.

7. I will contact KCS down the road to see what they can do.

8. I wish I could get the Horning Aristoteles.

Good information, thanks guys.

Rrsclyde - The DA-RMa's are boxey speakers. How's the depth of soundstage with them?

Keith, that's a good quaestion and it's going to be an experiment. I guess you can call it Kennythekeys Amp (Integrated)...I'm not kidding.

It's a one-of-a-kind design by Sam Kim of Sam's Audio Labs, and he's building it now based on the feedback I gave him. All I can say, is to check out his website. He normally does restorations and tranformations but he's starting with a raw and empty Eico chassis, adding original (A470) Dynaco ST-70 transformers, and then taking it from there. He's designing the circuitry as we speak (Full Triode). In other words, he's inventing it...How's that for a leap of faith??? Anyway, I have a money back guarantee that I will love the sound...So, no worries.

Sam believes that the amp will handle my Thiel 3.6s (86dB)!!! If it does and I love it, I will then have more time to save up more money for my new speakers.

Has anyone heard the Classic Audio Productions T-5?

Thanks Dpe. I guess I misread the cost on the CAR website. I thought it was $6,460. Bummer.

I'll check out the Sonist.