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In Reply to: RE: What Speakers Are You Using for Low Power SETs? posted by caffeinator on November 23, 2015 at 04:22:26
I have built 2 pairs of the Straight 8s, one original with the updated crossover, and another pair that is a tweaked clone. Me and 2 other audio buds each built a pair (3 pair) of clones. We built tweaked clones since Doc discontinued them, and we absolutely love them. I've never heard speakers go full range the way they do....smooth, detailed, and fast. At a Bottlehead meet years ago in Houston we measured them with a SPL meter and test CD. They measured pretty much flat from 20khz to 30hz, after that they fell off like a rock. They integrate so well, and I feel no need for a sub, 30hz is low enough.
Having said that, they are 96dB efficient, and certainly play loud enough even with a 2A3 amp, however I've heard them with more powerful amps, and the peaks are amazing with a 30 watt amp. We compared a good 2A3 amp with my 300B amp, and we (several of us) thought they had much more "authority" and dynamics with the 300B.
I have a pair of those selenium horn tweeters that I'm going to put in them one day, that is supposed to be a major upgrade. All in all, I love them, but I feel to get what they are capable of, I need to build that class A1 PP 30 watt amp I've been black boarding for the last several years. For me, truly flea powered amps like a 45, need speakers 102dB and up, to get the peaks and dynamics right....just my opinion of course.
twystd
Follow Ups:
I have run other amps into the 8's, and they've never diasppointed. Amps around 35W (Marantz 8B, Dyna ST-70) had plenty of volume and sounded very good. The Dyna ST-35 (17W) sounded particularly sweet.
I also have a pair of those Selenium tweeters around for s someday upgrade of the titanium dome tweeters. My main complaint about those was their fragility - I've been able to gently pop out a lot of dents they acquired over the years but some seem permanent now...not sure they affect the sound, but they just look a little off.
As I recall, at the last (and greatest) VSAC Doc used 8 300b amps to drive the 8's. Too bad Bottlehead doesn't support a speaker product anymore. 15 years ago there were a number of players, but may have vanished. I'm thinking Hammer Dynamics, Bottlehead, there was Wayne at Pi, Cain & Cain, and another one - can't remember the name but seemed like a 12" in a BR cab. Too bad about Hammer - I remember them being by far the best sounding at the conference before the last one. I just couldn't pony up the $$ back then (two teen girls to put through school/ sports). Also too bad about Terry Cain, wonderful guy. Got to visit his shop in Walla Walla and go see some of his speaks in the local wine bars. Wayne has survived and done well. His are the "big box" sort, but very, very well done. I was listening to my 4pi knock offs tonight and thinking the soundstage in my 12x10 listening room was just amazing.
I think the setup at VSAC was 8 Paramount 300B amps driving some arrays that looked like straight 8's, but were actually stacked cabinets a lot like what you seen on the Bottlehead home page these days, if not the very same setup. I remember that - they had their R2R running into them and sounding fantastic.
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