Speaker unit suggestions for Valve Amplifier (Baby Huey)

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Earl Josh

Member
Joined 2020
#1
Hi,

I'm trying to work out the budget for speaker units for the BH amp I'm planning on building.

Thinking of a Woofer + Midrange + Tweeter. How does one go about sizing the wattage specs for the these units. Any specific ones that someone can recommend would be a good starting point for me.

Will build the cabinets from scratch.

Thanks

Earl Josh
 
#4
I used Acoustic Energy Alite 3 floorstanding speakers (89dB) for more than a decade with 10W 300B SE in about 26 sqmeter living room.

The impedance curve (changing) is more important (for SE amps) than another loudspeaker parameters.
 
#6
Small SE amp. You want a speaker that is fairly efficent (your room and how loud you listen play a big role), but that also has a flat impedance since the amplifier will have highish Rout.

It is worth noting that non-flat impedance is often caused by the crossover. This is often why you see very good synergy with 1-way speakers.

From your inquiry, which is not something that is really important at all, you have much to absorb before you begin your speaker building journey.

dave
 
#9
Hi,
Happy New Year!

Sorry got sidetracked with work and other issues.
I'm back to getting the PCBs and components for 2022 and therefore reading up on the speaker modules /woofer/midrange and tweeters.
I plan to build the EL34 version of the Baby Huey in UL mode so I expect about 30Watts out. According to what I've read recently, it seems that the amp should be rated at twice the speaker watts rating. So am I right in thinking that a 15 watt speaker should do?

Also, what brand in the UK would be recommended? I have looked at http://www.seas.no

Are the any other that I should be considering?

Thank you for reading!

Earl.
 
#10
The "power rating" of a loudspeaker is usually meaningless. It certainly does not tell you anything about the "compatibility" with a given power amplifier.

You should be looking for a loudspeaker with relatively high efficiency, so it will efficiently convert the limited electrical power from your amp to acoustic power.

Apart from this, you need to determine how big, expensive, etc. your speaker is should be. With this we can try to point you to suitable designs.
 
#11
Earl Josh said:
According to what I've read recently, it seems that the amp should be rated at twice the speaker watts rating.
Click to expand...
Bunk. Power ratings are not much use in hifi use.

You want a loudspeaker of sufficient sensitivity to play as loud as you need in your room. And given the higish Rout of the amplifier something with a fairly flat impedance curves. Do note that crossovers are most often the cause of significant impedance deveations above the bass resonance. So typically the fewer ways the less problems, oftn why fullrange drivers are often seen in such systems.

Hoe big is your room and how loud do you like to listen?

dave
 
#12
DIY? Cant beat horn loading for efficiency.

I ordered the plans for this two way, I dislike 3 way systems. For the woofer I was gonna do an audio nirvana full range 15 inch, very low excursion. in a large 8 cubic foot bottom cabinet set up for trying out two 15 inch drivers if i cant match the horn efficiency with this ribbon. With a very simple crossover. The new table saw blade is installed, just waiting for it to not be so damn cold in the garage.

https://josephcrowe.com/products/sabourin-speaker-system-no-1309
woofer

https://www.commonsenseaudio.com/an15cfspecs.jpg
horn loading this ribbon

https://www.parts-express.com/GRS-PT6825-8-8-Planar-Mid-Tweeter-8-Ohm-272-126
 
#13
I'm now running a 86dB sensitive speaker with a 35w tube amp (Prima Luna Prologue 4 with stock EL-34 tubes) and that is way to powerfull for my listening room (3.5x6x2.5m). I do also run a pair of 89dB sensitive speakers from a pair of ACA's (15w transistor class A) and that is still more than loud enough. That second one is a fullrange setup wihout any filtering at all (Mark Audio CHN110 in an MLTL design). The first one is a 2 way (Woofer assisted wideband) with a first order crossover that is tuned to avoid huge impendance peaks also.

But it all depends on how loud you want it, how low you want it (the lower, the more power is needed in general) and how big your space is. In general tube amps don't like big impendance peaks (especially SE amps) so if it's a multiway, watch out for that.
 
#18
planet10 said:
Bunk. Power ratings are not much use in hifi use.

You want a loudspeaker of sufficient sensitivity to play as loud as you need in your room. And given the higish Rout of the amplifier something with a fairly flat impedance curves. Do note that crossovers are most often the cause of significant impedance deveations above the bass resonance. So typically the fewer ways the less problems, oftn why fullrange drivers are often seen in such systems.

How big is your room and how loud do you like to listen?

dave
Click to expand...
Hi Dave,
Thank you for your response.
The living room is 7.3m x 3.8m (25ft x 12ft) approx. However, I intend to place the two speaker just on either side of the fireplace directed towards the sofa/couch. The actual listening area then works out to 3.8m x 3.5m (12ft x 12ft). The ceiling is about 10ft high.
I like the music comfortable and not loud, mostly classical.

Regards,
Earl
 
Last edited by a moderator:
#19
10 foot ceilig is good.

You are sitting relatively close.

We need to keep in mind that classical music tends to have greater dynamic range, so you will need more headroom, or an amplifier that clips gracefully.

Your room is smaller than mine, i am further away, given the amps/speakers i tend to use, i’d guess 87dB+ with a flattish impedance would be a good target.

dave
 
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