Speakers Worthy of Pass Amps?

[PJN]

I use an M2 with the Jordan JX92 horns and a F^ with the 3 ways, either really outclass AB amps to my ears.

 

[Variac]

IMHO they tend to sound very good with full/wide range efficient drivers. Often with
"Helper" woofers. These don't have to be as big as some of those mentioned to be good.

For the ACAs which are about 6 watts, a variant of the Fostex 103 and other similar drivers is a good start.

 

[BobEllis]

The most accurate and revealing speakers are worthy of Pass amps. At the moment I'm driving my Wavecor Ardents http://www.htguide.com/forum/showth...nt-Reference-Thread-How-we-realized-the-Dream with an Aleph J running dual mono on 25V rails. Sounds great, although unsurprisingly not quite as gutsy as a Honey Badger for those times I want to get really loud. They are not sensitive at all, with the currently available woofer about 80 dB/2.83V. I guess I use the first couple of watts, not just the first for every day listening. Hopefully upcoming my F5T v2.5 (cascoded on 38V rails, 2 pairs of outputs) will take care of my rocking out needs.

 

[WBS]

Woah! They're pretty, but only 82dB! 😱

 

[BobEllis]

Thanks. Yes, they do like bigger amps like my A75 that runs 60V rails but the Aleph J sounds better when I don't need the power. Both amp and speakers are so clean.

 

[slowikpl]

Pass 60.8 was not good match for those. But Pass 160.5 are very good. Now they are playing with Aleph-X 60W. Great combo.

 

[WBS]

Hey ZM, Of all the Tannoys you've played with, which design of those you listed was your favorite? Also, where's AR2 been? We haven't heard from him in a while...

some speakers ,most of them resulted from my two gray cells , all singing well on some sort of Papamp

oldest ones , sorta Voigt cab , Focal drivers ; not much brain in them , luckily copied from net , eons ago ;

then , in my wokshop , venerable RCA LC1B , in MLTL cabs made by ZZZ (as known on Baby DiyA) , driven by Papa's Koan

then Sonido drives based - Sonido 8" FR , helped by Sonido 12" in MLTL bass cab and Fountek ribbon above ; Woland's ( as known on Baby DiyA)

then 12" Tann MLTL for Woland ;

then 15" Tann MLTL for woland

then 10" Tann MLTL for Mighty AR2

then Her's Absolute WAF OB - 15" Tann above , helped with Beyma 15" bellow

in fact , almost any decent spk will work with Papamps ;

 

[Zen Mod]

all Tann based ones are my own designs ( not forgetting - possible only tnx to MJK's TL software)

logically - my fave one are Hers Tannoys (Absolute WAF OB) executed in wallpaper pajama

AR2 is good and well , busy with work , as always

sorta taking hiatus from audio things ....... but never short to amaze me with things I will never be capable of 😉

 

[WBS]

It's been informative re-reading this thread. For me, its been interesting getting opinions from members whose posts I've enjoyed for years throughout diyaudio.com. It is especially humbling when reading posts from members who have designed their own speakers with good success. The more I research this, the more I realize just how complicated that is.

My original goal was to design the perfect speaker for my J2 and JFET amps, hoping it would be a simple case of gathering recommendations for the best components and then just slap them together and bi-amp them through my Ashly XR-1001. Boy, am I disappointed that isn't the case!

The search continues, so I just emailed GP Audio to get a quote on their current version of the venerable 604. It will be interesting to see what the price is.

I'm also interested in finding out more about the OB that Papa exhibited a couple of years ago at BA as shown in Soundhappy's post #56. I wasn't there so I haven't heard it. I do however really like the concept, size and appearance. My wife also said she could live with it, a first for an OB design! 😀

Oh, and I think ZM's 12" Tannoy MTL design looks like the perfect size and beautiful appearance for my listening room if I were to locate a pair!

 

[WBS]

FYI, as I hit "submit" on my last post I received a response to my Great Plains inquiry. The current price for 604-8HIII is $885.00 each without crossovers or $950.00 each with their built in passive crossover.

 

[Zen Mod]

that suits your budget ?

I would like to have any 604 iteration one day ..... but I'm not hysteric about that and too much of a cheapskate .......

however , I have a feeling , that could be for you ticket to proper audio pension ("I build for pleasure now , not because I have nothing good to sing my music" ) ....... see example :

http://6moons.com/audioreviews/altec/dream.html

however ....... from my short tour through craigslist , I can bet that one can stumble on something worthy ....... in ,say, 6 month of regular checking

I'm just saying that new speakers/drivers aren't only solution

 

[WBS]

that suits your budget ?

Nope. Not really, for raw drivers anyway.

I would like to have any 604 iteration one day ..... but I'm not hysteric about that and too much of a cheapskate .......

however , I have a feeling , that could be for you ticket to proper audio pension ("I build for pleasure now , not because I have nothing good to sing my music" ) ....... see example :

6moons audio reviews: Stephæn's Altec 604 Dream Speaker

however ....... from my short tour through craigslist , I can bet that one can stumble on something worthy ....... in ,say, 6 month of regular checking

My biggest concern with used Alnico drivers from the '50s, is not knowing how they've been driven and whether they will need to be sent to GPA to be re-magnetized!

I'm just saying that new speakers/drivers aren't only solution

Agreed!

 

[Zen Mod]

AlNiCo isn't sole thing you can search for on CL and flea places

I wouldn't object if you give me Altec 755 , instead of WE 755

although , I'm pretty lucky , finding European brethrens ........

go figure - Tann is ,well, easily found for decent money in Europe , while it's mostly dirt expensive in US

and , vice versa - Altec is easily found for decent money in US , while it's mostly dirt expensive in Europe

so - keep your eyes and mind open , row patiently for something older , and you can always count on good luck , to find something at least decent or even outrageously good , for greenies you can spare

patience and some elbow grease - always recipe for pleasure

edit: see these http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass...igh-end-off-topic-thread-441.html#post4903905

 

[2 picoDumbs]

I do however really like the concept, size and appearance. My wife also said she could live with it, a first for an OB design! 😀

Before the wife changes her mind proceed with open baffle immediately.

 

[WBS]

...I wouldn't object if you give me Altec 755 , instead of WE 755...

Altec 755Es? Here you go... Let me know if you would like me to contact the seller and negotiate for you. Just pay the agreed upon price + shipping and they can be yours. 😀

 

[Zen Mod]

naah

got me few shelves of brethrens , I told ya

 

[Russellc]

I've been very impressed by this company's Enzo Loudspeaker.

Tekton Design LLC, LoudSpeakers

Russellc

 

[Soundhappy]

Humbly admire this all handmade compression chambers & horns

Process ? Wheel Fi

https://vimeo.com/155290202

I guess with new Papa XA.25 can sound extraordinary 🙂

 

[Kim Bay Smidt]

I made my own iteration of the J2 amp and it has been used successfully with a variety of different loudspeakers: decware hdt, decware zob, 4pi, Troels Gravesen DTQWT MKII and lately 7pi corner horn.

Lately I made an open baffle speaker based on the design of Spatial Audio M4 and expect it to sing with the VFET amp. I've heard the original M4 and M3 with 300B SET amp they did play the music!
The Spatial Audio speakers have some of the highest WAF I'm aware of too.

 

[MASantos]

I made my own iteration of the J2 amp and it has been used successfully with a variety of different loudspeakers: decware hdt, decware zob, 4pi, Troels Gravesen DTQWT MKII and lately 7pi corner horn.

Lately I made an open baffle speaker based on the design of Spatial Audio M4 and expect it to sing with the VFET amp. I've heard the original M4 and M3 with 300B SET amp they did play the music!
The Spatial Audio speakers have some of the highest WAF I'm aware of too.

Could you share some impressions of troels DTQWT please?