PP amp + High sensivity speakers dilemma


So here's the situation.
Recent experience with high sens (91 and 94) single driver speaker has  won me over from the low (87db) speaker design. 
Seems the SET is  the ideal match for high sensitivity ~~FR~~ driver.

I recently made upgrades to the Defy7 and am not willing to part with the amp and take a loss. At least not yet, until i recover from my $1800 loss upgrading the 87db speakers which are sitting in a  corner right now.
Was thinking just now, 
what if we swap out the 12 KT88's for a  dozen EL34's, 
The 34's come in at a  much lower watt output 25, vs the 88's 40 watts.
This  might allow a  bit more flexibility on using more gain on the linestage vol knob. 
Also what if we bias the EL34's a  bit lower than specs. This might also lower watt output thus giving a  tad more ability to use more gain on the linestage volume knob.
Right now i only use 9oclock vol on the DLP linestage, both with the Seas Thors 87 db and also with the 91 6.5 FR which I am using now, 
Tonight i will pick upa  pair of Sony cabinets off CL and install the 94db FR 8 inch.

Its definetly more sens vs the 91db, speaker, so maybe even at the low 9 oclock gain it may come a  bit too forward for my preference.
I listen to low/mid volume, as I use music more as a backdrop while reading. 
In some years after i recover from all the mods/tweaks i;'ve made in my system past year, i will purchase a  LM 845 amplifer.
I have intentions adding a  new high sens driver which will  be  rated 98db. 
Now here is where there may be issues with the 100 watt PP amplifier. 
Perhaps Richard Gray may install a  Italian 47 step attenuator which will provide more volume control on the Jadis DPL linestage. = Can use a  high vol gain.
My 88's have about 1500 hrs, so its getting close to buy new power tubes.
Bottom Q is
EL34/biased a  bit low + 97 db sens speaker,, maybe i can just squeeze by  with this lopsided matching,  for some years, til i can get cash for a  845 SET. 
Doable?
All ideas welcomed. 


mozartfan
particular sound of the alternative tube. I happen to prefer the sound of some lower output tubes than the KT88, but, that is a personal preference. If your amp can accept alternative tubes, or your tech can modify the amp to accept such tubes, you could try the EL34's you mentioned or my preferred tubes which are KT66's or 6L6's.

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I'll run these possibilities over with Richard when he opens his shop up either sunday or monday.
I'm thinking the EL34 or your suggestion KT88/6L6 might also be  a  better choice

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Look larryi, now i know you've been with me  these past few days, on the low ssns vs high sens, debate.
I have to be honest here and now....
I just got ina pair of 8 94db FR.
And....
Dang it, I might just go back to,,,the Thors,,,ahhh yeah I know i iknow, look how many insults i've been throwing at  xover old traditional designs.

And now after 4 days of mud slinging at xovers,, its possible I might go back to ,,,Thors MTM. 
While listening to the FR ~~SINGLE~~~ driver,, seems, man I  know others here are going to chime in  ~~I TOLD YOU Single was not be all end all speaker~~~~, Yeah I can hear now what they were getting at. Seems the Thors id have a  superior = wider = deeper soundstage. 
Oh man, how did I go from one exteme to the other,.,,,look, this 8 FR and the 6.5 Diatone, although super more sensitive, perahps,,lacks the wider/deeper soundstage, live feeling. 
...
man I can't go back and edit all my slamings on the xover Thors thing. 

I have to take back all my insults  and humbly admit,, I might have been wrong.

I'm thinking we might have possibilites here, as Richard has been on me to get rid of Jadis' cheap vol control and get the AD 41 step attenuator for afr superior sonics. 
Plus adding EL34's may bring in a  braeth of fresh air to the  Defy;'s voicing.

I may hold off on the Vox FR 8's. For right now, while i reassess all my tweaks  like  the attenuator. 
You know I might add a  compression horn tweet for the high fq's as the Millenium lacks that sparkles in the upper registers. 
The DUAL 6.5's Excel just allow a  superior , wider,deeper soundstage vs a  SINGLE driver.

I realize now this is what the xover gang has been attempting to get me to understand, That each design has its drawbacks/weaknesses. 

With a  superior high tech attenuator the DPL  will gain in fidelity performance thus allowing the Defy to benifit and now the Thors can get the power they need to to respond properly, 
Apologies to Seas and all xover designs, Scanspeak, and Troel's Gravensen for my  churlish  comments. 
Back to the Thors. But with a  added compression tweeter. 

Stop overthinking things. This is about simplicity.  Buy a small el84 based amp and sit back for a couple of months.
mozartfan OP

Great amp, this is what Stereophile said about the DF7, you don’t need any preamp that has even more gain with it.

The high input sensitivity is ideal for passive preamp control, while the input impedance is >100k ohms. Input sensitivity: only 950mV in for maximum output.


Was thinking just now,
what if we swap out the 12 KT88’s for a dozen EL34’s,
The 34’s come in at a much lower watt output 25, vs the 88’s 40 watts.

And no gain will remain the same


Cheers George
davidLouis 4 incher just arrived. 
Screwed it into my 12x12x12 DIY cabinet and  the verdict is in, running it no cap, open to the massive 100 watt Defy
Verdict is
~~WINNER~~
Dos thumbs up.
Bass check
mids check
highs, not bad, some roll off.

But for under $200, its a  winner.
FOUR inches.
Tempting to go with the DL 8 FR, but alas, I have my wife financing the Voxativ AC1A's. \
all I got to do is a bunch of house chors  rest of the year, clean toliets and such. 
The things we will do  for  a  stereo system 
;--))
Well now, Just added the Magnovox 1963 tweeter horn witha 2.2uf Mundorf Silver OIl Supreme cap,
Super nice. far superior to the upper range comming out the davidlouis 4 incher.
I havea Jensen midrange horn 1960’s comming next week, rare horn, I know it will completely annihilate the DL 4 inch FR mids.
For $200 I’d say the DL 4 inch FR is a good deal. Most likely beats mids comming out of most xover box speakers including the one that sells for $360,000
But can’t beat the old american engineering from the 1960’s in horns.
My Frankenstein is comming out nice
Seas W18 + DL 4 inch FR + Magnovox tweeter horn(2.2 Mundorf Silver Supreme oil cap). = not bad, , far superior to the Millennium tweet.