Best T amp speaker?
There is tons of info available on line for single driver speakers. From my own research some of the best can be found here;
http://www.quarter-wave.com/Projects.html
You are right in going to a crossoverless setup for the T amp. With no overall feedback around the output filter components this is an issue with them. With a proper single driver they can do some real magic. Don’t discount the Jordan or Bandor drivers as they do offer extended range over other so called full range drivers. They are extremely revealing so don’t tolerate being fed a less than nearly perfect signal. This is why they receive mixed reviews but if you want the truth and not colorations you do have to consider them.
Roger
There is tons of info available on line for single driver speakers. From my own research some of the best can be found here;
http://www.quarter-wave.com/Projects.html
You are right in going to a crossoverless setup for the T amp. With no overall feedback around the output filter components this is an issue with them. With a proper single driver they can do some real magic. Don’t discount the Jordan or Bandor drivers as they do offer extended range over other so called full range drivers. They are extremely revealing so don’t tolerate being fed a less than nearly perfect signal. This is why they receive mixed reviews but if you want the truth and not colorations you do have to consider them.
Roger
I have the T-amp for over a month now and it sounds great. It's powering a set of old Cambridge Audio speakers (passive satelite-woofer system) in the bedroom and it can produce more than enough power. Just for fun, I hooked it up to my main speakers in the living room. These are big 3-way speakers (it's a pipe-based design with double woofers, mid and tweeter), have 89 dB sensitivity and are impedance-wise not the easiest.
A friend has tried the T-amp with some old B&W monitors, which are not that efficient. The T-amp has more problems with the B&W's, only because they are not efficient enough.
Even with those 8 watts, it plays loud enough enough to compete with with my Denon 3805 amplifier. I was impressed by the amount of bass and clarity that the little T-amp produces. The best $30 I've spent on audio!
So, go with a decently efficient loudspeaker and get a good 12 or 14 V power-supply, at least 15W, 30W is probably better.
Koert
A friend has tried the T-amp with some old B&W monitors, which are not that efficient. The T-amp has more problems with the B&W's, only because they are not efficient enough.
Even with those 8 watts, it plays loud enough enough to compete with with my Denon 3805 amplifier. I was impressed by the amount of bass and clarity that the little T-amp produces. The best $30 I've spent on audio!
So, go with a decently efficient loudspeaker and get a good 12 or 14 V power-supply, at least 15W, 30W is probably better.
Koert
Thanks for the input; I’m currently using my Super-T powering JBL Northridge E-100. I see that there rated at 91 db which may relate to the luck in my listening pleasure I have recently experienced
The Super T, recently replaced my Harman/Kardom HK 3470.
I’m currently driving the JBL Northridge E-100, they have dual 10”s a 4”, and also a tweeter, As much as I like my current sound, I know it could much better. Reading through the post here, this has got to be a match made in hell.
The Super T, recently replaced my Harman/Kardom HK 3470.
I’m currently driving the JBL Northridge E-100, they have dual 10”s a 4”, and also a tweeter, As much as I like my current sound, I know it could much better. Reading through the post here, this has got to be a match made in hell.
Due to the popularity of the t-amp and other D-class wonders I propose to continue the discussion on suitable speakers for t-amp🙂
Secondly, in my opinion, only the speakers could reveal all excellent capabilities of t-amp...therefore, the choice of speakers is of primal importance.
taking into consideration the above discussion, as I understood the only choice for t-amp is single driver speakers. so, i decided to go for fostex.
in your opinion, what would be the best fostex model and enclosure to go with t-amp, specifically taking into consideration the need for a good bass responce.
or maybe fostex and 'good/deep bass responce' have nothing in common?...and I should look for something else...
Secondly, in my opinion, only the speakers could reveal all excellent capabilities of t-amp...therefore, the choice of speakers is of primal importance.
taking into consideration the above discussion, as I understood the only choice for t-amp is single driver speakers. so, i decided to go for fostex.
in your opinion, what would be the best fostex model and enclosure to go with t-amp, specifically taking into consideration the need for a good bass responce.
or maybe fostex and 'good/deep bass responce' have nothing in common?...and I should look for something else...
Don't you believe it. They can belt out the low end with the best of the multi-way brigade. If LF response is of prime importance, I'd be going with one of their FE206E or FE207E 8in drivers. The 6 1/2in FE166E and FE167E can do pretty well too. How do you want to load them? TL, BR, horn (don't belive the nonsense that horns can't do bass -I've got a pair that are giving 28Hz as I type)? Take your pick.
I drive a pair sensitive Altec 15-inch monitors with my T amp. I tried them with a pair difficult to drive 87 db Mårten Designs. It couldn't play them loud. But you wouldn't believe the bottom end!
If the speakers are sensitive enough I would say there's nothing the T amp can't drive as good as any other amp on the planet. The speakers will be the limit, not the T amp.
That's my experience, anyway.
If the speakers are sensitive enough I would say there's nothing the T amp can't drive as good as any other amp on the planet. The speakers will be the limit, not the T amp.
That's my experience, anyway.
scottmoose, thanks for a positive reply🙂 I do believe, that single drivers are capable of excellent LF, although I haven't had a chance to listen to them.
obviously, the best choice of driver's enclosure would be the one which is easier to make..., because : 1) I am total banana in building things 2) I don't have much time (although I really would want to learn/try building speakers).
As a result, I have no choice, but to try to find a person who would give me a hand and help me build a cabinet, or I may be checking out other choices of purchasing commercial speakers.
I am looking at Audionote AZ - Two (~640 EUR) or AZ-Three (~870 EUR). I am also considering Loth-X Ambience (~730 EUR). Although I am almost sure that the abovementioned budget could better be spend on fostex+cabinet and the result would be certainly against the latter commercial products (maybe with the exception to Loth Ambience (btw, those use a fostex single driver), since the price for those speakers is reduced by 50% due to demo-sale).
obviously, the best choice of driver's enclosure would be the one which is easier to make..., because : 1) I am total banana in building things 2) I don't have much time (although I really would want to learn/try building speakers).
As a result, I have no choice, but to try to find a person who would give me a hand and help me build a cabinet, or I may be checking out other choices of purchasing commercial speakers.
I am looking at Audionote AZ - Two (~640 EUR) or AZ-Three (~870 EUR). I am also considering Loth-X Ambience (~730 EUR). Although I am almost sure that the abovementioned budget could better be spend on fostex+cabinet and the result would be certainly against the latter commercial products (maybe with the exception to Loth Ambience (btw, those use a fostex single driver), since the price for those speakers is reduced by 50% due to demo-sale).
Hello everyone.
Just did a quick review of this thread and I'm a bit surprised by some of the recommendations. Not because they're bad but because the CSS drivers were dismissed so early. When making suggestions such as Jordan's and 8" Fostex you're in the same price range as a bipole FR/WR125S t-line project. With a 4 ohm nominal load and ~88db/w it seems like an option with lots of potential.
I'll hook up the SI t-amp to mine and let you know.
Just did a quick review of this thread and I'm a bit surprised by some of the recommendations. Not because they're bad but because the CSS drivers were dismissed so early. When making suggestions such as Jordan's and 8" Fostex you're in the same price range as a bipole FR/WR125S t-line project. With a 4 ohm nominal load and ~88db/w it seems like an option with lots of potential.
I'll hook up the SI t-amp to mine and let you know.
I bought a T-amp to verify the hype myself. Disconnected the Gainclone (which replaced the DoZ class A amp) from my DIY Fostex 108ES Buschhorns MkIIs, and in went the little T amp for a quick listen to see what the buzz was all about.
Haven't switched back until now. Oh, and the switching took place two months ago.
Haven't switched back until now. Oh, and the switching took place two months ago.
As I suspected, the SI t-amp combined with the FR/WR125S t-line is an excellent combination. Setting the volume pot at the half-way point was enough to provide a very satisfactory listening level. I won't say it's as good as my EL34 amp but it does a very good job.
You want bass? You got it!
You want bass? You got it!
irss said:
Of the commercial types, Audio Note speakers are generally quite well regarded. I'm not sold myself, but they are certainly sensitive enough for your T-amp, which really shouldn't be pushed hard as distortion increases rapidly with output level. You might also want to check out the Omega range. Again, I'm not sold on all their design principles, but they're in your price range, and to be fair, the finish is truely superb. http://www.omegaloudspeakers.com/ Have a look at their new floorstander.
If you go the DIY route, and want simple, well, this might be a good bet:
http://www.quarter-wave.com/Project05/Project05.html
I've build 3 pairs over the past couple of years, which says it all. However, they do need a baffle-step compensation circuit, unless you use active Eq, and with a t-amp, that will reduce the efficiency a bit. I'd advise the FE207E, over the 206E, because it'll need less compensation and series resistance to bring the response into line (full-range drivers generally have a rising response, usually due to their light cones and very powerful motors)
Providing you have corners to load them, and are willing to put up with a bit of ripple in exchange for ease of build, monster bass-heft and the ability to blow you across the room with 1w of input, then I'd suggest you take a look here: www.zillaspeak.com/bib.asp Greg Monfort, Jeff and myself have put a great deal of work into this unusual design type over the past few months, getting suggested dimensions for various drivers up onto the pages. They often look huge on paper, but really, they are only tall. They're pretty slim, and as they are designed to go in corners, they take up very little floor-space -less than many other types. I'd suggest using the FE167E or FF165k as a nice price / performance / size compromise, unless you have a massive room, in which case, FE208ESigmas with tweeters it is!
Regards
Scott
Scott, thank you very much for an extensive reply. The tiny problem is that those Audionote speakers are not single driver speakers. Taking into consideration many opinions, that t-amp pals up with single driver speakers I wil look closer to the Loth-X ambience speakers http://www.ultraaudio.com/equipment/lothx_ambience.htm
Unfortunately, Loth Ambience has some troubles defining LF 🙁
BTW, has anyone had a chance to listen to the Loth X Ambience?
Unfortunately, Loth Ambience has some troubles defining LF 🙁
BTW, has anyone had a chance to listen to the Loth X Ambience?
No but it looks like a trad TL or TQWT to me, and probably doesn't work as well as something designed in MathCad. I'd suggest you look to the Omegas, if you don't want to build something yourself. I've never been completely convinced by Loth-X kit.
Scottmoose said:
Neither am i ... and at least on this side of the pond, the pricing is quite high...
dave
I heard a couple of pairs two years or so back, and came away indifferent. They're sensitive, but they're so badly damped you can hear all the box singing along, the drivers aren't much to write home about, and their crossover upgrades don't overly impress me either. Especially when they all cost a fortune. Nope, not for me.
well, i'll risk and probably go for ML TL project (although i havent had a chance to listen even to similar projects):
http://www.quarter-wave.com/Project05/Project05.html
though it seems to be too simple to be perfect🙂 I am a bit of bass freak, so i really hope that fe207e and the abovemention project will serve my freakness🙂
at first i was looking at DBR enclosure, as recommended by fostex:
http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_comp/pdf/recom_enclose/207e_enclrev.pdf
...but the latter seemed to be too complicated and difficult to build 🙁 (i suppose DBR alternative would be the best choice?)
btw, does anyone have ML TL drawings in centimetres, not inches?
http://www.quarter-wave.com/Project05/Project05.html
though it seems to be too simple to be perfect🙂 I am a bit of bass freak, so i really hope that fe207e and the abovemention project will serve my freakness🙂
at first i was looking at DBR enclosure, as recommended by fostex:
http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_comp/pdf/recom_enclose/207e_enclrev.pdf
...but the latter seemed to be too complicated and difficult to build 🙁 (i suppose DBR alternative would be the best choice?)
btw, does anyone have ML TL drawings in centimetres, not inches?
inches to cm..
here's a pdf with the conversion done , MK's drawings don't appear to be to scale.. hope it helps
here's a pdf with the conversion done , MK's drawings don't appear to be to scale.. hope it helps
nanook, thanks for the conversions 🙂
I am still a bit hesitant whether to build ML TL enclosure with Fostex FE207E, or DBR or BR enclosure with the same driver. ML TL seems too simple to be very good🙂 furthermore, I have read few comments that DBR or BR enclosure works very well with FE207E and T-amp...especially for bass freaks🙂
Should I consider those types (DBR/BR) of enclosures, specifically having in mind that I like bass, and I have no possibility to put the speakers in the corner (the room is 20 m), or should I go with ML TL project...?
I am still a bit hesitant whether to build ML TL enclosure with Fostex FE207E, or DBR or BR enclosure with the same driver. ML TL seems too simple to be very good🙂 furthermore, I have read few comments that DBR or BR enclosure works very well with FE207E and T-amp...especially for bass freaks🙂
Should I consider those types (DBR/BR) of enclosures, specifically having in mind that I like bass, and I have no possibility to put the speakers in the corner (the room is 20 m), or should I go with ML TL project...?
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