Single driver speakers without the pitfalls?

Reb,

I have a pair of STAX earphones that are quite wonderful sounding, especially with good amplification. If there is a SET amp in my future, it might be for those and it might even lead me to upgrade to a bigger better pair of STAX.

For speakers, small planars (Magnepan) or eletrostats (ML or similar) plus separate well integrated subs is something I would consider building around a SET amp. These speakers can be surprisingly tube amp friendly, but not particularly efficient, so powered subs would be the ticket. THis is the approach MArtyKL uses with his MMGs, OHMs, and others I believe, though not sure if he has ever tried this with a SET amp per se.

Rebbi, your are correct that my DCA 4 driver is no longer made. I believe these were a single run only. If I were to pick another driver to install it would be the Jordan.

Rebbi,

If you are thinking DIY speakers at this point as well (not a bad idea for flexibility) mount the single full range driver of choice in a cabinet, tweak the cabinet as needed, add a sub or two as needed, and you are done with a very nice DIY system (save source).

I see Dale Harder sells German Physiks DDD like Walsh drivers for DIY now. You can go full circle!! :^)

PRobably not real efficient, but assuming its not a hard load to drive (charts I have seen indicate OHM Walsh drivers at least are not, at least not until you get down into the bass regions that a sub can cover)and cross over the right sub at high enough frequency and you might really have something.

OR just stay with conventional directional full range drivers depending on preference. Either way might work.

I'm not really thinking of building my own speakers at this point, but I'm trying to learn more about the "full range" drivers that so many people seem to like to pair with SET amps. I'm also curious about Tekton, since their models are very competitively priced and very efficient (as in 94 db and up).

I see. Makes sense.

Keep in mind that the trend will be for smaller "efficient" speakers to have limited bass response (that's how a lot of the efficiency happens, power requirements go up exponentially as frequency decreases).

If it becomes a problem, and it may not depending on expectations, then that's where adding subs and blending them in well solves the problem effectively, if done right (not always easy to do but usually doable in the end).

The key to good coherency is often to not have crossovers in the midrange frequencies where most music (and voice) occurs. Bass region crossover points as is the case with subwoofers is not problematic in that way, but getting levels right in the bass (reasonable flat one would expect) more so. Electronic crossovers and room correction software is probably the most fail safe way. Again, I believe that is what MartyKL does and often recommends (smart guy!).

FWIW, my little Triangle Titus monitors sounded top notch in my decent size family room/kitchen area prior to the sub I used with them finally dying. That with mere 70s/80s vintage 15-20 watt (SS) receivers. I've always had teh Triangles targeted for trying a mimimal power tube amp someday, but would not put them back in that room without a sub or two again. I'd bet your DeCapos would likely do at least as good or probably much better even on a SET amp with subs. Without the subs on a SET, it might be a closer contest.