High efficiency speakers

I am using Reimer Tetons with my ML2's to great effect. They are full range and have a nice tight bottom end with the ML2's.

Hi Jax2, your advice noted. I listened mostly to light classics and folks, and occasionally big scale music. My current room is only 10' x 14'. I have an opportunity to build a bigger one (perhaps 18' x 20'). The hi efficiency speakers are meant for that room for which I would like full-range and life-sized reproduction of the music I love. For many years till recently, I have always used SS amps...Classe, Pass labs, Goldmund. Just my experience, they had been good in many ways. But at the end of the days, i feel them collectively to be a little cold and sterile.

Hi Darkmoebius, I have a pair of Kharma 3.2.2 (borderline efficient at 90dB) driven by Goldmund Telos amps. I wasn't touched by the combination. Since the matching of kharma and Lamm has been well chronicled, I ordered the Lamm ML2.1s at risk without hearing. But I did phone up the Kharma factory and was told the ML2.1s are "perfect match" for my speakers. The amps haven't arrived, so I shall see.

Jax I use SETs and play rock, punk, pipe organ ,etc most every type of music. I never feel limited by my SET horns systems I play whatever I want. If loudspeakers and SET both are well matched I can play most any SPL level off 1 SET amp. Ive even used a SET horn system at a outdoor biker rally and at my sons school gym. And these are musical horns designed for hi-end audio use not PA. And some bass systems dont need large SS power if designed for low power or SET so not all large bass drivers need large power. Also since SET powers not just 2-8 watts many SETs have more these are not as limiting. I will also end by saying I greatly enjoy 300b but most if not all 300b amps are rolled off after 40hz. Ive owned many some of the best all have been weak in bass compared to other SET designs. And drivers are not moving air as much as exciting it by pressure wave like ripples in water.

I recently purchased a pair of Tonian Labs TL-D1 speakers after hearing them in a home demo coordinated with Tony Minasian, the designer. They are rated at 95 db with a frequency range of 42 hz to 40K hz and a benign 8 ohm impedance. Measuring 33"H x 11W x 17"D they are a simple two way design with an 8" Fostex driver and a modified ribbon super tweeter. They feature a minimal crossover and come with three different sized wooden plates that vary the rear vent size to adjust the bass output for the room.

I found that the TL-D1's worked better in my small (10.5'W x 12'L x 8'H) room than a pair of Audio Note AN/J speakers that I have owned for the past eleven years. The AN/J's sound great in larger rooms but in my smaller room they could be a bit boomy at times with a 50 hz peak due to a primary room mode. Not so with the TL-D1's which have a smoother frequency response in my room.

For amplification I've used an Audio Note M1 pre and P2 SE (18 wpc) amp and a Red Wine Audio Signature 30 (30 wpc) integrated amp. Currently I favor the RWA amp with the Tonian speakers which are still breaking in and are becoming more open and extended at both ends with use. Time will tell which choice of amplification wins out but neither lack in power with an eclectic range of music.

Not much has been written about these speakers, but there is a recent Positive Feedback review at http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue36/tonian_labs.htm that I found to be in line with my experience with the speakers.

Whether the TL-D1 speakers will be a good match with your amp and room I couldn't say, but they definitely work very well for me. Given their musical capabilities I would consider them one of the best values in speakers. Tony also makes other speakers based on the PHY drivers that reputedly offer more refinement and realism, but at a much higher price.

Good luck with your quest.

But I did phone up the Kharma factory and was told the ML2.1s are "perfect match" for my speakers.

Aaaaah, that makes sense. I was hoping that you didn't just pick a reference SET amp and hope it would work.