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Best High Efficiency Speakers

wcarpenter said:
Hey All,

I'd love some recommendations for high efficiency speakers. I'd be running them out of a Miniwatt N3 (3.5wpc) with a MF V-Dac w/Macbook Pro as the source.
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I was looking at that Miniwatt N3 just a couple nights ago. Small, simplistic, and looks sharp.
I have plans (if/when) one of the grand daughters visit later this summer. I plan on moving my Reylon (2A3-tubes) from the spare room into my bedroom. Then that N3 came to mind. I'll be pondering about it off & on for awhile. Just don't know what to do yet. But I think that little N3 has some cool factor - to me.

Currently running the Relyon low power amp to B2111s. I had picked up a pristine pair of JBL L20T's but I guess I'm not used to them.

Will be interesting what you end up with for the N3.
 
wcarpenter said:
The Zus seem to be an oddly polarizing speaker. In all honesty, I have a hard time understanding the hostility. I've read a number of threads and the negative opinions just don't line up with what I've heard. "I found they had an amazing lack of bass, terrible imaging, shrill, phasey, driving an icepick into your ears sound." I have a hard time believing we were listening to even similar speakers! The Omens were quite bassy and not at all shrill or phasey. The imaging was less than pinpoint precise, but they threw a stable center image and a had plenty of soundstage for me. I guess I have relatively untrained ears by virtue of my age, but I've heard a lot of great (and terrible) audio gear in my life. Some of it was definitely better than the Zu stuff, but all so at a much higher price.

I totally understand the quest for absolute tonal fidelity, but given the starting point of my amp, its not a realistic goal for this particular set up. When I heard the Omens with the MiniWatt, I had a great time! Listening was fun. I really enjoyed them. I'm totally open to other options, but I'd love to head off the relentless Zu negativity I've run into on this forum. Aural preference is a very real thing and debating it on the internet just gets everyone pissed off. Studio monitors aren't my thing. I've heard them and moved on. They have their place, but my dorm room isn't it.

The Wharfedales sound really great. I'll keep my eye out for them. Where's the best place to look for something of that nature?

The ADS look pretty great too. That particular model looks absolutely huge, but a smaller model would be a definite contender. My father grew up of ADS and Mac, so I'm well aware of their excellence. I'll keep my eye open for a pair of those.

Thanks for all of the help guys!
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Based on the wording of that review, I suspect it was from me. I keep trying to listen to Zu Speakers when I have the opportunity, thinking I'm missing something, but then I get the opportunity, cringe, and move on. It's interesting to me that I've heard a number of speakers using very similar compression drivers and woofers with very good results. It may just be a case of Zu going out of their way to create a "sound" that is very unique to them and it's not the least bit appealing to me. The imaging wasn't stable, moving around the room slightly changed the tone of the speakers, portions of the sound seemed to disappear.

I've never really seen a more visibly polarizing speaker than the Druid. At the fest years ago, I sat in the demo room with them and watched people. I'd say 30% cringed and left, 60% sat for 5 minutes with a look of bewilderment, 5% seemed genuinely excited and 5% started acting twitchy like they wanted to escape before anything trapped them in that room unnecessarily, a look of pure unadulterated panic.

While I exaggerate slightly with the last bit, they very clearly turned off a lot of people. While listening, squidward and I were sitting around and at one point, they started to sound slightly better. It turned out that the only Zu makes worse than speakers are subwoofers, they had that one note car audio bandpass bass coming from their subwoofers. I'm genuinely a subwoofer fan, but that experience helped me figure out why so many people have a negative attitude about subs.

If you can listen to some Adire Audio HE12.1s locally (might be a stretch), it would be worth seeking out. If you have any DIY inkling, they are easy to build and do everything well that the Zus do, and don't have the downsides. Also, the econowave speakers often mentioned could be a healthy upgrade over most anything Zu with some care. If you aren't into diy or don't have time, I'm not trying to push you that way, just offering options.
 
titanstats said:
Not a bad idea! Forgot about those -- ruthlessly efficient, and sound nice. Made during an era when efficient speakers were no longer the norm, they weren't as popular as Wharfedale had hoped, so they go cheaper than they should (at least they used to). The footprint on them would be just about right for you, too. If I was in your situation, I think I'd keep on the lookout for a pair from this series -- much nicer sound than many mentioned here, IMHO. :)
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I have the Wharfedale E-50's and really like the sound and cab construction but they are funky looking and do not integrate into most interiors well if that is an issue. Driven by my Sansui tube amp they sound way better than you would think they could. They do well with all types of music but do not go real low. Horn tweet looks cheap but sounds good and not shrill yet semi bright.
 
wcarpenter said:
Hey All,

I'd love some recommendations for high efficiency speakers. I'd be running them out of a Miniwatt N3 (3.5wpc) with a MF V-Dac w/Macbook Pro as the source.

I've heard mixed reviews of the Zu line. The Omen seems like a good option, but I don't want to end up with something bad. The Klipsch series is pretty high efficiency, but the horn loaded tweeter worries me a bit. Also, there doesn't seem to much in the way of info on them.

I'd love to keep the price at or below $1000. I'm only 16, so a $250,000 Avantgarde set-up probably isn't ideal just yet.

Thanks
Walker

Edit: They'd be in a very small dorm room (think 10x10 or maybe 15x10.) In addition, I'm stranded in the woods of New Hampshire, so auditioning isn't possible.
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That poses a big challenge, because what sounds good to one person might not have something that another likes. And rooms play a massive part in the sound reaching listeners ears. The same speaker can sound different in 20 different rooms.
 
Sorry, but Altec A7s are the most efficient bang for the buck there is. With a little EQ there is nothing finer or louder, the rest just pale in comparison. I used to play records at the local 150’ vertical drop ski slope. Outside, in 0 deg. F. dead calm weather, with no EQ and about 150 watts, and playing the Eagles or Steely Dan, the kids loved it.
 
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One thing doesn't appear to have been mentioned is using the corners that nobody seems to use, i.e., flying your speakers. I have a set of beakers rated for 125 lbs, which could fly most anything that's been mentioned here, even some 828 A7 cabs. How tall is the ceiling? What sturdy is the construction? How motivated are you?
 
Don't you hate that? Why would I want the phone to spell for me? I paid for the phone and ONLY I will choose the words' spelling!
 
I had Klipsch Heresy speakers in my dorm room. By the end of my first semester I had corrupted everyone on my wing.

For some reason they stuck me on the study floor. Everyone who came to complain was invited in for a beer and some of Gods greatest herbal creation. We would listen to some Zappa and they went away happy. By the end of the year I had to put up a sign up sheet for available listening times. Once a month we moved my stereo to the common area for the monthly kegger.

How things have changed. You can't have alcohol on campus anymore even if you are 21 and in your dorm room.

The rest of the system was a Sansui AU 505, BIC turntable, Stanton 681 EEE cartridge, and a TEAC cassette deck. No IPhones, IPads, IPods in those days. Just a PayPhone in the hall that couldn't even play MP3's.
 
in order for speaker be considered efficient technically i believe it has to be at least 100-110db@1w. lot of PA speakers are known to be very efficient cause they need to get loud and handle lots of power to reach crazy SPL's for parties and clubs. still tho 100db is crazy i personally think. i barely even listen to 89db-90db range and my room is about same size as yours. maybe foot or two bigger.
 
JonVH said:
Don't you hate that? Why would I want the phone to spell for me? I paid for the phone and ONLY I will choose the words' spelling!
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How bout the guy that typed in he was over at his mothers house inspecting her china and auto correct changed china to vagina. That's just a little embarrassing.
 
johnda said:
I think that my Polk Monitor 30's and PSW10 subwoofer might do well with a low powered unit because the sub is self powered (50 watts). The space required is less than you would need with a larger floor standing system. I'm using them in a 12x14 room, the Monitor 30 speakers are wall mounted and the sub woofer fits in the stereo cabinet. The sub-woofer takes up some space, but it's not too big. Just a thought.
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I have a pair of those Polk Monitor 30's that I use with a modded Magnavox 8601 single-ended tube amp (5-7 w/c or so). At 89db efficiency, they aren't exactly thunderous at low power by themselves, but the sound is clean and nice. Agreed that you'd probably want to pair with a nice sub and you'll really love them. In my setup, by themselves, I usually end up EQ'ing the bass up a decent amount to get the punch I'm looking for.

My follow-up question for the thread. Anyone out there have any other recommendations for a good speaker match specifically for a 5w SET/SEP 4ohm tube amp setup? I'm ideally looking for something that:

  • Warm and fully, but punchy sound with above setup. No tone controls on this system so ideally would sound good without adulteration.
  • Doesn't have to break chandeliers with volume or SPL (2 year old and 5 year old child's parents in apartment above will be most appreciative)
  • Apartment-friendly sized and a high WAF/GAF a major plus (probably can't look like Marty's guitar speaker from Back to the Future)
  • Would prefer to buy them with all of the glue dried already... I've got enough DIY on my plate right now!

:D
 
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Hey Walker. I see this thread is a little old and you have probably already purchased some high efficiency speakers. But, if you haven't already, I would very much recommend the Tekton Design 8.1en speaker. I own a pair (in Ferrari red no less!) and they are simply amazing. In my opinion they don't lack bass at all, and the mids and highs are fantastic. They also seem to fit what you're looking for - bookshelf size, high efficiency (97db if I remember correctly). They are extremely well made and beautiful.

Just my two cents...

Muttly
 
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