stumblingmonk Posted May 3, 2022 Posted May 3, 2022 I am new to the hobby and would like to purchase my first tube amp. I’ve seen lots of love for the Willsenton R8 on this site and I’m leaning in that direction. My budget for my system is $5-$6k (US). What are the best speakers to pair with this type of amp? I love the retro styling of the Klipsch Heresy 4, the JBL L100, and KLH Model 5 and am leaning towards the Klipsch. I would love any suggestions and to hear your experience pairing this amp (or a similar one) to these speakers. Or maybe there are some other speakers that I haven’t heard about yet. 2
laecp Posted May 3, 2022 Posted May 3, 2022 I have the KLH Model 5s. Fantastic musical speaker. I power them with a Yamaha As1200 and they sound very balanced and strong. I too would like to know if people have run these with a tube amp and the particulars associated with the necessary power. The Klipsch are just waiting for tubes.
blakey72 Posted May 5, 2022 Posted May 5, 2022 For a warm, smooth sound maybe the Harbeth Compact 7ES-3. Wharfedale Linton Heritage speakers may also be a decent option. For accuracy perhaps one of the PMC bookshelf speakers. 1
xlr8or Posted May 5, 2022 Posted May 5, 2022 (edited) High sensitivity (93dB+) and high impedance (8ohm+) across the entire frequency spectrum with minimal phase angle shifts are absolutely critical for tube amp matching, including the R8. The Klipsch Heresy would be the best choice from the 3 selections. The vintage Cornwall, La Scala and Belle are even better. Vintage Altec 604-8G's are also excellent. The speakers are the most critical component to consider, invest and purchase in a tube amp set up. Edited May 5, 2022 by xlr8or 12 2
Luc Posted May 5, 2022 Posted May 5, 2022 I run a pair of speakers similar to the ones in the link(mine are an earlier model) with a 45w pure class A tube amp, it's a great match. Have a look >>> Spatial Speakers 3
BLAH BLAH Posted May 5, 2022 Posted May 5, 2022 (edited) Little retro here...I would vouch for the British Wharfedale E series Range...maybe the E70's... The E stands for Efficiency...and has a high sensitivity rating of 94dB+...suitable for bottle amps! I concur with Kirk that the speakers are the most critical component of a bottle amp set up...choose wisely and enjoy! https://vintagesonics.com/reviews/loudspeakers/wharfedale-e70-review/ Edited May 5, 2022 by BLAH BLAH 3 1
Guest deanB Posted May 5, 2022 Posted May 5, 2022 (edited) Hi Mark, Tekton Design in Utah might have something to fit your speaker efficiency needs and budget. https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=tekton If you don't need an integrated amp, have a look in the pre-loved marketplace for VTL ST-85 or Conrad Johnson Classic 60/62 power amps. If an integrated amp is required, check out Rogue Audio's Cronus Magnum. Edited May 6, 2022 by deanB
xlr8or Posted May 6, 2022 Posted May 6, 2022 7 hours ago, deanB said: Hi Mark, Tekton Design in Utah might have something to fit your speaker efficiency needs and budget. https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=tekton If you don't need an integrated amp, have a look in the pre-loved marketplace for VTL ST-85 or Conrad Johnson Classic 60/62 power amps. If an integrated amp is required, check out Rogue Audio's Cronus Magnum. You hit the nail on head with Tekton. Jay's review of the R800i below also recommends them. 2
blakey72 Posted May 6, 2022 Posted May 6, 2022 15 hours ago, xlr8or said: High sensitivity (93dB+) and high impedance (8ohm+) across the entire frequency spectrum with minimal phase angle shifts are absolutely critical for tube amp matching, including the R8. The Klipsch Heresy would be the best choice from the 3 selections. The vintage Cornwall, La Scala and Belle are even better. Vintage Altec 604-8G's are also excellent. The speakers are the most critical component to consider, invest and purchase in a tube amp set up. I don't think it's greatly important to have speakers with those attributes unless you plan to run a low powered SET type setup. I've run both my Harbeth SHL5P XD's (6ohms, 86dB) and my PMC Tb2S+'s (8 ohms, 90dB) on a Primaluna EVO100 (40w/ch) and both sounded amazing. Ample power for both in my 4m x 4m room. I guess if it were a huge room and you wanted to party it may be a different story. Not saying you're wrong, just saying these 40w/ch+ tube amps are quite capable with a wide range of speakers. An 8w/ch SET and I'd be looking at 94db+ and 8 ohms. Just another opinion. 5
MattyW Posted May 6, 2022 Posted May 6, 2022 Back loaded full range drivers such as my Lii Song Fieke S6 of course. 1
RoHo Posted May 13, 2022 Posted May 13, 2022 A push-pull EL34 or KT88 amp is not super-fussy about speakers, unlike a sub 10W single-ended triode amp. In ultra-linear mode you'll get 40W or more which is plenty for a speaker of greater than, say, 88dB efficiency. If you have a big room and/or want party-level volume then higher efficiency is better. Impedance is key, as others have highlighted, but unfortunately whether a speaker is 4 or 8 ohms only scratches the surface of what will be most suitable. Try before you buy and pay most attention to bass definition-woolly bass means impedance mis-match. Sometimes tube amps sound better with bass-limited speakers for this reason. Add a well integrated sub and your set for life! Many speakers listed should sound excellent. I'm a bit leery of Klipsch-they all seem to have "interesting" frequency response characteristics and their efficiencies are exaggerated. Definitely listen first. 3
Wilson71 Posted May 13, 2022 Posted May 13, 2022 Best speakers are the ones that sound the best to you and your room.... I would err towards more sensitive speakers if your running purely tubes, but then again it also depends on your listening volume levels etc. Recommendations are good, but going out and listening to a lot is even better. 1
jeffok Posted May 28, 2022 Posted May 28, 2022 I have the Willsenton R8 and KLH Model 5’s. My system also includes an Anthem STR Integrated amp and a completely recapped and adjusted vintage Pioneer SX-1050,as well as Totem Sky monitors. I have also had the Marantz PM8006 in my system. So I have been able to compare a few different amps matched with the M5’s. The M5’s sound great with all these amps. The Anthem is a very neutral, clean sounding and powerful amp and all types of music sound great on the M5’s. But I didn’t’ realize how much Sean from Zero Fidelity was right until I hooked the R8 up to the M5’s. He said that a neutral amp with the M5’s sound great but a strong, muscular amp sounds best with the M5’s. Well the R8 with the stock tubes sounds jaw-droppingly good with the M5’s! By a mile. A match made in heaven in my opinion. Especially with jazz, the sound is rich, round, and full and really brings the M5 bass into full bloom and sounds like you are sitting in a jazz club with the band playing a few feet in front of you. I don’t think you will be disappointed at all with Rock or electronic music either. The one genre that is not as good is orchestral- not bad at all, but faster more refined speakers like the Totems are better with classical music. Hope this helps.
Sk6700 Posted August 10, 2022 Posted August 10, 2022 I'm glad to hear that you find the R8 a good match with the KLH M5's. I use an R8 to drive my M5's I find the bass isn't defined/ detailed and not very pronounced. Mid and high frequencies are excellent, but the bass issue is significant with most types of music. I've tried this combination in a few different rooms with similar results. I get the best result using the 4 Ohm taps on the R8, but still not satisfactory. I am running the R8 with stock EL34 tubes. Which tubes are you running it with? I may want to try this with some KT88's at some point. Cheers
THOMO Posted August 10, 2022 Posted August 10, 2022 If you have a big room the JBL Studio 590s are excellent and well below your budget and work very well with push pull EL34 amps.Which is what I used.They are not retro looking however.Usually I would recommend 8 ohm speakers for tube amps but I know those work well and produce a big smooth room filling sound and excellent imaging.They are also surprisingly good on classical.The only thing is the bass is quite big and extended and being rear ported are best out a metre or so from the front wall or corners.
dao Posted August 14, 2022 Posted August 14, 2022 I'm currently using a Willsenton R8 to drive Klipsch Forte IVs and really love the pairing...especially with rolling in some other tubes though stock tubes are good as well. The Heresy is a great little speaker as well. I imagine there are many speakers that will pair well. Let us know what you get and best of luck. Dao
Toddyaxley Posted September 3, 2022 Posted September 3, 2022 Boston ...or first addition c800i.. Bullet proof/big ass magnets...and will wipe the floor with most out there....
Braddles 63 Posted September 21, 2022 Posted September 21, 2022 I ran a set of Tekton Lores on a 6wpc Traformatic Aries. Regret selling that combo most days.
Hifigoose Posted September 28, 2022 Posted September 28, 2022 (edited) Just realised the OP is in the US Edited September 28, 2022 by Hifigoose
stereo coffee Posted September 28, 2022 Posted September 28, 2022 On 04/05/2022 at 4:23 AM, stumblingmonk said: I am new to the hobby and would like to purchase my first tube amp. I’ve seen lots of love for the Willsenton R8 on this site and I’m leaning in that direction. My budget for my system is $5-$6k (US). What are the best speakers to pair with this type of amp? I love the retro styling of the Klipsch Heresy 4, the JBL L100, and KLH Model 5 and am leaning towards the Klipsch. I would love any suggestions and to hear your experience pairing this amp (or a similar one) to these speakers. Or maybe there are some other speakers that I haven’t heard about yet. The key specification to look for is loudspeaker impedance higher than 8 ohms. http://education.lenardaudio.com/en/14_valve_amps_7.html Valve amp power is directly proportional to speaker Impedance therefore power increases as the speaker Impedance rises. Solid-state power is inversely proportional to speaker Impedance therefore power decreases as the speaker Impedance rises. 1
vivianbl Posted September 28, 2022 Posted September 28, 2022 On 4/5/2022 at 2:23 AM, stumblingmonk said: I am new to the hobby and would like to purchase my first tube amp. I’ve seen lots of love for the Willsenton R8 on this site and I’m leaning in that direction. My budget for my system is $5-$6k (US). What are the best speakers to pair with this type of amp? I love the retro styling of the Klipsch Heresy 4, the JBL L100, and KLH Model 5 and am leaning towards the Klipsch. I would love any suggestions and to hear your experience pairing this amp (or a similar one) to these speakers. Or maybe there are some other speakers that I haven’t heard about yet. There are tubes and there are tubes! I wonder whether it might be better to choose the speakers you would like to have and then decide what tube amp would drive them best/ what would sound best etc. Tube amps can vary hugely in design and power ratings. 1 -3 watt upwards! My main system currently, is based on “modernised” Quad ESL 57s driven by 18wpc parallel Class A single ended 300B tube mono blocks. After trying both SS and other tube designs, these gave me the most musical and Sound qualities that I like within my budget parameters. Alternative view, but Hope that helps! 2
muon* Posted September 28, 2022 Posted September 28, 2022 1 hour ago, vivianbl said: Tube amps can vary hugely in design and power ratings And sound. 1
Blaine The Audioaddict Posted July 14, 2024 Posted July 14, 2024 On 28/09/2022 at 2:46 PM, stereo coffee said: The key specification to look for is loudspeaker impedance higher than 8 ohms. http://education.lenardaudio.com/en/14_valve_amps_7.html Valve amp power is directly proportional to speaker Impedance therefore power increases as the speaker Impedance rises. Solid-state power is inversely proportional to speaker Impedance therefore power decreases as the speaker Impedance rises. Thanks for posting this link. I'm new to tube power amps, with my first all tube amp coming next week. This link is very helpful with speaker choice by a general understanding of how valve amps and speakers interact.
Recommended Posts