Smallest highly efficient speakers?

[Freestone]

Are there any nice small (think book shelve size) highly efficient >95db lets say, speakers that would work well with low power SET tube amps?
I don't think so but thought I would ask more broadly.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by Freestone

Are there any nice small (think book shelve size) highly efficient >95db lets say, speakers that would work well with low power SET tube amps?
I don't think so but thought I would ask more broadly.

Devore Gibbon 3XL have a 90 dB sensitivity but at 8 ohm, you really do not nee 95 dB.
You can find more but often the impedance drops at 4 to 6 ohm so what you gain in a place, you loose it elsewhere....

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[bakerman]

Originally Posted by Jérôme W

Devore Gibbon 3XL have a 90 dB sensitivity but at 8 ohm, you really do not nee 95 dB.
You can find more but often the impedance drops at 4 to 6 ohm so what you gain in a place, you loose it elsewhere....

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+1

I drive my Gibbon Super 8's, which also have a 90db sensitivity rating, with a 22w SET amp. There's no lack of power and they sound sweet!

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[bradleyc]

Klipsch RB-81 II Bookshelf Speaker

97dB @ 2.83V / 1m

I have a couple pairs of RB-81 speakers and they are kick-ass, nice big sound

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[cmalak]

Richard...while you are right you do want a relatively high efficiency speaker ( I would say >= 92-93 dB) to play nice with an SET tube amp, I would say even more important is a bookshelf speaker with a nominal impedance of >=8ohms and flat withithout any dips below 6 ohms across the frequency spectrum. With those characteristics, I would suggest you look into speakers from Zu Audio, Coincident, WLM, Tonian, Teresonic, Sonist, Living Voice (only floor standers but very slim design), Klipsch, Horning (only floor standers but very slim design), Cain and Cain(only floor standers but very slim design), and Audio Note among others.

Here are some suggestions:

1) Zu Omen Bookshelf (Sensitivity: 98 dB, Impedance: 12 ohms nominal, Recommended power: 4-12 wpc, Price: $1,200): Zu Audio | A Revolution in American HiFi

2) Coincident Triumph Extreme II: (Sensitivity: 94 dB, Impedance: 8 ohms flat, Recommended power: 3-300 wpc, Price: CAD$2,999): Coincident Speaker Technology Total Victory

3) WLM Diva Monitor: (Sensitivity: 97 dB, Impedance: 8 ohms, Recommended power: 5-200 wpc, Price: $5,200): Diva - WLM Loudspeakers North America

4) Teresonic Magus: (Sensitivity: 98 dB, Impedance: 8 ohms, Recommended power: 1-100 wpc, Price: $3,985-$4,985): Magus

5) Sonist Concerto 2: (Sensitivity: 95 dB, Impedance: 8 ohm nominal and 6 ohm minimum, Recommended power: 2 -100 wpc, Price: $2,495): PRODUCTS

Then there are the slightly larger than bookshelf speakers but still standmount speakers from the likes of Audio Note and DeVore like:

1) Audio Note AN-J and AN-E speakers (Sensitivity: >94 dB, Impedance: ? ohms, Recommended power: ?-? wpc, Price: $?): Audio Note

2) DeVore Orangutan O/96 (Sensitivity: 96 dB, Impedance: 10 ohm nominal and 8.75 ohm minimum, Recommended power: ? -? wpc, Price: $13K I believe?): DeVORE FIDELITY Orangutan

Here is a useful resource for SET-friendly speakers: REFERENCE COMPONENTS-SPEAKERS

[Face]

FYI, DeVore usually inflates his sensitivity numbers: DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/96 loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com

But then again, so do many other manufacturers, buyer beware.

[Jerome W]

An other incredible detailed and informative answer from Cyril !

[mbovaird]

Originally Posted by bradleyc

Klipsch RB-81 II Bookshelf Speaker

97dB @ 2.83V / 1m

I have a couple pairs of RB-81 speakers and they are kick-ass, nice big sound

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+1. That's a great little speaker.

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by Jérôme W

An other incredible detailed and informative answer from Cyril !

Jerome...merci bien

[Freestone]

Originally Posted by Jérôme W

An other incredible detailed and informative answer from Cyril !

Yes. Agreed. Thanks