Warm Sounding Speakers

another ditto to unsound

Other tweaks that warm up sound. If the tube buffer is an option then choose the 6SN7 based ones like the Grant Fidelity recommended above. Warm 6SN7s are still likely to be truly the best if NOS. The RCA Red Base 5692 tube wj=hile expensive is warm as are other 5692 s which are drop in subs for 6SN7s. Add Ken Rad 6SN7s GTs to the list as well. Although wildly expensive the Brimar Black Glass Brown Bass CV1988 is an incredibly good 6SN7. The cheapest of the lot of warm 6SN7s IMO of course is the Green Label Sylvania GTBs, the various other Sylvanias are good to great but not as warm.
The next trick is to use good Copper IC and Speaker Cables. The warmest in my mind is the Cardas Golden Refs, expensive you'll prolly have to buy used. Look for Cardas anythings with Golden in the name, I am not joking. Also Jena Labs but even the entry level stuff is expensive.
You could just buy an older CJ pre amp for less and get warm sound that way.
Rembember tube power amps are your best bet in the end, I just don't advocate ARC for warmth they are clean crisp precise and defined (it's in their slogan.)

Why no one suggest Harbeth Shl5! Warm and magical in the mids with tubes and SS.

I should think the "snap" of a snaredrum is above sub frequencies, around 1.5-2khz, so I don't see how that would be addressed by having warm speakers on the end of a "sterile" amp that you "probably will never like"!

But if you insist on finding those, Opera and Spendor come to mind.

06-06-12: Loftarasa
I should think the "snap" of a snaredrum is above sub frequencies, around 1.5-2khz, so I don't see how that would be addressed by having warm speakers on the end of a "sterile" amp that you "probably will never like"!

I've been playing drums for 49 years and have realized for some time that the fundamental on a snare drum is deceptively low in frequency. This chart seems to confirm that. Of course the strength of the fundamental varies with shell size and frequency wlth tuning. Nevertheless the chart show the snare drum reaching down to 100 Hz, just above the low E on a guitar and well into woofer terrritory. A warmer speaker will give more whump or fundamental to a snare drum.

This is even true in rock; many metal and other hard rock drummers use fairly large snare drums with 7" and 8" deep shells. Blues, much jazz, and New Orleans music often have a loosely tuned snare drum and won't sound right without a little warmth.