Speakers for low power SET, nearfield, low volume?


I'm currently entertaining the idea of building a setup around a low power SET amplifier (e.g. 2A3 tube). I'm a complete amateur however when it comes to low power SET amps and am not sure whether there exist speakers that will fit my extremely atypical wishes for this particular secondary setup.

The setup will be in a small room and I will be listening in very close nearfield (max 3 meters) location at relatively low volumes (conversation volume level, so probably max decibels in the 70s)
I'm a big fan of fast yet smooth speakers; I will most likely be listening to music that leans on the complex side of things
Bookshelf-type (large is okay) speakers preferred over floorstanders; most likely not much space behind the speakers
I am not particularly worried about bass volume for this setup
My budget is under $1,500 USD for a pair
Speakers in current production are preferred

Due to my plans for the low volume level I'll be listening at, I am not sure if I should be looking into high efficiency speakers for the SET tube amp or if any typical speaker will be fine. Judging from what I've seen so far, it looks like most high sensitivity speakers go far beyond my budget and are large floorstanders. Does anyone have any thoughts on what I should be looking for in my particular case? (My only listening experience with extremely low power SET has been limited to hearing large and glorious horns at audio fests. I did not get the chance to personally handle the setups though so I don't know if smaller horns sound any good at low volumes.)

Thanks so very much to everyone for the assistance!
saberdesu

Showing 3 responses by seikosha

I've just converted to a low powered setup in a small room. I'm using Omega Super 3XRS speakers (94db)which replaced a setup alternating between Kef LS50's, Harbeth P3's and Silverline Minuets. I couldn't be happier with the sound. Super coherent, very fast with great imaging/soundstage capabilities.

The Omegas have plenty of power and then some for my 4 watt amp and they meet your budget requirements.
@Brianportugal...I greatly prefer the Omegas to the Kef's and Silverlines. They image better, are much more dynamic at the listening levels I experience and once you hear the coherence of a single driver, you really do start noticing everything that goes on when you have a speaker trying to make two completely different drivers trying to sound the same when playing music. It's odd, until I had the Omegas, I really liked both the Kef's and Minuets and would have been skeptical that a single driver would have outperformed them for me in the way that the Omegas have.

In the rooms I played the Kef's in, I always had that typical upper bass hump going on that is common with two ways. The Silverlines were better in this regard. Surprisingly, going down to just below 60hz, the Omegas measure the flattest in my room at my listening chair using a simple SPL meter and test CD.

Obviously being high efficiency lets you play them with low powered tube amps too which is a huge plus. If your room isn't too large and you don't blast your music and you prefer tubes, they are worth a serious listen.