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Looking for suggestions for a new (to me) pair of high efficiency monitors

Hi,

I’m looking to change out my Legacy Studio HD monitors for something more efficient. The Legacy’s are fine speakers and have served me well, but you all know the drill—time to try something new for the fun of it after several years..

I presently run a Bob Latino VTA ST120 amp. Not a lot of power, but nice sound for not a lot of $$.

No preamp, Mac-mini running Audivana out to my Bryston DAC, which puts out plenty of signal directly into the VTA 120 to drive to full power.

The Legacy’s are rated at 93 dB at 4ohms I believe—interested in getting opinions for alternative high efficiency and detailed monitors. Lost a fair amount of upper freq hearing over the years, in fact I have to wear hearing aids that help hear above 7khz, so mellow mid- and treble doesn’t do it for me. Even so largely listen to acoustic jazz, vocals and lately a smattering of opera. Rarely rock or full range orchestral. 

Thanks in advance!
jsl1234

Showing 5 responses by jsl1234

jsl1234 OP
32 posts
 
From Bob Latino’s site:

The VTA ST-120 is a 60 WATT PER CHANNEL amplifier built on the same ST-70 stainless steel chassis as the amp pictured above.

The VTA ST-120 uses three custom wound USA made transformers and is available as a KIT amp or completely WIRED and tested.

This amp has the same quality components as the VTA ST-70 listed above. The optional tube set has a GZ34/5AR4 rectifier, three 12AU7 driver tubes and a matched quad of 6550 tubes.
The power transformer
jsl1234 OP
32 posts
 
I believe the amp is rated at 60 Watts in Pentode mode. Would like to keep cost to me about $1,500, but price point will be less an issue since I’m happy to purchase used but well loved units.

stand mount preferred. I listen in a small room (10x12) near field with speakers about 2 feet off back wall and 8 feet from my chair.  Moderate listening levels, rarely above 80db.
jsl1234 OP
32 posts
 
I do have the curves however my hearing aids already compensate for the loss where they can. Putting them in (both ears) literally turns on the treble for me when listening. The units are 15 or 20 channel programmable and set when I go for an audio test every two years or so. They are older but high end Widex units.

They amplify where there is loss pretty accurately--my hearing is strong at up to 6k, then drops very rapidly in both ears starting at 7k and is down from there on by nearly 60 or 70 db as I recall. Not quite deaf at that level but damn nearly so when trying to hear high hat, highest register etc.. So i doubt I'll get any additional benefit from further equalization on the mac.

Kind of sucks but probably self inflicted from years of motorcycle riding in the 1970s without ear protection and working in loud bars throughout my college years.
jsl1234 OP
32 posts
 
I agree. I don't use a pre-amp and have a nice 21 step attenuator on my VTA 120 amp. The DAC puts out plenty of signal to drive the amp. 

Regarding the hearing loss not much to say beyond I tend to favor 'brighter' presentation speakers to help compensate. That said, I still listen to mostly single instrument (piano, violin, female voice, acoustic jazz, etc..) so not even sure how much I'm really missing...

I have started to look at OB speakers just for the fun of it. My room is small and nearly square (10x12). Not room for pulling speakers off the rear wall.

Used to own and love Maggies (1.7 and 3.7) but I've since moved on given the limitations of my room and equipment choices. 
jsl1234 OP
32 posts
 
http://images.klipsch.com/RB81IIcutsheet_635042118979170000.pdf

Not to disparage low cost speakers but always thought of this line as mass market HT stuff? How do they sound compared to traditional Klipsch Heritage Series Heresy III?
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