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  1. #1
    Vinyl Fundamentalist Forums Moderator poppachubby's Avatar
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    Speakers for Golden Tube SE-40

    YO! I will becoming into a Golden Tube SE-40 shortly. It will be refurb'd and modded back to its glory. Since this amp has been around for a while, I was wondering if anyone here has seen or even better, heard, some nice speaker combos with it.

    I will be using it strictly for vinyl, no CD or digital. I have a wet dream about some Genesis speakers but I'm not sure how they would pair with this tube amp. Anyhow, I know speakers are subjective but I though if someone has heard a proven system, they might share with me.

    Thanks guys and gals.......

  2. #2
    Retro Modernist 02audionoob's Avatar
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    Klipsch RB-61. Discuss amongst yourselves.


  3. #3
    Forum Regular harley .guy07's Avatar
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    Well I haven't studied this amp very much but I figure that the 40 stands for 40 watts per channel. And I do know it is a zero feedback class a tube amp. Klipsch probably would not be a bad choice if you like their speakers. I havent been a huge fan of them. I do understand why audionoob would say they would be a good candidate because most of their speakers have sensitivity ratings in the high 90's or even some cases over 100. 40 watts is not a lot in todays world but it is enough for someone that does not crank the hell out of their systems to run up to a small floorstanding speaker of descent efficiency. I would look around the web and see what speakers people are running with tube amps because I have seen designers built speakers that are specially taylored to be drivin by tube amps. I would say some good smaller stand mount speakers could be a good candidate. I also know a lot of people seem to use 2 way or even full range speakers with tube amps with good results. I would say this would be a better question for Mr. peabody or someone that owns tube gear and has probably done more experimenting with tube amps and different speakers and might even know dirrect brands of speakers that work well with Golden Tube Se-40 amps.

    Marantz SR5008(HT)
    Nu Force P8 Preamp (2 channel)
    Pass Labs X150.5(2 channel)
    Adcom 545 mk2 power amp(rear channel amp)
    Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S Mains Speakers
    Dayton 8" HO custom sealed subwoofer(2 channel)
    Yamaha NS-c444 center channel
    Emotiva ERD-1 surround speakers
    JBL e250p subwoofer highly modified
    Samsung 46" LED TV
    OPPO BDP-83 blue ray/multi format player
    ps-audio NuWave dac (2 channel)
    Dell I660 music server running fidelizer windows 8 audio optimizer
    PS Audio Quintet power center



  4. #4
    Vinyl Fundamentalist Forums Moderator poppachubby's Avatar
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    That's what I'm hoping for harley, someone with some experience to point me in a direction.

  5. #5
    One of Jerry's Kids Jim Eck's Avatar
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    Here is another vote for Klipsch. tubes and horns go together, when you try horns with SS a lot of times it will come accross harsh and blaring and tiring, tubes on the other hand have a wonderful synergy when put together horns.

    My opinion, you will need to find what sounds best to you.

    Jim
    Fairchild 412-1B SME arm Pickering XSV-3000
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    Tube system Scott 299B, Thorens TD-160, Klipsch Heresy's

  6. #6
    Vinyl Fundamentalist Forums Moderator poppachubby's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Eck

    My opinion, you will need to find what sounds best to you.

    Jim
    Thanks Jim, I will look at horns. As far as what sounds best to me, yes you're right. However I started this thread for a push in the right direction so feel free to make suggestions. I will audition when the time comes and decide if I like.

    I am weak in the speaker dept, haven't heard alot of different brands or combinations. I won't buy until I'm satisfied I have what sounds good.

  7. #7
    Vinyl Fundamentalist Forums Moderator poppachubby's Avatar
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    How about the Little Horn? Been reading about it...


  8. #8
    Vinyl Fundamentalist Forums Moderator poppachubby's Avatar
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    Gotta head to work, here's a nice looking site...

    http://www.thehornshoppe.com/index.html

  9. #9
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    Paradigm Monitor series and PSB's Image series would be a good choice. Whats your budget?
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  10. #10
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    Last year I went over to the local Paradigm dealer with a friend and listened to all 3 of their speaker lines played on a Jolida 60watt tube integrated amp. It was an excellent match. I've always thought that Paradigms are a little on the bright side and the Jolida tamed them and it was a very good match.

    I bet B&W's would be a good pairing with a tube amp as well.
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  11. #11
    Vinyl Fundamentalist Forums Moderator poppachubby's Avatar
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    Haven't set a budget yet BR. Right now I just want to get a feel for what might be a good match. Once I know what I'm up against I'll set a budget probably in the $800 range. However, I would like to spend less if possible. I know of a used pair of Paradigm right now, local. He's asking $200, I'm not sure of the model.

    I must say, after some light research I am diggin the horn vibe. The more I read, the more it seems that horns are an innate match for a tube amp.

  12. #12
    Music Junkie E-Stat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by poppachubby
    Anyhow, I know speakers are subjective but I though if someone has heard a proven system, they might share with me.
    There is, however, one objective criteria you need to consider. Because of a tube amp's higher output impedance (sometimes referred to as lower damping factor), you need a speaker whose impedance doesn't vary like a roller coaster. The reason is that the resulting frequency response of the amp will be noticeably changed. "Tube friendly" speakers refer to this quality as much as power requirements. If you go over to Stereophile, you find the impedance curves of the speakers tested, Models like the Wilson and Thiels have fairly even ripples that don't vary terribly much in amplitude. Contrast that to the roller coaster profile of a small bookshelf like the Acoustic Energy AE1. Speakers like the latter require SS amps for the best results.

    My 350 watt tube amps work great with the stats with their more gradual curve, but sound bass heavy with Advents. It's all about matching.

    rw

  13. #13
    Forum Regular harley .guy07's Avatar
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    I have been around Paradigm speakers for many yeard and used to sell them back in the mid 90's and I have heard tube amps runnning them with good results. Ususally it was either their MiniMonitor or smaller floorstanders like the Monitor 5,7. the tube amps had a different effect on the Paradigm in the fact that blackraven was right it did tame some of the brightness of that damn titanium tweeter they used in the earlier days and warmed up the midrange but it was at a cost of bottom end from what I heard. We tried out several tube amps from McIntosh and others that customers brought in for demoing speakers. We also sold B&W and we ran them to but to me the tube amps did warm things up in the highs and smoothed out the midrange a slight bit but the low end suffered quite a bit with both brands of speakers so it makes me wonder if it would be a cool experiment to try to run a tube amp for the mids and tweets and biamp it with a solid state amp for the low end. now that might be something worth trying with one of these speakers we have talked about.

    Marantz SR5008(HT)
    Nu Force P8 Preamp (2 channel)
    Pass Labs X150.5(2 channel)
    Adcom 545 mk2 power amp(rear channel amp)
    Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S Mains Speakers
    Dayton 8" HO custom sealed subwoofer(2 channel)
    Yamaha NS-c444 center channel
    Emotiva ERD-1 surround speakers
    JBL e250p subwoofer highly modified
    Samsung 46" LED TV
    OPPO BDP-83 blue ray/multi format player
    ps-audio NuWave dac (2 channel)
    Dell I660 music server running fidelizer windows 8 audio optimizer
    PS Audio Quintet power center



  14. #14
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    I listened to the Paradigm S8's driven by that Jolida and it sounded sweet top to bottom. I was quite surprised.
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  15. #15
    Forum Regular theebadone's Avatar
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    The 40 watts of tube power, is quite different than 40 watts of ss power. You have a great amp that would really shine with some highly sensitive speakers made by JBL or Altec. Have you ever thought about horns? Since you will mostly be playing vinyl on this system, a good match would be Altec model 14 with mantaray horns, or model 15s with the great 902 compression driver. On the JBL side i would think about something with a 130 woofer and 075 horn a la C-36 comes to mind. All speakers mentioned can still be had in 5-600.00 range. Or if you feel like tackling a very worthwhile project, you could check into the econo-waveguide speaker build over in the AK forum. And have some highly efficient speakers, that you can tell everyone you built.

  16. #16
    Vinyl Fundamentalist Forums Moderator poppachubby's Avatar
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    thanks badone! I have joined the Yahoo GT group, I'll see what those good folks are using.

  17. #17
    Vinyl Fundamentalist Forums Moderator poppachubby's Avatar
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    OK, Klipsch are on the list. I have been considering pair of Pro LaScala. Now I'm onto Frugal horns. For anyone who doesn't know, here's a link...BTW, check out the Metronome.

    http://www.frugal-horn.com/

    I am looking at these. They were made for a guy who was building a single ended tube but never saw it through. They were made by Dave Dlugos, a Frugal horn guru.



    Any input would be great. Has anyone sat down and listened to a Frugal horn? I have reviewed a couple of plans. Although I'm quite sure I have the skill to build a pair, I don't have the time.

  18. #18
    Forum Regular audio amateur's Avatar
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    Dude, check these out:
    http://www.tektondesign.com/loudspeakers.htm

    They use full range Fostex drivers (which means no crossover) and seem very well priced. I don't know much at all about them though but I'm ultra curious as to how they sound.
    Did I mention they were efficient? Oh, I'm online too

  19. #19
    Vinyl Fundamentalist Forums Moderator poppachubby's Avatar
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    Ya, E-Stat PM'd that link to me. I was looking at these...

    http://www.tektondesign.com/model65.htm

    Those will compete with the RB-61's if it comes down to it. I'm at work so no MSN. Check out the Frugals which BTW use Fostex also.

  20. #20
    Forum Regular audio amateur's Avatar
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    For a hundred bucks more you could be looking at the Model 8.1. There's also an open baffle model at 550$ which employs two 4.5" drivers

  21. #21
    Vinyl Fundamentalist Forums Moderator poppachubby's Avatar
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    Damn, you're right. Man I have a hard choice. The real problem is that I can't audition anything. Return policy may play a big role.

  22. #22
    Forum Regular audio amateur's Avatar
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    Yes.
    What about planar speakers? Have you ever considered trying out the Magnepan MMGs for 550$? They have I believe a 90 day return policy. Check out their website http://magnepan.com/model_MMG

  23. #23
    Vinyl Fundamentalist Forums Moderator poppachubby's Avatar
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    AA, I thought Mag's are not good for tube amps. I'm mistaken? Plus, the 40 in SE-40 is for 40 watts, not nearly enough juice for planar I would think.

  24. #24
    Forum Regular audio amateur's Avatar
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    I guess it all depends how loud you want to play them. For normal use, I should think it would work out, but then I am no expert. I believe they are 4 ohm so they'll be more demanding then your average speaker but it could work out.
    Hopefully someone else will chip in

  25. #25
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    Maggies go great with tube amps. Check out all the happy Maggie owners on the avahifi.com forum that own Van Alstine tube gear.
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

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