Highly efficient speakers???

[madmax]

Lets say I have a small amp with 3-4 watts and want it to play loudly with a VERY good audiophile quality. What are my speaker options?

madmax

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

Klipsch comes to mind...if you like the sound...I don't know if they're THAT efficient though...

[jcaut]

Full-rangers. No power-soaking crossover bits.

I don't have specifics, though. That was just my first thought when I saw the question.

[mhardy6647]

Any of the Klipsch "Heritage" speakers (Heresys, Cornwalls, LaScalas, Belle Klipsches, Klipschorns) are ideal for that application. I use 1974 Cornwalls with my 2A3 SE triode amps (3.5 watts per channel).

Classic JBL and Altecs (e.g., VOT's) fill the bill quite nicely. I have a pair of Altec 604B coaxes awaiting a pair of proper boxes to put them in! Also some of the classic EV (ElectroVoice) drivers and enclosures (e.g., SP12, SP12B, 12TRX, 12TRXB, LS12, LT12 drivers; Aristocrat enclosures). The EV Esquire 3-ways are also pretty nice (I have a pair I got quite cheap).

Full range drivers can also be great. See www.fullrangedriver.com for much, much more information if you're interested in full-range drivers. The most efficient (but also IMO most idiosyncratic) of the lot are the Lowthers (http://www.<a href="http://www.lowth...erica.com/</a>)... something like 104 dB/watt at 1 m.

[VR3]

Klipsch Chorus

102db eff....

etc etc

[madmax]

mhardy,
I was looking at the site. They have Fostex, Louther and PAudio drivers and boxes. I am intrigued to say the least. What did you mean by "idiosyncratic" with the Lowthers? I have been interested in a single full range driver for some time. In the scheme of things how would any of these compare with the way SDA's sound? Bigger? Smaller? What would I expect out of them. It sounds like you are pretty into it.
Thanks!
madmax

[madmax]

I think this is what I want. What do you guys think?

http://decware.com/HDT/hdt.htm

It looks like for around $500 I can build them.

madmax

[TroyD]

I, personally, haven't heard them but Lowther is a brand that the SET crowd seems to drool over.

BDT

[RuSsMaN]

http://www.omegaloudspeakers.com/

http://www.pispeakers.com/

http://www.thehornshoppe.com/

http://www.zucable.com/

Cheers,
Russ

[Whadyasay]

Those dual-driver Hornshoppe models are worth getting for their grilles alone!

[mhardy6647]

Most would agree that Lowthers require bass reinforcement in the form of a back-loaded horn, and some enclosures actually include both front and back loaded horns to provide acoustic equalization. Otherwise, they're way not flat. I find them overly aggressive with most highly-produced/multitrack "pop" recordings... and mind you, I use Cornwalls as my main high-efficiency speakers :-)

The Fostex FE166/167/206/207 drivers are very nice. The FE207E will provide (IMO) very nice fullrange performance in a simple bass reflex enclosure. These are also way cheaper than even the 'cheap' Lowthers.

[RuSsMaN]

Agreed, I've heard a lot of Lowther and Fostex side by side, and the Lowther just isn't worth the money.

Cheers,
Russ

[danger boy]

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
Klipsch Chorus

102db eff....

etc etc

the Klipsch Chorus have pretty large woofers in em..

I think a 15" woofer and same size passive radiator.. if my memory serves me right. :(

so it may take more then 3 or 4 watts to power those babies.

[chenj16]

Originally posted by Whadyasay
Those dual-driver Hornshoppe models are worth getting for their grilles alone!

:D:D:D