Need help matching a speaker with my tube amp setup

[whoabackoff]

I'm currently shopping for speakers to match with my amplifier. I have a Glow Amp One, specs can be found here: glow-audio.com/glowstuff.html, It's a tiny tube amp that I originally bought to drive my Beyerdynamic DT770s ( 600Ohm ) headphones and now I'm having trouble finding a pair of decent bookshelf speakers to match with it. I think it might be underpowered for conventional, low SPL systems since it only has 5W of power per channel. I originally wanted to get a pair of bookshelf speakers, but now I'm kinda leaning towards a pair of decent floorstanding speakers. I'm hoping to spend under $1000. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Josh

 

[GranteedEV]

It is not only underpowered in the wattage sense, but will struggle with the impedance profile of most speakers out there, really. Most speakers driven by this thing will edge towards lo-fi.

The only commercial speaker off the top of my head that won't give this amp huge problems might be something like a Salk Pharos, which retails for just under $9000.

If you're interested in DIY, however, the Troels Graveson HES TQWT and DTQWT speakers appear to be suited to exactly your application... :


After some brainstorming, I did think of another one... Audio Kinesis Rhythm Prism. The Pricing is $2500, which is still well over your budget mind you, but it should sound excellent and mate well with the issues of the SET

Your best bet, otherwise, IMO, is to check audiogon for used horn speakers.

 

[whoabackoff]

Thanks for your suggestions, but these are all well-over my price range. The unit is placed in a small room and will be played at normal listening levels. I think HES is the way to go though.

 

[GranteedEV]

You may also consider Wayne Parham's Pi Speakers and Bruce Edgar's Edgarhorns, although I would discuss the impedance complications with them as I don't know their behaviour.

 

[its phillip]

Maybe you can find some used Klipsch Heresy speakers...they are extremely sensitive, but I have no idea about their impedance or phase angles.

 

[whoabackoff]

Yeah, I was thinking of heading towards the horn route. I've been keeping an eye out on used Klipsch speakers for sale in my area. I recently found a pair of used RF-82 for sale and I'm going to audition them with my amp pretty soon.

 

[GranteedEV]

horns alone give you higher efficiency, but a resistive impedance load and negligible phase angles should be necessary with a SET.

 

[KEW]

You may want to look for a forum which caters more to tube and SET amp users so you can see what others are running with their SET amps.
5 Watts is a pretty extreme limit and if I were you I'd be more comfortable if I could find someone who used their speakers with a SET amp of similar power in a room of similar size as yours.

I watched a pair of Klipshorns go by on Audiogon for less than $1000. I don't know if they are efficient enough or not, but suspect they would be a good option - if you had the space and could find them locally (shipping would probably kill the deal!).

Here's one that might help:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14

 

[whoabackoff]

Has anyone heard these?
Hsu HB-1 Mk2 Horn Bookshelf speakers.

hsuresearch.com/products/hb-1.html

 

[GranteedEV]

you need speakers with at least 95+ db/w/m

 

[TLS Guy]

Has anyone heard these?
Hsu HB-1 Mk2 Horn Bookshelf speakers.

hsuresearch.com/products/hb-1.html

I have heard them, and they aren't bad, but your SET won't drive them.

Your problem is you sniffed the glue of loony audio.

There is only one type of speaker you can turn to and its a full range Lowther horn loaded.

You can't use a speaker with a crossover, because the crossover will eat at least 2.5 of your 5 watts.

Your solution is here.

You can download the plans for these here.

It will be a lot cheaper if you buy a proper amplifier.

99% of what is on that glow amp site is out of the back of the neck.

 

[digicidal]

I'm currently shopping for speakers to match with my amplifier. I have a Glow Amp One...

I also have a Glow Amp One... and don't listen too closely to the people responding about difficulty in driving or impedance concerns. The amp is more than capable as long as you're running even a slighly sensitive speaker. Even running B&W CM9s wasn't a dismal failure (although those definitely were as difficult a load as I would ever recommend even trying with a flea-watt pentode - and definitely not a recommended match).

Perhaps you missed the page with speaker suggestions on their site, but they have several: GlowAmpOne speaker suggestions.

However, that being said I can personally vouch for numerous speakers that I've tried with mine - some good some not so good, but all capable of reaching levels more than loud enough for hearing damage in a smaller room or office.

Personally the one's I like the best (despite not liking them under any circumstances when connected to an AVR or SS amp) are the Klipsch RF-62's which are about $700-800pr last time I checked. Also they are pretty good with the Polk RTi A1's which I've used with it a great deal. Basically, any speaker that is reasonably sensitive, and when listened to via AVR/SS amps sounds really 'bloated' in the bass and 'forward' in the treble will sound very good on the Glow... simply because it's rolled off on both ends so the combination sounds reasonably accurate and flat when combined.

If you're looking for cheaper, and more authentic legacy sound (note: not accurate or 'good' as far as pretty much anyone on this site is concerned... but I still like it and it doesn't bother me to me alone in that case) you could pick up a single-drive design from Tekton Designs. I've used both the 8.1en (although mine employs a slightly better, but out-of-production model of the Fostex driver the current model employs) as well as some custom speakers I had Eric build for me with the 6" Fostex FE drivers. I would highly recommend the Lore as being a particularly great match for the glow... I've only discussed it with a couple owners and with Eric Alexander - the designer - but once I clear out some of the multiple pairs of speakers I have sitting around the house I'm definitely going to try a pair of them out as well.

I guess the bottom line is that if what you buy isn't making you happy then you're doing something wrong... and if it IS making you happy... then who cares what anyone else thinks.

PS - Do you have the 2007-8 model or the post 2008 model? If you have the first release and can use Russian/European NOS tubes... I might have some for you to roll if you're interested. Although the Chinese tubes it comes with are pretty good, they are a little noisier than I would like.

 

[digicidal]

you need speakers with at least 95+ db/w/m

...To reach very loud levels without distortion...

I've listened to speakers that were ~86db/w/m and you could hear them fine. Not that I would recommend it in anything other than an office or bedroom - but for sub 1200cuft spaces (like my office) and for mostly background music... playing anything over about 80db is too loud anyway.

And it's not like you listen to a flea-watt tube amp for dynamic peaks and low noise output - or at least I hope you don't because you bought the wrong amp if you do.

 

[whoabackoff]

Do you have the 2007-8 model or the post 2008 model? If you have the first release and can use Russian/European NOS tubes... I might have some for you to roll if you're interested. Although the Chinese tubes it comes with are pretty good, they are a little noisier than I would like.

Thanks a lot for your input, I'm definitely going to check out the speakers you suggested! Also, I totally did miss that page from the glow site about suggested speakers. lol. Anyways, looks like I have a lot of speakers to choose from now. I have the 2009 model, but looks like they're coming out with a new model this month!

One last speaker I'd like to 'throw-out there' are the
Decware DM945's:

decware.com/newsite/DM945.html

I forget how I found these, but they are geared for low powered tube amps. You might want to check them out. And if anyone has heard these. Let me know what you think!

Thanks

 

[digicidal]

One last speaker I'd like to 'throw-out there' are the
Decware DM945's:

decware.com/newsite/DM945.html

I forget how I found these, but they are geared for low powered tube amps. You might want to check them out. And if anyone has heard these. Let me know what you think!

Thanks

Haven't heard them myself, but Steve has a very loyal following and I will have to say that he's one of the nicest guys I've had the pleasure of communicating with (as is his wife and daughter - it's a family business in every sense). Many people rave about his corner horns (if you've got the space) and I can't see him selling any speakers that perform poorly with a flea-watt tube amp... seeing as how that's his 'meat & potatoes' at Decware.

I've purchased his custom phase-plugs for my Tekton's (the 8" Fostex FE207E's) and although nothing will ever make it have real treble above 15kHz... it did do an admirable job of smoothing out the last little bit of midrange shout that was left untamed by the BSC in the speaker.

You can read though on his forum and post questions, etc... as well as find charts and reviews (if you're persistent and dig deeply). If you do decide to go with one of his designs - I'd love to see your thoughts about them.

I've debated selling off my Amp One for something different (I just like trying out equipment) but I really like it. It's like a Honda Civic of audio... almost no power whatsoever, pretty noisy and not great on rough roads - or poorly recorded source material - but damn it's cute sitting there on my desk with it's glowing tubes. Enjoy.

 

[AEIOU]

With only 5 watts of power, you're going to need an efficient pair of loudspeakers. You cannot break the laws of physics, if you want efficiency you'll have to do it big.
Have you possibly considered making your own or buying the all the parts and assembling it yourself? You could even pay someone to make/fabricate the cabinets/enclosures for you.
I would suggest that you take a look at the offerings from Mark Audio.
You might also GOOGLE "full range drivers" you'll come up with all kinds of ideas and many suggestions. If you do decide to do it yourself, there are numerous resources available and you'll get an investment in your hard earned money.

 

[GranteedEV]

.And it's not like you listen to a flea-watt tube amp for dynamic peaks and low noise output

That's why I don't listen to flea-watt tube amps

 

[mtrycrafts]

... You cannot break the laws of physics, ...

But you can certainly break the fidelity barrier

 

[digicidal]

That's why I don't listen to flea-watt tube amps

And why I don't exclusively listen to one either. In some ways it reminds me of those monstrous RCA consoles from the 50's and 60's with the speakers integrated into the turntable cabinet. Not something I would ever listen to critically, but if I had a much larger house than I do... I'd probably own one of those as well and listen to it on occasion (naturally only playing vinyl from the 50's and 60's on it).

For HT... it's SS all the way... and even in my critical 2CH setup it's SS for me too. Especially when you consider that my Cambridge Audio 640A and 640C cd player were about the same price as the Amp One - with fifteen times more watts and an infinitely lower level of distortion... I would never argue with anyone that said that the little tube amp was not a "good buy" from a price->performance standpoint. But then again... I never get a warm, fuzzy feeling just from turning that CA gear on either.

If it helps to understand better... I also have a large collection of manual typewriters, film cameras (still and motion), etc... lying around the house as decoration. Now which looks more at home with that... a plain, black box with almost no lights or buttons - or a cage with 4 tubes glowing inside.

I hide my big Denon AVR, I hide my Pioneer AVRs, I hide my Cambridge Audio integrated & CDP - but I put my tube amp on display proudly.

Now when the day comes that I can afford to put in a rack of McIntosh components... then I will very happily put them on display and donate my amp one to someone that can't afford to have anything or someone else that will appreciate it for what it is and not get too hung up on what it isn't.

 

[AEIOU]

...To reach very loud levels without distortion...

I've listened to speakers that were ~86db/w/m and you could hear them fine. Not that I would recommend it in anything other than an office or bedroom - but for sub 1200cuft spaces (like my office) and for mostly background music... playing anything over about 80db is too loud anyway.

And it's not like you listen to a flea-watt tube amp for dynamic peaks and low noise output - or at least I hope you don't because you bought the wrong amp if you do.

It's true, your not going to get a heck of a lot of dynamics (headroom) from a low power amp, however, just because it is low powered doesn't mean it is noisy.
I have a little tiny 8 watt tube and it is quite quiet.

P.S. By the way, I also have high powered solid state equipment too.