Valve Amp bought!! Now I need some good shelf speakers!
Discussion
For those helping me with my amp purchase on a previous topic.....thanks!
Now I have taken delivery of my second hand class A, valve amp (see pic below)
It has been modified by the previous owner, who seemed to know his onions, and has spent ages 'balancing' the amp (I'm fairly green, so don't know what this entails exactly) but I do know he's tinkered with it as he said the amp lacked bass from new, and now the amp has a lovely sound coming from it with my Kef Q55s.
However, I would like some smaller shelf speakers......but don't want to lose the bass (I realize this might be hard to achieve). Budget under £500.
Anyone recommend either new (or second hand) speakers which would suit a valve amp's sensitive output?
PS The Amp itself is a masterpiece, sounds gorgeous and looks amazing. KT88 valves along with a few others make a very powerful sound. Spec below for those into the detail.
Input Power
110V-240V AVAILABLE
Output Power
ultra-linear 2x 65W RMS, triode state 2x 45W RMS (8 ohm)
Valve / Tubes
KT88x4 6SN7x4 12AX7x2
Frequency
20Hz~100KHz (-1dB,10w/8 ohm)
Signal/Noise Ratio
>8dB "A Weight"
Harmonic Distortion
<0.5%(1KHz60W)
Input Sensitivity
20Kohm
INPUT
Integrated 0.3V Power 0.6V
Consumption
300W
Load impedance
8ohm or 4ohm
Signal Input Level
>300mv
Now I have taken delivery of my second hand class A, valve amp (see pic below)
It has been modified by the previous owner, who seemed to know his onions, and has spent ages 'balancing' the amp (I'm fairly green, so don't know what this entails exactly) but I do know he's tinkered with it as he said the amp lacked bass from new, and now the amp has a lovely sound coming from it with my Kef Q55s.
However, I would like some smaller shelf speakers......but don't want to lose the bass (I realize this might be hard to achieve). Budget under £500.
Anyone recommend either new (or second hand) speakers which would suit a valve amp's sensitive output?
PS The Amp itself is a masterpiece, sounds gorgeous and looks amazing. KT88 valves along with a few others make a very powerful sound. Spec below for those into the detail.
Input Power
110V-240V AVAILABLE
Output Power
ultra-linear 2x 65W RMS, triode state 2x 45W RMS (8 ohm)
Valve / Tubes
KT88x4 6SN7x4 12AX7x2
Frequency
20Hz~100KHz (-1dB,10w/8 ohm)
Signal/Noise Ratio
>8dB "A Weight"
Harmonic Distortion
<0.5%(1KHz60W)
Input Sensitivity
20Kohm
INPUT
Integrated 0.3V Power 0.6V
Consumption
300W
Load impedance
8ohm or 4ohm
Signal Input Level
>300mv
Edited by Magistrate on Sunday 13th March 22:01
Specs are going to play an important role in the decision for which speakers to partner with it.
I'd be looking primarily at high sensitivity 90dB @ 1W/m, as easy a load as possible (fairly benign 6-8 ohm across the range), but not strictly horn loaded.
There's many a nice speaker to be had, and one I would suggest looking for is Zingali - not quite Sonus Faber beauty, but not a kick off it.
I'd be looking primarily at high sensitivity 90dB @ 1W/m, as easy a load as possible (fairly benign 6-8 ohm across the range), but not strictly horn loaded.
There's many a nice speaker to be had, and one I would suggest looking for is Zingali - not quite Sonus Faber beauty, but not a kick off it.
Oh, crying out for some Lowthers, sadly not bookshelf.
Or, some proper Tannoy dual concentrics, again not bookshelf.
Audonote stuff too, I don't think they make bookshelf either.
Secondhand Jamo Concert 8 might be worth finding, they're "bookshelf", although really better standmounted, so footprint same as a floorstander.
Over to others to provide more suggestions.
Or, some proper Tannoy dual concentrics, again not bookshelf.
Audonote stuff too, I don't think they make bookshelf either.
Secondhand Jamo Concert 8 might be worth finding, they're "bookshelf", although really better standmounted, so footprint same as a floorstander.
Over to others to provide more suggestions.
Funny, was just after looking to see what PMC had, and a nice pair of used TB2i's might be just the ticket.
British made too, if that counts for anything.
Although, rear exit for transmission line may mean they need to sit out from the wall more than you'd ideally prefer.
You might be right, Mag, Zingalis weren't cheap, but then who knows what might turn up.
You've nothing to lose by looking.
British made too, if that counts for anything.
Although, rear exit for transmission line may mean they need to sit out from the wall more than you'd ideally prefer.
You might be right, Mag, Zingalis weren't cheap, but then who knows what might turn up.
You've nothing to lose by looking.
Edited by PJ S on Sunday 13th March 22:11
http://www.hi-fishop.com/OldItems/zingalioverture1...
Don't know if they're still available - if you go to the old items index page, you'll see they were added in November last year.
Still, fire off an email or call.
Doing some more digging around the web brought these mentioned a fair bit - http://ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers... and similarly these - http://www.swanspeaker.com/products/products.aspx?...
Not sure if either have a UK distributor though, but the former makes for some interesting reading.
Don't know if they're still available - if you go to the old items index page, you'll see they were added in November last year.
Still, fire off an email or call.
Doing some more digging around the web brought these mentioned a fair bit - http://ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers... and similarly these - http://www.swanspeaker.com/products/products.aspx?...
Not sure if either have a UK distributor though, but the former makes for some interesting reading.
Morningside said:
KT88s eh. My father had some KT66s with 'Marconi' written across them. Wonder what they would be worth now.
Last mad cap scheme he used some KT88s for was a RF power amp.
Yep, OP will now have the joy of, in the future, deciding upon replacement valves.Last mad cap scheme he used some KT88s for was a RF power amp.
Make?, NOS?, whether to pay for matching.
Nice isolation platform might be required too, lest those valves get "vibrated".
All fun.
I'm not sure about this bookshelf requirement though.
Probably my prejudice coming out.
Cheers everyone, I'm going to have a nightmare deciding on these speakers!
For now, the Kefs sound great bass wise, but they're lacking in top end I think, which the valve amp should excel at.
For anyone looking at getting a valve amp, I can certainly recommend one, although don't forget this particular one has been modified!
Going to search for shelf speakers now, looks like the day will be spent wisely
For now, the Kefs sound great bass wise, but they're lacking in top end I think, which the valve amp should excel at.
For anyone looking at getting a valve amp, I can certainly recommend one, although don't forget this particular one has been modified!
Going to search for shelf speakers now, looks like the day will be spent wisely
Would second the ProAc suggestion, but would need to be second hand to be in budget. Maybe a pair of exdem Studio 110s would be in budget. I used a pair of Rega RS1s to good effect with an EL84 valve amp, they are very sensitive for their size. Very fast and dynamic, but I would hardly describe them as bassy. World Designs WD25 speakers are excellent with valve amps too, but rather too big to be described as "bookshelf".
Another vote for Zingalis - really special speakers. I drive my Overture .2s with a mahoosive power amp, so goodness only knows how they would sound with a really good valve amp.
Not many come up s/h, but either the .1 or maybe even the .2 could be at or around your budget. Worth seeking out, perhaps a tel to Jack Lawson at the Music Room in Glasgow might be fruitful - Zingali dealer and brand enthusiast who will always cut a deal, in my experience!
Not many come up s/h, but either the .1 or maybe even the .2 could be at or around your budget. Worth seeking out, perhaps a tel to Jack Lawson at the Music Room in Glasgow might be fruitful - Zingali dealer and brand enthusiast who will always cut a deal, in my experience!
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