Tube Friendly Speakers - Down to 30Hz - $3000?

Thanks for your very thorough and thoughtful post, Joe.

You might be interested in the Galante Audio Buckinghams. They have 100 dB sensitivity and are a nominal 8 ohm load (with a 7.3 ohm low point). They stand about 48 inches tall and their footprint at the bottom is about 20-22 inches square (I am estimating from memory). They taper to smaller at the top, and consequently neither look nor feel as big as they are. Frequency response is 35 Hz - 21 kHz. They list for $6500.00 new, but I have seen used ones go for as little as $2000.00 on AudiogoN. Three watts easily drives them. You can find a review at http://www.fsaudioweb.com/reviews/gb_ultimateaudio.html

Here's a dumb question...maybe not so dumb. If a major part of my goal is easy to drive, high impedance loudspeakers, then why not use Speltz Zero-autoformers to double or quadruple the impedance of my VR4 Gen III HSE loudspeakers, rather than buying new speakers with essentially the same impedance load?

VR4 Gen III HSE impedance = 6 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum.

By doubling the impedance with the Zero-autoformers, the nominal impedance increases to 12 ohms, the minimum impedance to 6 ohms. This would appear to be ideal for a low power amplifier, yes?

Tvad, Out of curiosity do you know what the maximum inpedence value is and what the actual curve looks like. Minimum and nominal values can be deceiving, especially if you're not getting a high power rated amp. Perhaps even with better values (alone) the VR4's might be a tough load. Just a thought - I know zip about your speakers.

Newbee, you asked a very good question, and I don't have the answer. I was never aware that high impedance is an issue, unlike low impedance.

An amplifier manufacturer told me yesterday that the use of Zeros will reduce the maximum power available to the loudspeakers. So, they do not appear to be an ideal solution if using low powered amplifiers.