Best 4" with tubes, staying simple (BR) ?

[mahleriana]

Hello again,
Just shifting to a new thread to have more focused answers (my previous thread "Markaudio or 4"TB to replace FE103e with 2a3 SET?" may invite too diverse answers), so :
What do you think is the best low cost 4" driver with a simple enclosure (BR, want to stay simple) and using tube gear ? ex : TB W4-1320, CHR 70, CHP70/EL70, FE103eN, CSS FR125...
My main interest is it stays easy on the ears : no bright or zippy or peaky please. I may use Zobel and BSC to improve things.
For those who has tried several of them, could you write a few comments on each one or perceived differences ?
Thanks in advance !

[Rullknufs]

I don't know if the EL70 is bright, zippy or peaky but i really do like it.

[BudP]

My Alpair 7 set from Planet 10 is exceedingly flat, without any hint of zippyness or peakiness. It is in a Fonken style cabinet so the bass is very satisfying, in an informational sense. Only a light amount of bass pressure though. Mids are incredibly clear as are the frequency extensions. It is an EnABL'd set of drivers.

Bud

[motosapien]

You might consider the Planet 10 micro tower http://homepage.mac.com/tlinespeaker...aps-150909.pdf

With two EL70 wired in series they present an 8 ohm load. I used a 68uF cap across the second driver to filter out the highs and it worked great. I think I would locate both drivers on the front if using the cap. You'll be surprised at the bass these can put out with a proper cabinet.

[chrisb]

how many "tube watts", or more importantly - size of room and listening levels?

I have several ranging from 3or so of the 2A3 to approx 15w in Tublelab SimplePP/EL84, as well as several pairs of Mark Audio drivers systems.

As much as I love the sound of the 2A3 & EL34SET, they simply run out of steam with the moderately low sensitivity of the Alpairs, CHR or EL70s, (or for that matter the WR/FR125) but the EL84PP works very well indeed with a pair of the EL70 Microtowers mentioned elsewhere. A very simple build and the Castle top version is not a floorspace hog, but does need some clearance on on the rear / side walls.

For flea-watt power, the 4" full-range driver I'd recommend would be Fostex FE126E, but for full effect it really wants a BLH of some type - BIB, Frugel, B Busch, Scott Lindgren Saburo / Valiant, etc. I've heard examples of all of these and not all are complicated builds, they do pay the price of physical size. NSTAAFL

[Monte Verdi]

My vote is for Alpair 7 as the clarity and smoothness with tubes is mind blowing. I have been using them with a customized Scott 222C which puts out 18 watts per side and the 7's sound glorious. Now I hear the 7's EnABL'd take it to the next level. Also, have not tried SET amps with this yet though I cannot imagine them sounding anything less then amazing. Here is link to my review of Alpair 7 in a OB configuration.
Alpair 7 Revisited review

Ramon