High efficiency speakers

Hey JohnK - I believe you, and am glad to hear it. Please note, I did not say that SET amps could not play rock, punk or pipe organ music. I've also played and enjoyed all that as well as orchestral and other dense and challenging source material with SET and horns. I did not say it was necessarily a bad combination. I only stated that it was my opinion that the denser source material is better served by SS amps in comparison (IMO, of course - you may feel differently). I have not heard any SET amp / speaker combos that serve that type of material better than SS, but there are many out there and I've only listened to a relatively small amount of what's available between shows, dealers and friends, as well as the few I've had at home. So many amps, so little time! Seems like the SET stuff that I have heard that does better with denser material are parallel SET solutions mostly that put out a bit more power. Bel Canto's SET amps were pretty nice in that respect too. I'm glad to hear that more is possible than my experience leads me to believe. It does not surprise me. I've seen some of the unique speakers you've sold here and they certainly look interesting (with much emphasis on bass cabinets as I recall). Thanks also for the clarification on the physics of drivers! As I understand it, transformers also play a big roll in successful implementation of SET topology. I've been using a pair of Mike Sanders Quicksilver 300B SET amps. They're not on his site, but he had a pair at the recent RMAF and was also playing his KT88 based SET amps there as well. Love'em. They do have what seems to be a better bass response than a few other 300B's I've been able to compare them directly too (Wavelength and Wright Sound). That said I don't think bass is a 300B's strong suit. The horns that I've seemed to like the most take up a whole lot of space and need room to breath. While the smaller solutions don't really excite me much. I've recently had to give up my larger workspace and bring my system home and I've been having a hell of a time missing those horns. My modified LaScalas are just too big for my modestly sized home. I've tried a few different speakers looking for that speed and dynamics of horns. Coincident has come the closest with a very similar clarity as well, without any edginess at all. Damn fine speakers, but ultimately I do think they're in need of a bit more power to really sing in my room (the volume of which is rather large overall, while listening is practically nearfield). They do great with the 300B's otherwise except for the deepest of bass notes. If I were in a smaller room I think they might be perfect. 300b's with horns is nirvana for me with much of the music I prefer, but I don't think it is necessarily everyone else's, and I don't think that I might not enjoy other alternatives (and have certainly done just that).

Alectiong, as others have said having 18 watts gives you the luxury that many SETs don't give you. I loved my Reimyo PAT777 amp but bought Acapella LaCampanellas at 92 db. The 8 watt Reimyo just could perform as it had with the Beauhorn Virtuosos at 103 db. But the Beauhorns were dying at 60 Hz and Murata super tweeters helped a lot. But with no crossover, the Beauhorns were wonderous where they worked.

The guy that bought my Reimyo uses Avantgarde Trios and absolutely love it. I think your requirements realistically cannot be met. The Zus would work, but I have never been a fan. Were you not to have your space requirement I would recommend the Klipshorns, which still seem to me to be the best efficient speakers. I have owned them three times in my 45 year audio experience and often wonder why I ever moved away from them. They do have to be in corners, which was my reason for selling the first two pairs. Now, however, I could put them in the corners with no hole in the center.

Alec,

The bad new is that there really is no good solution for you. It'd be best for you to sell your Lamm amps now - mail me and I'll make a fair offer.

But, if you're going to keep them, you need to look into Audio Note speakers.

You might try the Classic Audio Reproductions if you have the budget: 97db 1 watt/1 meter, 16 ohms, 20Hz-45KHz and the 20Hz is bona-fide. I have found very little to complain about in this speaker: the resolution (with the field coil drivers) equal to the best ESLs, imaging and delicacy to match. OTOH they are the size of small refrigerators, but they work great even if only 6" from the rear wall.

If you are on more of a budget, the ZU Druid (the new version) is not bad; I found that while the Audiokinesis was not *rated* the same efficiency, that it *behaved* as if it was just as efficient, but with greater bass impact and more definition.

Paul, I read your AN review on AA you say only 2 days use? Is this correct? Where drivers etc broken in before you purchased? Thank you