Jackal008 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I am considering a pair of single driver speakers from Omega or Hoyt-Bedford. I understand valve amps are considered a good match for these type of speakers but I want to know what quality solid state options are out there that would be a good match also. In my search so far I have come up with potential solutions from Quasimodo and Graham Slee's (GSP) Proprius mono blocks. Any experience with these or other amps with single driver speakers with advice or recommendations would be appreciated. Budget isn't set but around the $2k max mark seems reasonable from my search so far. For info, I am running from the source (Funk Firm LSD TT) onwards a GSP EXP Elevator (kind of SUT) into GSP Reflex M phono stage. Krispy Kable Stage 1 interconnects and Zu Mission speaker cables. I've got a DAC (Rotel RDD-06) also that will need to plug into an amp. And I thought buying a new turntable was an easy job! I'm loving this project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronal Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) I have owned both Omega and HB speakers and found that the best SS amp for them was the Dayens Ampino (25 wpc). Don't be diverted by the sensitivity of these speakers - they are not as easy to drive as well as you would think. Valve amps do better with them IMHO. My favourite was the Audion Sterling EL34. Superb match. Edited April 1, 2014 by bronal 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thoglette Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I am considering a pair of single driver speakers from Omega or Hoyt-Bedford. I understand valve amps are considered a good match for these type of speakers but I want to know what quality solid state options are out there that would be a good match also. There is a body of opinion that if you have the efficiency (and sane impedence curve) then Class-A is the way to go. The catch is that new, commercial Class-A amps (eg. Sugden) are outside your budget. DIY (eg. JLH) is eminently affordable. OTOH I've yet to hear ill spoken of the NAKSA which is both available and in budget (if some assembly required). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuyen Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 What style of music you mainly listen to? I personally like the Bakoon SCA-7511 MK3 amplifier. Just within your budget. 15W (8ohm). http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bakoon-Products-SATRI-Compact-Power-Amplifier-SCA-7511-MK3-/201014526065?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers&hash=item2ecd664071 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackal008 Posted April 1, 2014 Author Share Posted April 1, 2014 Thx tuyen. Bakoon is an interesting product although I couldn't find the SCA-7511 MK3 on the Bakoon website. Music tastes: rock, blues, jazz, rockabilly, funk and soul. The GSP Proprius mono blocks have caught my attention as I'm already a fan of the other GSP products, but I'd like to hear from owners that are running them with single driver speakers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted April 1, 2014 Volunteer Share Posted April 1, 2014 Not sure of their prices but what about valvet ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Thx tuyen. Bakoon is an interesting product although I couldn't find the SCA-7511 MK3 on the Bakoon website. Music tastes: rock, blues, jazz, rockabilly, funk and soul. The GSP Proprius mono blocks have caught my attention as I'm already a fan of the other GSP products, but I'd like to hear from owners that are running them with single driver speakers. Welcome Jackal and nice to see another funk and soul fan on the forum. @@cheekyboy runs a 'loaner' program for GSP gear. The list in this link shows the mono blocks are available for loan. Send him a PM for details. In the end a trial in your own system will give you a better idea than other people's opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgehifi Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 (edited) I am considering a pair of single driver speakers from Omega or Hoyt-Bedford. I understand valve amps are considered a good match for these type of speakers but I want to know what quality solid state options are out there that would be a good match also. In my search so far I have come up with potential solutions from Quasimodo and Graham Slee's (GSP) Proprius mono blocks. Any experience with these or other amps with single driver speakers with advice or recommendations would be appreciated. Budget isn't set but around the $2k max mark seems reasonable from my search so far. For info, I am running from the source (Funk Firm LSD TT) onwards a GSP EXP Elevator (kind of SUT) into GSP Reflex M phono stage. Krispy Kable Stage 1 interconnects and Zu Mission speaker cables. I've got a DAC (Rotel RDD-06) also that will need to plug into an amp. And I thought buying a new turntable was an easy job! I'm loving this project. If those speaker you mentioned are efficient easy load types then I would recommend a Pass Labs First Watt F4 this is what it was designed for, but these need to be driven with a preamp when driven by your source to give good higher than normal voltage gain, combined up to 14v out. Sorry I may have my F models wrong, there many of them, but you'll know what I mean, if someone corrects me. Cheers George Edited April 1, 2014 by georgehifi 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackal008 Posted April 5, 2014 Author Share Posted April 5, 2014 Thank you all for the input and advice. I am planning a visit to Cam at Kripsy's to listen to his Omega's and Hoyt-Bedford's with my current amp. I will also take this list of suggestions to see what Cam's thoughts are. I reckon there are more valve options but space in our small place is a premium and the hifi rack needs to be compact, unfortunately. I'll let the forum know what I end up going with and the results when the time comes. Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffy Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 Hi Jackal008, Have you read John Darko's review of this speaker? It is on his website (http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2011/06/hoyt-bedford-type-1-loudspeaker-6moons/) and he said it went pretty well with an exposure 2010s2. Perhaps even PM and ask his opinion of it (John H. Darko), he is a good guy*. Cheers, Andrew *My apologies John if you do not want to be hassled but you seem like a man who could help here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAMO 1147 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 (edited) Carl, I run my Zu's with a Audion Sterling el 34 and a ss vintage Sansui au series amp - as the mood takes me. However if i was looking at non vintage and given your taste in music I would be hunting down a NAKSA 80 in fact if i had the $$ i would add this to the collection yesterday. http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/63763-hugh-dean-aspen-naksa-80-watt-power-amplifier/ review http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2013/05/aspen-naksa-80-amplifier-review/ that even keeps some $$ in your pocket. I'd love to try a pass labs, however i think there over 2K budget same with Bakoon, - i've not heard on of those - yet. Edit: Pass labs F4 is close to budget but the shippig may get you. http://www.renohifi.com/FirstInStock.htm Edited April 10, 2014 by DAMO 1147 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThirdDrawerDown Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 2 nice amber amps at speakerbits Melbourne 3 weeks ago that exactly fit your budget the amp designer reputedly had full range speakers incl tannoy in mind in the design spec i don't think I'm mistaken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phred Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 A colleagues Omegas run well with a Perreaux Audient 80. Stunning on jazz vocals and similar. When playing music that suits these speakers they are sublime. The Omegas are very “fast†speakers that need and deserve an amp with good control. A more powerful amp helps the Omegas to cope better with a wider range of music. (Recall that we put a more mainstream amp onto them and the speakers magic disappeared ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Willo Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 I seeTuyen has already suggested the amp I came to suggest myself, that is the 15w Bakoon. It is that particular amp that made me fall in love with Bakoon, and were my speakers high efficient then that is that amp that I would own, however I'm running 50w Bakoon mono's instead to drive my 85db Harbeths, but there are times when I think of starting afresh with a nice set of high efficiency speakers and the 15w Bakoon it was that magical Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 Get in touch with Pat @War Audio and get some Bakoon goodness . Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upfront Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 Get in touch with Pat @War Audio and get some Bakoon goodness . Cheers Agreed. An exceptional amp and I couldn't think of a better man to buy from. Pats an all around good bloke. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 Agreed. An exceptional amp and I couldn't think of a better man to buy from. Pats an all around good bloke. He sure is :-) .i need a 500 watt Bakoon :-) :-) :-) Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceangreen17 Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Not sure of their prices but what about valvet ? As an 'experiment' I have run my Zu Soul Superflys with a a number of SS amps over the last year and did find some Valvet E1 monoblocks to be surprising good. They are only 10 watts Class A and as noted by several reviewers are very pleasant sounding, non-fatiguing and quite dynamic little amps. However, the Zu's are a much easier load than the speakers you are considering. Like bronal, I ultimately probably prefer tubes - My Audion 300B sounds pretty good on these speakers but in terms of SS amps .... The Bakoon is a terrific amp (if reasonably expensive) - Another amp IMO that sounds surprising good in this application is the Goldmund Job 225 - Despite the very negative reaction it got on this forum, it is very transparent, agile, clean and dynamic. After eight months of extended listening to it on a number of different systems, that included Avalon, Dynaudio, Coincident and recently Wilson Duette speakers, with Counterpoint, ME, Plinius, Musical Fidelity amps it is IMO a real bargain. However I am sure mentioning it again here will probably produce more negative comments. I suggest you talk with forum members who actually own and listen to this amp before completely trashing it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
braj Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 100% agree. I've had the Job 225 for 8 months now and still love what it does. Have not thought of another amp since. Worth an audition in my opinion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davewantsmoore Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Many "high efficiency single driver speakers" are very often designed to be used with amplifiers which have significantly > 0 output impedance. Without this they may not have enough low (or high) frequency extension. If using an amp with output impedance = 0, then you might need to get your EQ from somewhere else. To get enough bass, this will mean an active filter (one that can boost) or a series inductor. (or a helper woofer) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niss_man Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 +1 for a quasimodo 40w amp here. They provide great bang for buck and the designer/producer is a good bloke too. Simon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 (edited) I have a 40 watt Quasi also, but it's not doing anything at all right now. No reflection on the amp at all, it's a nice design, but like many here I have too many amps and not enough time Edited April 21, 2014 by Phantom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackal008 Posted May 2, 2014 Author Share Posted May 2, 2014 Amp update: I ended up getting a secondhand Quasi 40W amp from an SNA member. It arrived this afternoon and I plugged it into the system. I can't believe how much better it sounds compared to the NAD C356 amp. I was getting a speaker noise through the right channel on the NAD whereas the Quasi is deadly quiet - nothing. Until the vinyl sound comes through and then I am hearing background voices and sound in the recordings that I hadn't heard before. And this is through a pair of two way PSB Imagine bookshelf speakers! I suspect the Graham Slee EXP and Reflex phono stage combo also assists this inky black silence and detail. I will be testing the amp with some single driver speakers via Krispy Audio in the near future. Can't wait to see how good that will sound. I'll keep this thread posted. Thanks to all the members who have contributed and shared their thoughts - I have learnt much. Carl 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LogicprObe Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Congrats Carl. I've never seen a thread with so many 'good blokes' in it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A9X Posted May 3, 2014 Share Posted May 3, 2014 Many "high efficiency single driver speakers" are very often designed to be used with amplifiers which have significantly > 0 output impedance. Without this they may not have enough low (or high) frequency extension. If using an amp with output impedance = 0, then you might need to get your EQ from somewhere else. To get enough bass, this will mean an active filter (one that can boost) or a series inductor. (or a helper woofer) I agree, but you want a capacitor not an inductor if the point is adding extra source impedance at LF. When I was toying with single drivers a decade ago, many benefited from the extra source Z, but some like some Goodmans did not as much. EQ is easier or crossing to a dedicated LF driver will give more performance, especially getting the LF out of the main driver, reducing excursion and distortion. Looking at the specs of these speakers, I'm simply not seeing why people are saying they are hard to drive. The line stages I build would drive them to modest levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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