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Hi All,I have never had a tube stereo system.
I am considering getting a Cary Audio SEI integrated amplifier to use with a pair of Sennheiser HD600 head phones.
I wanted to build a highend head phone system as well as a bedroom speaker system.
But this amplifier only has 15watts per channel. What speakers would go well with this integrated amplifer? What speaker sensitivity should be the bare minimum?
I plan on getting a used Sony Scd-777es Sacd player for this system.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Brian
Follow Ups:
I use a pair of Reference 3A MMC with my Cary 300SEI. I think it is about 92db efficient with good impedience curve. They are clean, detailed and fast sounding speakers with a relatively small footprint.
I run Cary CAD300SE Signature Monoblocks - the big brothers of the 300SEI you're looking at.I doubt very much whether either of these 300B based models produce more than 8-10watts of useable power - but believe me, that's enough power with the right speakers.
For the last four years, I've been running the Infinity Composition Prelude PFR Towers.
The Preludes are rated at around 96dB - mostly due to the multi-driver configuration and the 150watt solid state amplifier built into the base unit of each tower. This 150watt amp drives a massive 12" driver on each speaker - to produce full, satisfying bass down to about 35 cycles - in room. But the beauty is, if you drive these speakers with tubes (only one pair of speaker terminals is offered) the tube amp musical 'signature' flows through to the bass - but with the smack of solid state!
Infinity superceded this model a few years ago with a new model featuring dramatically lower efficiency - making this older model highly desireable for low-power enthusiasts like you and me.
The Preludes were rated solid Class-B- FULL RANGE by Stereophile magazine and sold new for around $US3,500.00. So you're probably going to need to spend $US2,000.00 for a second hand pair in good condition.
Having said the above, I can't think of another speaker - new or otherwise, for that sort of budget that delivers fantastic imaging, fatigue-free treble, glorious SET mid-range and savage bass down to 35 cycles - all on less than 10watts!
If you find a nice pair - look no further.
PS The flimsy speaker-covers tend to fall to bits - but don't let that put you off. This is a great looking 'naked' speaker.
Warning. These speakers need tubes - and can sound pretty lousy on solid-state muscle-amps. (Athough I have heard good reports about the low-power Pass amps).
Good Luck - Tone!
Soliloquy 2A3, Loth X, Living Sound, Coincident even Joseph Audio.
...As long as your thinking SET tube amp, why not pick up a turntable and listen to something really special. Tubes and vinyl can make you forget you have cd player. I didn't believe it 'till I heard it. Now my house is 60% vinyl, 20% FM, and 20% cd.
Thanks for the suggestion,I have several friends that are into Vinyl in a big way. But they are too fussy for me. I like the convenience of picking the track that I like and instantly going to it on with my remote control.
Plus Vinyl is expensive as well. So for the money I would rather invest in Sacd's. Which gets close to Vinyl, but maybe not quite there.
Thanks, Brian
I have a Cary 300SEI in my main system (living room with hardwood floors and cathedral ceilings). It has no problem driving my vintage Klipsch Cornwall's. As efficient as my speakers are, I rarely push the volume control past 8:30-9:00 o'clock (about 10-15%) or I might break some windows. I also have a pair of Sennheiser HD600 headphones that sound glorious with the Cary. The HD600's, however, are less efficient than the Cornwall's and require about another 10-15% turn of the knob (maybe 10:00-10:30).
The Cary-HD600 combination is an ideal one; for speakers the 15 watts seem sufficient if you're talking your typical 11 x 14-ish bedroom, but I would look for speakers that have smooth and flat impedance and phase responses, to help the single-ended Cary. For small and slim (and pretty) floorstanders I would recommend Amphion Athenes as pretty close to ideal: ruler flat impedance and phase, they like being close to the wall and you can plug their ports to control the bass, great imaging and soundstaging, relatively inexpensive. The Canadian magazine Audio Ideas Guide gave them a rave review.www.amphion.fi
If you would rather have minimonitors, take a look at the brand new GR Research Criterion, of extremely high quality and similarly good for tubes due to easy impedance and phase graphs. Also a good buy. Email Danny, he is very helpful and will recommend a builder.
www.gr-research.com/lucidity/criterion.htm
Val
http://val.dorta.com/
Is your bedroom carpeted? furniture spacing? listening taste and I'm assuming a lower volume.I just finished building a Fostex 8" single driver. High efficiency at 95db and full range. Don't be fooled the Fostex single driver does deliever excellent bass to high end. The box is approximately 12w18Hx10d. The driver is the FE207E at $88 each but don't forget you don't need ANY crossover parts just $20 of wood, fiberglass fill and speaker terminal. Some say the rolloff is to high but I haven't found it to be any problem and I am critical with classical music.
If your room has solid flooring or your using this for a main high volume, long listening setup I don't recommend it. I do find high efficiency speakers to be to harsh, glaring and fatiquing in that situation. Otherwise a great bedroom speaker for low volume listening. Sorry high efficiency people that's my finding.
Charles
Hi Charles,This is not going to be my main system. This I was hoping to be a smaller bedroom system.
I think my bedroom measures 15' x 11'. I do listen to a wide vareity of music from Rock/Pop and R&B to classical and Jazz.
My main system is a combination of a highend two channel and Hometheater in one. I have the EAD Theatermaster signature and Power Master 2000 run with Mirage M1 and M3si.
And my two channel system is a Sony Scd-777es Sacd player with a Bent Audio Passive preamp.
I really wanted a great Headphone system, and if I was to shell out for a used Cary Audio SEI integrated amplifier for my headphones then I would consider maybe getting some good speakers with it.
Thanks, Brian
These speakers are made for Jazz and excellent for classical. Very articulate while retaining a nice feel for the bass. In rooms like the bedroom with a lot of soft treatments that takes that overly crispness texture down to an acceptable level. At least for my preference. They are pleanty sensative being I tried them on a 2w system and they played very well. These are DIY, but very easy so I'll post the site for the cabinet dimentions.Go to the link-catalog-Fostex-scroll to the bottom of the page to FE207E Double Bass Reflex-load the PDF file-scroll to the bottom for the smaller cabinet plans. You may or may not opt for the horn tweeter. I did and it was to hissy for my. Again I never found these shy on the top end. Let me know if you need any other info on construction.
Charles
Hi.
good to hear some poeple like you that love the music this much .i could think the Proac tablle will do just fine . but there are alot of speakers that suitable for 15w amps . so it really depend on what you like .
good luck
peter
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