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Speaker Recommendation Needed

Hi,

I just bought a Peachtree Nova 125se and am now looking for a good speaker match for me. I live in a small town so won't have an opportunity to audition anything. The speakers will go in my living room which is about mid-sized and opens up into the kitchen. I listen mostly to folk, soul and rock. I own a REL T5 sub which I can pair with a bookshelf to augment the bass but I also like the idea of small floorstanders. I usually turn up the treble a few notches but the Peachtree does not have tone controls so I would like to find a bright sounding speaker with a forward midrange as well. Here are some speakers i am considering:

1. Wharfedale Jade 3
2. KEF LS50
3. Dynaudio Excite X14
4. Monitor Audio Silver 6
5. Zu Audio Soul

What do you audio people think?

Thanks,

Brian


128x128brimel1974
grinnell
661 posts
 
The Zu would sound best with a full tube rig.

Paradigm Sig or a used paradigm Studio book shelf would be a good choice or Focal Chorus
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
I'm a big fan of the Monitor Audio silvers, never heard a Zu. Also, the Wharferdale diamond series use remarkably good tweeters, and over at the DIY forums a couple of members have upgraded the tweeter caps and been very happy with the results. No idea if the Jade has the same tweeters.
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,318 posts
 

Measured sensitivity from Stereophile:

Wharfedale Jade 3     - 83.5db
KEF LS50                   - 84.5db
Dynaudio Excite X14 - 83db

All of these inefficient small speakers will have the problem discussed in your previous post. You should either make sure to use them with a high pass connection or remove them from your list.

Actually, the Zu Audio Soul will likely sound a little bright and forward with your amp.

czarivey
4,494 posts
 
efficiency isn't problem.
any speaker with relatively stable impedance will be fine with tube amp.
moreover, lower efficiency speakers have lower noise floor.
dynaudio speaker may not be a good tube match.
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,318 posts
 

Yes, efficiency is a problem due to how the OP wants to play them occasionally. See his previous post. Trying to play a higher volume in his room size with an inefficient small speaker is not advisable unless it has a high pass signal. Without the high pass, a result will be much higher distortion and possibly damage.

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