High Efficiency Speakers Your top 3 or more

03-28-10: Tbg
Tvad, the Audionote speakers IMHO do not represent high efficiency speakers, although I do like them once Peter has set them up.

Tbg, your opinion doesn't matter to me.

Audio Note factory specs on the AN-E/SPe HE are 98dB/w/m.

If the OP's dB/w/m requirement rises above 98dB, then consider the speakers removed from consideration.

Going back near the top of the thread, Mmike84 defined his dB/w/m requirement as:

03-25-10: Mmike84
Let's say 92 db or higher and preferably at least 6 ohms avg.

So, for the purposes of this thread, the AN-E/SPe HE qualify.

Interestingly, the AN-E were only one of three speakers I mentioned, and they weren't placed as the "best" I've heard, yet they are under the spotlight, I suppose because I own them. For many reasons, I can't (or won't) purchase the "best" I've heard in many audio categories.

I mentioned the "best" being the CAR T1.3 with field coil drivers. I also listed Coincident loudspeakers (pick a model...).

Not a mention of those mega expensive 'Acapella Triolon Excalibur MK II' speakers from anyone?

Gawdbless, I guess they are indeed high efficiency. I have heard them briefly. I guess I would never venture there, just too big and expensive.

I've heard the Classic Audio Loudspeaker, both T-1 and T-3 many times. The recent field-coil versions are remarkable. They are faster and just as detailed as the best electrostatics, yet very relaxed, and image easily. They are also very cohesive. The beryllium diaphragms used are custom-built. The have no breakups until about 40KHz, so the speakers are exceptionally smooth, even more than the Cogent, which uses phenolic diaphragms (or at least, did the last time I heard them).

The speaker also is easy to set up- you don't have to have it far from the walls to make it image well. It has bandwidth to 20Hz, and is about 99 db 1 watt/1 meter and 16 ohms. So you can shake the walls with a fairly small amplifier. IOW not only is this one of the best speakers you can buy at any price, but it is also easy to drive.