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

I'm looking for speaker recommendations that play down to 30Hz. Able to be fully driven without compromise by tube amplification with as little as 15wpc.

$3000 new or used.

16x19 room. Rock, jazz and classical.

Reasonably small footprint (Klipsch K-Horns and LaScalas are too large).

I have eliminated Zu Druid and Tones from contention. All other options are open.

Thanks in advance.
tvad
tvad OP
9,467 posts
 
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?
newbee
4,093 posts
 
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.
tvad OP
9,467 posts
 
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.
sounds_real_audio
677 posts
 
This may be crazy but why not go to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest so you can listen to all those speakers mentioned about and many many more. Oct 19th 20th. 21st. Air from the west cost as little as $140 round trip hotels as little as $75 a night and shuttle from airport to hotel/show $20. Saves a lot of money/headaches in mistakes.
tvad OP
9,467 posts
 
09-29-06: Sounds_real_audio
This may be crazy but why not go to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest so you can listen to all those speakers mentioned about and many many more.
That's always a possibility. The speakers I have identified as possible candidates are from Reimer, Coincident, Silverline, Tetra, Tyler and Oskar Heil.

Only Tyler Acoustics is on the RMAF 2006 exhibitor list. Therefore, while attending the show might be fun, it wouldn't offer the primary listening opportunities I seek.
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