Which Bookshelf Speakers For A Flea Watt Tube Amp ?

[Digital Man]

Hi All, I am having a 6v6,  2 watt Set amp being built for me, it is nearing 

completion, I will be using this amp in my small bedroom and I am after

a pair of sensitive bookshelf speakers, I have come across a pair of Fostex

bookshelf speakers, a kit I believe, enclosure is BK225WB2 and the speaker is

FF225WK, that is their designation to identify them by, no name is given for 

that purpose, they are 8 ohm, 34 watts with 93db, they are available as a 

second hand pair. The only other bookshelf speaker that I am also considering

are the Mission QX-1 MKII, 8 ohm, 25-100 watts with 95db, there is also the 

Mission QX-2 MKII with similar speaks, but the physical size is a bit smaller, am

I on the right track with these bookshelf speakers ? is there something else

that will suit that I have yet to come across ? I am also interested in the Decware

Tiny Radials, thoughts on these as well ? anyone with any personal experiences

with any of these bookshelf speakers mentioned ? budget is around the $500

mark, your opinions, experiences and thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

 

[aussievintage]

I run  2 watt amps all the time.  The key is the efficiency, of course, and 93/95db is fine.  They will play quite loudly.    I quite like Fostex fullrange drivers, and use them in one of my sets of speakers.

 

With bookshelf speakers, if they are ported, then it can matter if the port is at the rear or not.  If it is, then you need to have them some distance from whatever is behind them - so, for example, sitting on a closed in bookshelf is not a good idea as you will get less bass.

[mwhouston]

8 minutes ago, aussievintage said:

I run  2 watt amps all the time.  The key is the efficiency, of course, and 93/95db is fine.  They will play quite loudly.    I quite like Fostex fullrange drivers, and use them in one of my sets of speakers.

 

With bookshelf speakers, if they are ported, then it can matter if the port is at the rear or not.  If it is, then you need to have them some distance from whatever is behind them - so, for example, sitting on a closed in bookshelf is not a good idea as you will get less bass.

I’m with this guy. 93db or more is enough especially in the bedroom where disco levels of duff-duff are not required. I’d be looking for speakers which will present voice and acoustic instruments with emotion. Forget deep bass and over airy highs, look for a solid well extended midrange presentation. 
 

What preamp will you use? Or direct from source. 

[Digital Man]

The amp is integrated 

[Peterbean]

WLM speakers

97db

ported

stylish

[Mendes]

48 minutes ago, Peterbean said:

WLM speakers

97db

ported

stylish

Yeah, but not for $500- Pete, a tough ask within the budget stated.

 

Good luck 

[Peterbean]

Richard Allan’s ( or Allen) 8” should be in budget

Actually I have some Akai 8” in the shed and some upward firing cabinets for 8”drivers but not really bookshelf 

[blakey72]

These are apparently a lot better than they used to be as far as being forward/bright. They are 92dB efficient at 8 ohms.  

[RCAJack]

20 hours ago, blakey72 said:

These are apparently a lot better than they used to be as far as being forward/bright. They are 92dB efficient at 8 ohms.  

Not meaning to undercut a helpful suggestion but every time I’ve seen Klipsch speakers tested, they don’t measure up to the sensitivity figure quoted by the company.
 

Regarding the Mission QX‐1 Mk2 referred to by the OP, the 95dB number refers to peak SPL. Mission says the sensitivity is 87dB for 2.0V input with an Impedance of 4 ohms. That equates to 1 watt of input power I suppose? Funny way to present it IMO but pretty typical bookshelf speaker figures.

[aussievintage]

3 minutes ago, RCAJack said:

Regarding the Mission QX‐1 Mk2 referred to by the OP, the 95dB number refers to peak SPL. Mission says the sensitivity is 87dB for 2.0V input with an Impedance of 4 ohms. That equates to 1 watt of input power I suppose? Funny way to present it IMO but pretty typical bookshelf speaker figures.

 

With marketing behaviour like that they'd be crossed off my list.

 

3 minutes ago, RCAJack said:

Not meaning to undercut a helpful suggestion but every time I’ve seen Klipsch speakers tested, they don’t measure up to the sensitivity figure quoted by the company.

 

Looks like, once again, the audiophile industry is not to be trused.  Not really surprised.      

 

I would trust the speaker driver manufacturers more than the speaker box builders.    btw. I checked the drivers in my Osborns and they might even be a little more efficient than Greg claimed - but then I expect that from him.    

[Digital Man]

Ohhh, I didn’t know that, very misleading 

[aussievintage]

15 minutes ago, Digital Man said:

Ohhh, I didn’t know that, very misleading 

 

So, as I play my 6V6 2 watt SET amp this afternoon,  I am thinking you must be getting excited for the delivery of yours?    Have you bought any speakers yet?   Just a note, nothing wrong with testing the amp with any speakers you might have on have, even if inefficient.  That 2 watts might surprise you

[Digital Man]

I am very much looking forward to its arrival, I will be finalising the last couple of aspects and then it’s done, but for the waiting, no, I haven’t bought any speakers for it as of yet, but the Fostex speakers that I mentioned in my original post are very much in the running, I do have a lovely pair of early 1970’s Hitachi speakers, I’ve had them for the last few years, I could try the amp with those for a quick listen if need be, I have recently come to the full realisation that there is much to learn about speakers and that I need to stop kidding myself and educate myself a whole lot more in regards to speakers in general 

[blakey72]

2 hours ago, RCAJack said:

Not meaning to undercut a helpful suggestion but every time I’ve seen Klipsch speakers tested, they don’t measure up to the sensitivity figure quoted by the company.

Fair enough. Don't know too much about them other than what I've read.

[RCAJack]

On 3/12/2024 at 8:32 PM, Digital Man said:

I am also interested in the Decware Tiny Radials, thoughts on these as well ?

No experience but I had to look these up. Prices start around US$369 plus US$120 shipping to Victoria, plus GST. You’d be past A$800 at that point, although they sell plans and parts to the DIYer which could bring that down. https://www.decwaretinyradials.com
 

Each channel has a 1.5” ‘full range’ driver of 80dB/1w sensitivity and a max power rating of 6 watts. They’re quite upfront about these speakers being for near field use. 
 

Anyway I’d follow the advice of @aussievintage  and just use your amp with whatever you have when it’s ready. 

 

[aussievintage]

9 hours ago, RCAJack said:

 

Each channel has a 1.5” ‘full range’ driver of 80dB/1w sensitivity and a max power rating of 6 watts. They’re quite upfront about these speakers being for near field use. 

 

Not a good choice.  Also very expensive for what they are. 

[Digital Man]

Hi All, Done, I made the purchase on a beautiful pair of Fostex full range bookshelf speakers, thanks to Eggmeister, once I take delivery of the amp, I will report back with results. Thanks