High Efficiency Speakers Your top 3 or more

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

I see on the Daedalus Audio website that Art Audio is an owner of Daedalus Audio speakers, and that Daedalus Audio is an Art Audio dealer. That bodes well.

It's certainly a combination I'd have liked to hear at RMAF 2009.

Almarg, did you hear the Ulysses speakers before you purchased them? If so, what amps were driving them?

FWIW, there is a link to this paper on the Daedalus website.

If you read the article and follow the steps, the results indicate a required minimum power for the Ulysses speakers of just below 50wpc up to 100wpc depending on the dynamic headroom you select as being important to you. The <50wpc figure assumes desired peaks of 105dB, and the 100wpc assumes desired peaks of 110dB.

The specifics of arriving at the figures are explained in the article. If you try the exercise, be certain to adjust for sound attenuation over distance as described under the heading titled "Loudspeaker Sensitivity".

Grant, as I mentioned parenthetically in my earlier post I have not heard them, which btw is why I was hesitant to enter this thread previously. Based on the many glowing comments I've read about them; and on how uniquely well they seem to meet all of the 8 requirements and preferences I listed above; and on the 30 day audition privilege; and on the fact that Lou is apparently one of the genuine good-guys in the audio industry; and on my willingness to ultimately revise the surrounding system to better suit them (if necessary), I've purchased them sight (and sound) unseen.

Best regards,
-- Al

one i've never heard but would like to is the Reference 3A Grand Veena. they seem to be at a nice price point as well.