New member starting a my TU-8100 build. I do have a question concerning speakers. Everything I’ve read talks about high-efficiency speakers. Just curious as to any recommendations that have actually worked for those who built the kit.
Thanks for your time - look forward to your comments.
Thanks for your time - look forward to your comments.
Hi friend, I walked the same path, when I bought my TU-8200R amplifier with a rated output of 8 Watts per channel without thinking about a suitable loudspeakers 🙂 After hours spent on reading articles and forums dedicated to tube amps i discovered three companies in USA producing high quality loudspeakers specifically for low output tube amps:
zuaudio.com, omegaloudspeakers.com and tektondesign.com
You can also buy some vintage high efficiency loudspeakers, depends on your preferences and your wallet.
But maybe you are looking for something smaller and not so expensive, maybe some Klipsch horn speakers, like RP-600... I wish you a good luck.
zuaudio.com, omegaloudspeakers.com and tektondesign.com
You can also buy some vintage high efficiency loudspeakers, depends on your preferences and your wallet.
But maybe you are looking for something smaller and not so expensive, maybe some Klipsch horn speakers, like RP-600... I wish you a good luck.
2W SE amp.
As important as efficiency will be the loudspeaker’s impedance since the high output impedance of the amplifer means that where there is a bump in the impedance the amp wil play the speaker louder.
The Omegas are single FR driver loudspeakers in the main and FRs typically have a fairy benign impedance particuallarily if they have taken measures to flatten high frequency by reducing the size of the driver’s inductance.
All the Zu and Tekton measured impedances are really ugly and not at all suited to an SE amp if fideity is your goal.
The almost inevitable rise at the bottom means that often care will need to be taken to get bass that is not too fat.
Here is an example of what happens to a BR box if you consider the amplifier’s output impedance:
http://wodendesign.com/downloads/King-of-Swingers.pdf
Your amp likely falls into the first category.
An existing BR that is too “boomy” due to the amp can sometimes be tamed by stuffing the port to push the box towards aperiodic.
3rd option is a loudspeaker that really wants to see a high output impedance amplifiers. The Fostex FExx6 series is such. It would be interesting to see people’s faces with your tiny little amp driving something like Vulcan.
dave
As important as efficiency will be the loudspeaker’s impedance since the high output impedance of the amplifer means that where there is a bump in the impedance the amp wil play the speaker louder.
The Omegas are single FR driver loudspeakers in the main and FRs typically have a fairy benign impedance particuallarily if they have taken measures to flatten high frequency by reducing the size of the driver’s inductance.
All the Zu and Tekton measured impedances are really ugly and not at all suited to an SE amp if fideity is your goal.
The almost inevitable rise at the bottom means that often care will need to be taken to get bass that is not too fat.
Here is an example of what happens to a BR box if you consider the amplifier’s output impedance:
http://wodendesign.com/downloads/King-of-Swingers.pdf
Your amp likely falls into the first category.
An existing BR that is too “boomy” due to the amp can sometimes be tamed by stuffing the port to push the box towards aperiodic.
3rd option is a loudspeaker that really wants to see a high output impedance amplifiers. The Fostex FExx6 series is such. It would be interesting to see people’s faces with your tiny little amp driving something like Vulcan.
dave
Photo with upgrade footers and metal knob
-TU-8100 includes a pair of Siemens PCL86.
- TU-8100 is a great SET amp with Scanspeak Discovery 5F/8422T-01 2" Full Range Driver
10F produces little bass, 5F will have less. Make a good midTweeter work.
If you want something small, look at Alpair 5.2/3, FF85wk, 3FE22. They all fit into 2.5 litre and reach to about 60 Hz (F10).
Certainly a fine set up for near field. And as long as yo don’t want to play to loud...
dave
If you want something small, look at Alpair 5.2/3, FF85wk, 3FE22. They all fit into 2.5 litre and reach to about 60 Hz (F10).
Certainly a fine set up for near field. And as long as yo don’t want to play to loud...
dave
Thanks for all the input. I was hoping to build the speakers, but the relatively inexpensive speakers are not efficient or the high efficiency speakers are beyond my set budget. However, it appears Klipsch has a number of 92+ db bookshelf speakers that won’t break the bank.
I bought a pair of vintage Heresy's for $300. You might need to wait to see them at that price point, but if you have the patience, it is well worth it. The Heresy's aren't small, but fit on my bookshelf and they sound incredible with my TU-8600S. I know it's not your amp, but none-the-less, the Klipsch are fantastic. HIghly, highly recommend if you can get them for a good price.
If you want to build, check out CommonSenseAudio. They have nice FR speakers that might fit your desire to build. I'm looking into them myself, likely starting with the ferrite magnets and perhaps moving up to ALNICO at some point when the wallet and resurfaced. Good luck!
If you want to build, check out CommonSenseAudio. They have nice FR speakers that might fit your desire to build. I'm looking into them myself, likely starting with the ferrite magnets and perhaps moving up to ALNICO at some point when the wallet and resurfaced. Good luck!