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Recommended Speaker for Triode Amp

I've been living with inefficient Thiel 3.6 speakers for many years now, but now I'm getting a new integrated Triode amplifier rated at 20 watts per channel. I'm not familiar with horn and open baffle speakers, or other inefficient designs and could use some help.

I listen mostly to jazz, female voice, acoustical types, and rock, as opposed to Big Band and orchestral music. I have a fairly small listening room. I do like my bass, so if it's there I want to produce it well.

I've seen some speaker kits and I am handy but don't have a lot of woodworking tools. For example, I would not want to cut those large round speaker holes.

I also don't understand how to match a speakers efficiency to the power output of an amp, or maybe that doesn't matter as long as you can drive the speakers to loud levels.

I do have two goals. The first is to spend between $3K to $6K tops, and the second is to smoke my Theil 3.6 speakers.

Help and recommendations are appreciated.
kennythekey
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almarg
8,673 posts
 
Daedalus DA-RMa - I've heard that they're better with a higher powered tube amp. Anyone?
Kenny, if you haven't seen it already you'll want to read through this thread:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=72517.0

Note Lou's comment:
For general taste I would recommend 40 watts per channel or more, but this can vary widely from amp to amp. If possible I'd recommend waiting until you get the speakers to make an amp choice so that you can see how they pair up in your room.
Keep in mind that your 20W amp is only 3db less powerful than a 40W amp, which is not a great deal of difference in terms of subjectively perceived loudness. And given your preference for music that does not have a lot of dynamic range (relative to orchestral music), and your small room size, that may be well within reason.

Best regards,
-- Al
rrsclyde
81 posts
 
I have the DA-RMa's & now power them with a 10wpc SET amp. My room is 14' x 20' with high cathedral ceilings. They will easily reach 100db at about 1 o'clock on my volume control with no stress or strain.

I absolutely love these spkrs; I've owned Thiel 2.2's, 3.6's, JM Lab Micro Utopia's & Sonus Faber Electa Amator II's-- the DA-RMa's, driven by the SET amp, are by far my favorites! Lots of great spkrs out there, try and listen to as many as you can.

Good luck & happy listening.
kennythekey OP
558 posts
 
Good information, thanks guys.

Rrsclyde - The DA-RMa's are boxey speakers. How's the depth of soundstage with them?
keithr
950 posts
 
Which Triode amplifier did you purchase Kenny?
kennythekey OP
558 posts
 
Keith, that's a good quaestion and it's going to be an experiment. I guess you can call it Kennythekeys Amp (Integrated)...I'm not kidding.

It's a one-of-a-kind design by Sam Kim of Sam's Audio Labs, and he's building it now based on the feedback I gave him. All I can say, is to check out his website. He normally does restorations and tranformations but he's starting with a raw and empty Eico chassis, adding original (A470) Dynaco ST-70 transformers, and then taking it from there. He's designing the circuitry as we speak (Full Triode). In other words, he's inventing it...How's that for a leap of faith??? Anyway, I have a money back guarantee that I will love the sound...So, no worries.

Sam believes that the amp will handle my Thiel 3.6s (86dB)!!! If it does and I love it, I will then have more time to save up more money for my new speakers.
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