Small room, Small Amp - Speaker Recommendation Requested

Bones13

Bones13

Active member
Joined
Oct 21, 2014
Messages
443
Location
Seattle, WA
I have a small study/listening room. It is 9.5 x 14 feet. My amps are DIY - Aleph J (~20 watt) and AudioNoteKits PP EL34 (~35 watt). I am collecting parts for the VFet DIY Pass Amp CX1 which will be about 10 watts I think. It is not inconceivable that I would build a lower watt SET amp at some point. Probably not below the 300b SET - 8 watts or so.

My room is treated with GIK corners x 2 each side on the front wall, and a big bass panel on the back wall. A single panel is on the ceiling at the 1st reflection point. I do have some residual 40Hz boom that my treatments don't cover that well.

Current speakers : Zu Audio Essence

I would love to be able to shoehorn some Volti Vittoris into my space, but 32 inch wide speakers might be too much on the 9.5 foot wall. Currently considering AvantGarde UnoFino, DeVore Silverback and 0/96, DC10Audio Briton II, and other Zu Audio options.

I will hard cap my budget at 20K.

While the Essence play some good palpable music, I do think they lack some refinement. I am not desparate for upgrading, but it never hurts to be looking around.

I am also going to ask about 2015 audio shows. When/where would be a good one to go see/listen to some of these? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
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I'd consider the Audio Note E/Spe Hemp HE. I have the non HE version and unless playing AC/DC at loud levels I rarely push my amp past 2 watts. And no you don't have to put the E in corners - but you could make your own corners which is the way to go if your room is made with plaster board walls (which sing along to the speakers). Because the speaker has many upgrade avenues you don't have to drop $20k - get the lower priced model and then upgrade later. My plan was to buy the AN E/Spx Alnico HE which is remarkably better than other AN E speakers (weird since they all use the same cabinets). But the price was a bit out of reach so I went entry level with the intention to upgrade later. This allows you to put money elsewhere.

The Teresonic Ingenium, Devore Orangutan and Trenner and Friedl RA Box are three of my other favorite speakers however all cost more and I don't consider any of them to be "better" overall - though each has their strengths.
 
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