High Efficiency Speakers Your top 3 or more

Thanks Ralph.

I figured if anybody could identify a SET based combo that could deliver the goods, it was you!

I may well test the waters of tube amps in my 2 channel A/V second system, where I run triangle Titus XS speakers and an old M&K sub off a vintage 20 watt Yamaha receiver that I fixed up currently. I feel pretty sure I can do better there without breaking the bank, at least out of the gate. The Triangles are about 90db efficient, I believe. I have heard some run them of SET type amps with good results.

I'm surprised that no one has yet mentioned the Daedalus Ulysses, which are 97db and are in the op's price range.

Although I have not yet heard them, they have received effusively glowing comments from many users here and elsewhere, as well as in reviews that are linked to from the Daedalus site. Based on those comments, and on the extent to which their design characteristics meet my particular requirements and preferences, I felt completely confident in recently ordering a pair, which I am now awaiting. Thirty day audition privileges are standard policy, although I have no expectation of needing to take advantage of that policy.

The only less than glowing comments I have seen about them were offered by a few people who listened to them at RMAF 2009. However in a previous thread here Lou Hinkley (Mr. Daedalus Audio) indicated that was due to problems with the room, which I have no reason to doubt.

My requirements and preferences in choosing these speakers were/are:

1)Top-notch sound quality.
2)Wide dynamic range, specifically the ability to cleanly reproduce the peaks of well-recorded classical symphonic music.
3)Not requiring a high-powered amplifier (e.g., 200W+) to do so.
4)Not requiring a subwoofer.
5)Tube-friendly impedance characteristics.
6)Good imaging.
7)Elegant, refined appearance that is a reasonable match to my wood-panelled 1950’s living room. It seems that everyone who sees them raves about their appearance, finish, and build quality. I ordered them in the optional quartersawn white oak.
8)A price that is considerably less than that of a new car.

I know of no other speaker that meets all of these requirements as well.

Regards,
-- Al

In my extensive email conversations with Lou during a period when I was seriously considering auditioning his speakers, he voiced a consistent theme that low power tube amps were not the best match for his speakers despite their 97dB sensitivity. In fact, the suitability of my 60wpc Pass Labs XA-60.5 was questioned.

At RMAF 2009, in both the Daedalus and Modwright rooms, the Daedalus speakers were driven with Modwright solid state amps, and I have to assume this was to show the speakers at their best. I have yet to hear them demo'ed with tube amplification of any kind, nor have I read any account of an owner pairing them on a permanent basis with low power tube amlplification.

From their website:

U.S.A. Direct Price $10,950
Drivers; High Frequency (X2) 1" Eton Dome tweeters
Drivers; Mid-range (X2) 5" custom modified Fostex full range loudspeaker
Drivers; Low Frequency (X2) 8" Daedalus Audio Dynamic Loudspeaker
Frequency Response 28 to 25kHZ +/- 1.5db (-3db 25HZ)
Sensitivity 97 db 1w/1m
Continuous Power Rating 400 watts RMS (800+ watts peak)
recommended power 8- 1000 watts
Impedance 6 ohms
Tweeter Switch flat, -1db, +1db

It seems they should work. Maybe we can get an update after Almarg's arrive?

Maybe we can get an update after Almarg's arrive?

Yes, I should have them in about 3 or 4 weeks, at which time I plan to post a system description with pics, and perhaps my initial listening impressions in this thread as well (although it will take some time after they arrive until they are reasonably broken in).

Initially I'll be driving them with a fairly inexpensive, seemingly well built, and apparently no longer available Chinese-made amp called a Paxthon VTA-160, which uses 8 x EL34 (4/channel), 2 x 12AX7 and 2 x 12AU7, delivering 80 watts/channel. It's actually a simple integrated amp, with source selection and volume control, but I'm using it just as a power amp, driven by a Classe CP-60 preamp. I've re-tubed it with a matched octet of SED Wing'd C EL34's, and vintage NOS Telefunken and RCA small signal tubes.

In the meantime, you can search the discussion forums and the review section here under "Daedalus," and also read the reviews that are linked to from the Daedalus site. They rarely appear for sale used, btw -- there was only one pair of Ulysses for sale at Audiogon in the last year or so, as far as I am aware.

Regards,
-- Al