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Speaker and Cable Suggestions Please

Greetings, some time ago (maybe over a year ago) I asked for some advice as to what tube integrated amp to buy. It was to be my first tube amp and I needed a lot of help. After a long search and much study, I decided on an ARC VSi75. Now I need your help again. I currently have a pair of Focal Aria 926. My listening room is small, 15'7" x 11'7" (4.75m x 3.5m).

I'm looking for a speaker for a near-field situation that extends into the upper mids and high frequencies. Since my amp puts out 75 watts of output, I need something with decent sensitivity, say at least 91db. I also need new speaker cables. I'm using circa 1980s Monster Cable now.

One more consideration, I have lost some hearing due to a neurological autoimmune condition. Yet, when I auditioned Paradigm Persona Bs recently through an ARC, I could here all the sound that I remember hearing when I was a teenager. The point being, I know that upper range I'm chasing is possible I just don't know if it's achievable on my budget. I have about $4,000 to spend on speakers and cables. I was thinking about DH Lab Q-10 for cables and the rest for speakers. What do you guys think? I don't mind buying used. Thank you.

diminishedchord

Showing 3 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,495 posts
 

Congradulations on your new amp. Great choice.

High quality audio systems can make up for reduced hearing. I think mostly by revealing the whole spectrum of sound in the music. If you miss a bit of the real high frequency, it just isn’t that obvious. Most sound are pretty large spreads across the spectrum and things like snare drums have a very high dynamic impact so, the stand out.

There are lots of great speakers out there, I would look at Sonus Faber and DynAudio for sure. A very classic combo is Sonus Faber, Audio Research and Transparent wires.

 

I would not worry about fancy speaker cables right now. I would get the best possible speakers you can afford… maybe used… a few years old. This can get you into a category well above the one you would be looking in new.

 

Then get your speakers… break them in, get to know them really well.. Five hundred hours or more. Which can easily be a year. Then when you are financially recovered start looking for speaker cables. Do the same kind of work you did picking out your speakers. This way you will be able to audition cables and know when you tried the right one.

 

This method will hel- assure you you are getting the most out of your purchases.

ghdprentice
6,495 posts
 

@curiousjim 

I remember early on I was inclined to get expensive speaker cables immediately, I think to throw everything at the speaker purchase to make sure I could hear a difference that would justify the financial outlay I made for the speakers. I would not be surprised if that isn’t common. Lots of time there is a lot of anxiety on these large purchases.

 

Over time, the anxiety disappeared with experience and confidence in my judgement increased and I started making more logical decisions and worked in stages to upgrade my system. 

ghdprentice
6,495 posts
 

@curiousjim

😊👍

 

My speakers are 90db efficient. I am running my ARC 160 in triode mode… so 70wpc. I could blow my ears out ( I had some youngsters over here that wanted to see if they could damage their ears).

 

I would think 60wpc would be plenty. Your room is not huge so maybe less. Tubes do not suffer / benefit with too little / much power like solid state.

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