Speaker recommendations (older vinyl tube rig)

[fxer1982]

Hi Everyone,

Chasing some speaker recommendations for a rig consisting of a Thorens TD160 mk2 turntable and an old Pioneer SA400 integrated amp (6BM8/ECL82, 11 watts per side).

Currently running Wharfedale Diamond 9s. Looking to upgrade.

Budget: USD 500
Genres I like: Classic rock, Trip-Hop

Slight preference toward vintage speakers given my rig but willing to entertain something recent.

Thanks.

nothing sounds a great as a vintage pair of Altec Lansing speakers with tubes. i have a pair of model 17's driven by a push/pull 6v6G 1940 blacklate Raytheon tubes about 11 watts a side stereo along with a tube stereo pre amp. blows me right out of my house if i turn it up to much....so great imaging, voicing of instruments, from Metallica to full on symphony...mine are 1974 issue..117 dbl 1 watt at 1 meter, 10 HZ - 20KHZ..150 lbs each

 

[Akustic]

Wow. Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

Regarding implementation of a powered sub on an old amp like the SA-400 that only has one set of speaker outs - presumably the sub would connect in parallel with the Wharfedales and this would change the reflected impedance that the output transformer sees?

The amp has a 8 and 16 ohm speaker switch, so I would need to pick a sub with an impedance of say, (6 + X)/2 = 8, X=10 ohm (give or take) and run the amp on the 8 ohm setting?

The impedance of a powered sub won't be seen by the Pioneer so it isn't relevant as long as the sub is powered ....

If you can find a powered sub that includes a high pass (They aren't common but they are out there), then you will be relieving the Pioneer of even attempting to drive any frequency below the high pass frequency ..
You would essentially be bi-amping and using the sub's big amp for any frequencies below the high pass and the Pioneer + Wharfdales for the frequencies above the high pass setting ..
As long as you're careful about setup and can keep the sub between the Wharfdales it should integrate fairly well .. your ear won't be able to tell who's producing what in the bass notes ..

It's a good solution for you because the frequencies below about 100hz are what require the power that the Pioneer simply can't provide..and you otherwise seem to like the Pioneer and the Wharfdales that you already have ..
New speakers will just complicate your picture ..

 

[opnly bafld]

New speakers will just complicate your picture ..

Or he could be a lot happier with his system.

 

[Akustic]

Or he could be a lot happier with his system.

Could is definitely the operant word here .. and maybe a lot unhappier..
Speakers are always a coin flip ..

And hopefully he has the space for the much bigger speakers that are pretty much a necessity in this case ..
Without added size there's not gonna be much more oopmph than there already is ..

 

[opnly bafld]

Could is definitely the operant word here .. and maybe a lot unhappier..
Speakers are always a coin flip ..

So are you now saying there is a possibility that new speakers won't "just complicate things"?

He could even try Wharfedales with a larger woofer.

 

[Akustic]

So are you now saying there is a possibility that new speakers won't "just complicate things"?

He could even try Wharfedales with a larger woofer.

and not like them ... yes
and then try and try to find a pair that he does like ..
You didn't just "happen" to fall upon the amp speaker combinations that you're listening to did you ??
We all buy em and try em ..

 

[opnly bafld]

and not like them ... yes
and then try and try to find a pair that he does like ..
You didn't just "happen" to fall upon the amp speaker combinations that you're listening to did you ??
We all buy em and try em ..

As a matter of fact I live in the middle of nowhere and buy most things based on research and knowing a little bit about what I like and don't like, it has served me very well. Only a few of duds in 30 years and a lot of enjoyment from the rest.
Some places even give an at home trial period.

You seem to deal in absolutes, I just disagree, life rarely works like that.
Sometimes we find things that we like even better.