Dennis Had Inspire Amps...what speakers are you using?
 

My Omega Super Alnico 1.5 HO monitors sound great with both my Inspire IFA-1 HO KT88 amp and especially awesome with m new Inspire Fire Bottle PSE amplifier.

What speakers are you all using with excellent results?


https://www.audioaficionado.org/atta...9&d=1495290631







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A pair of ProAc Response 1SC's with a Hsu subwoofer and a pair of ADS L710's . I have a multiamp speaker selector I can use to switch speakers between my Inspire amp and a Scott 222C integrated in my 2 channel audio room.

What speaker selector do you use?

How would you describe the ProAcs sound with the Inspire amp? What do you like about the pairing?

I have used KLH17, Dynaco A25, Tekton M-Lore and Tekton Lore Reference. They all sound fine to me with my Inspire amps.

Sonist Recital 3s…recent purchase (couple of months maybe) and they're amazing…rated by Sonist at 93db efficiency and that seems accurate as the Fire Bottle has plenty of power to drive them in my medium-large room…surprisingly really. I use 2 older REL subs, a Q150e forward firing 10 and a Q108e MKII downward firing 8…both kicking in at just below 40hz as that's about where the mains start dropping off.

ProAc and Dennis Had designed amps seem to match very well.................

This guy has a lot of videos...............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE8l7C1LDQE

Sorry I missed this and too so long to reply but the speaker selector I have is an OSD Audio DSM4 "Dual Source 4 Speaker Selector Self Impedance Matching"

http://www.osdaudio.com/dsduso4zosps1.html

Sorry I missed this one too! The ProAc's are known for their midrange and they just sing with the Inspire driving them. For a small speaker they have a good lower end, although I augment them with a HSU subwoofer. Although not very efficient (rated at 86dB/W/m) they are very tube friendly and are loud enough for me in my small room in a near field setup. Dennis recommended I try KT77's with them. When I described to Dennis my room and current setup when purchasing the Inspire he wrote me "Glenn you have my all time fav loudspeaker!!!! The ProAc Response 1SC. I designed the CAD-300SEI along with the 300SE's, 805's and more with the Response as the reference."

Of course YMMV

ProAc's do have a beautiful sound. Those Response 1SC's tested at 84.4dB/W/m in Stereophile's testing. Very close to my Spica TC-60 speakers, which are currently sitting in boxes. Too many speakers.

Wow, you have used Dynaco A25s with your Inspire? I had a pair of those for 5-6 years, many years ago. Very inefficient, just 82dB. I think I paired them with a 25 wpc receiver way back then, which was more than enough in my small bedroom.

Anyone here with self-built FULL RANGE speakers you like for your low watt Inspire tube amplifier...

How about something like the Audax AM21LB25ALBC 8" Paper Cone Full Range, etc. 8" whizzer cone niche - anyone build a set yet or hear them?

I understand from Dennis that many of many of his Inspire family members use Spatial Audio products. We did not discuss which makes model. I have been really tempted by the M3 Turbos or maybe even the M3 Triode Masters though I am not sure the latter is quite necessary in that I plan to pair them with my PSE. Anyway, i had assumed that being open baffle and being commended for the wide and deep soundstage that they would also not be to focused/directional. Reading reviews recently I understand that they do have a definite sweet spot and off axis listening diminishes their magic. Any contributors here have experience with Spatial Audio?

While an open baffle speaker can present a wide image, it cannot present a well-defined image. Consider when one is listening to a recording of a violin. The speaker will radiate sound from both the front and back of the speaker. The sound from the front will travel directly to your ears, the sound off of the back will reflect off of your walls and then to your ears. It will travel a longer distance and will be altered.

So you will first hear the direct sound waves from the front followed shortly thereafter by a second wave from a different angle. It will be time smeared. One might like that big open reflected sound, but if you are into precise imaging with tightly defined notes, it is very difficult. Very room dependent. If one really deadens the room with acoustic treatments, then it would mitigate the problems.

Speakers I've liked have taken great measures to address time alignment, by using sloped baffles, minimal baffles, minimizing edge diffraction, etc. . I have issues with open baffle, dipolar, 360 radiating, and Bose 901-type designs.

But that's me. Speakers are very personal and I have no problems with anyone hating what I like and loving what I hate.

Spatials sound very good and image very well. While they are "open baffle", the HF driver is as directional (non-Triode Master versions) as most any speaker as it uses the mid-bass driver cone as its "horn". Since this driver comes in fairly low (around 1000 hz) they image and soundstage quite well, plus they have that nice open sounding bass and mid-bass power that many love from the open baffle designs. I've not heard them with tubes, but I would think that they would be a good speaker to try with relatively low wattage tube amps.

wow, at $3,995 the'yd better be fantastic and then some. Was kinda intrigued until I saw the price. Have you heard them in person over a comparable low-watt system before?

http://www.spatialaudio.us/store/m3-triode-master

No, i have not. I live in a small city several hours away from any significant listening rooms. I am stuck buying unheard based on forum posts. The triode masters were stretching my budget. The Turbos fit a little better. I am possibly going another direction with my shopping. More on that to come.

I know...hear ya, kinda sucks. While online forums are helpful, everyone has different gear, rooms, subjective, and everyone hears a bit differently. Yep, the glory days of going into your local hi-fi are so limited because they only cary a few brands any more - if any local shops exist in your area. And, it's too expensive for them to keep big inventories. Order-on-demand and try is limiting too. While some mfg direct 45 day returns help some, shipping costs become prohibitive if it's on the buyer to pay return shipping in most cases.

hahah, hate to admit but sometimes resort to good headphones and listening closely to a few HD videos on Youtube to get some ideas but still need to get 'em home to try. I'm working with a mfg group now letting me try/demo some projects soon.

Our local hi-fi-shop celebrated 50 years last year. Last of 20+ stores closed in our area compared to what we had in the late 70s and 80s, really miss all that. Those were the days. :)

A few weeks ago I was doing my regular rounds dreaming about my next speaker purchase. As mentioned before I do this a lot. I was looking for some full range floor standers to pair up with my LP27a>PSE in my new living room (under construction). I was looking at the ProAc site and saw their newest model, the DT8, in their Reference line. I have been intrigued by their downward ported cabinets and this one was in my price range at around $3K. I think they are rated at 91db but I do not put much stock in those measurements. IMO their is more to sensitivity than the less that scientific measurements posted . I figured I would send a quick question to Dennis. "Would my PSE drive these DT8s?". Well, about an hour later, as I recall, as I was driving down the road the phone rings. It's Dennis and he is excited. He saw my email and took a look at the ProAc website. He then spoke with his friend and previous Cary Audio distributer John Rutan from Audio Connection in New Jersey, a long time ProAc dealer. John had expressed high praises for the DT8. Dennis in his excitement reiterated his love for ProAc. The 1SC being his favorite of all time as mention in this thread. Another, I do not recall the model, which he used for years at the shows to showcase his Cary amps. He said my PSE would drive them with ease and he was going to order a pair for him self. Fast forward a couple weeks; we have two pair on order from England. His in rosewood and mine in cherry. I'll keep you posted with our impressions.

When I first got my amp recently, I tried running my larger 92db custom built air motion speakers with my recently new DH Inspire Hot Rod KT150. Worked fine. Dennis assured me beforehand it would work. It gets plenty loud and has a real nice sound to it. So just for grins, I tried my smaller Totem Acoustic Model One speakers. They are 87db and they worked but I did have to turn the volume up from say 9'oclock to 11:30 or so to get them to open up and play like they do on a higher power tube or SS amp or with my 92db speakers. 91db will be fine. With my testing so far, I don't think I'll be going with a speaker lower than 91db/8ohm on the 10w Hot Rod SET amp. I'm kind of toying now with some 94/95 db custom speaker build ideas. Still hope to hear this cool little SET amp on some 98db 1w/1m speakers to see what it will do then. I'm really amazed with this cool little amp, just need to try it with the right speakers to see it's real potential.

Got an email from Dennis yesterday. Our ProAc DT8s will be in Monday. I guess they thought Asheville and Cary were near by because they shipped both pair on a pallet to the Toy Factory. This give me a good excuse to go visit DH again. Now to find the time. For those that live outside NC, Asheville and Cary are about 4 hours away by car.

Yes, flat impedance is important when using low power with less sensitive speakers. I think you will be smiling when they are hooked up to your PSE.

I'm driving those nasty ear bleeding Klipsch Heresy III's :D with my triode inspire. 99db on paper but I'm sure the impedance is not flat. I think Stereo Mojo reviewed them with a Mac 240. They do require oil caps and appropriate wire etc. to shine.

Personally, I have been tempted by the Omega CAM's. Flat impedance with them too but I'm fine with what I have.

...just for grins I pulled out an old pair of my older ESS PS-810 AMT bookshelf speakers (95db 1w/1m), updated the crossovers with newer ones, better caps, and tried them with the little Inspire KT150 10w amp as a re-test. Also, reconnected my Cary SLP-98 preamp as a test since I don't own one of Dennis' matching preamps yet . Woohoo. Sounds pretty good jumping from 91 to 95db speakers. A reminder to self proper matching is important :)

I got these from Dennis today.

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And this (typed on his phone so excuse the spelling and punctuation errors),

Scott I will never figure out the ProAc speakers ...... I am now driving them with a 45, 2 watt amplifier ..... The presentation is simply extraordinary life like
I drive them with a new, just off my bench inspire 10 W hot rod with enough SPL to drive you out of the shop listening room
I believe it has to do with the third order crossover network and low power I got a telya you’re in for a real treat
I will take more pictures in my home listening room I should have them set up in my home over the next few hours

So we have a real world speakers being driven was single ended class A low power tube amps ..... The Prozac‘s DT8 are simply extraordinary I can hardly wait for a few weeks and they really get broken in

More stuff in a few hours Scott

I just built another new Inspire hot rod ..... so this will be a good run in

Dennis


I so much want to be in Cary this afternoon/evening.

Enjoy them! :thumbsup:

When are you coming to town?

Not sure yet but I'll let you know.

I am using a custom variant of a Von Schweikert VR-7 tower loudspeaker with my variant Inspire KT88 HO amplifier.

My customized VR-7 is internally the same as the original (not the later VR-7 HSE) production VR-7, all the same drivers, crossovers, wiring but in a slightly different cabinet. The modifications were performed by Albert Von Schweikert, the designer of the VR-7. My speakers started life as a VR-4 but the only thing that remains of the original speaker are the cabinets and even those were modified. Even the fabric which covers the cabinets was upgraded.

A description of the speakers, complete with specifications, is available at this link: http://stereotimes.com/news121599.shtml These specs show a sensitivity of 92dB. It lists their weight at 120 pounds each, mine weigh 155 pounds each as mine has a heavy layer of a putty-type dampening material within the cabinet walls. Original list price was $15K, but I didn't pay anywhere near this.

My Inspire KT88 HO is the 17 wpc model, I don't think DH made many of these. The standard model produced 12 wpc with KT88s. And while the front panel of the amp has "SET Fire Bottle" painted on it, I believe it is a SEP, not SET, as I believe one can get 17 wpc out of a KT88 only when it is in single ended pentode mode. I have run the amp with a variety of output tubes, including 6L6, EL34, 6CA7, 6V6, 6P3S-e, KT66, KT77, KT88, and KT120.

I find the VR-7s to be a wonderful match with the Inspire. At least in a small'ish room and playing at less than concert volume levels. They throw up a fantastic soundstage, with instrument separation and clarity along with voice reproduction that is literally hair raising. Listening to Norah Jones, Dianna Krall, and yeah even Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash can be astounding in how lifelike it sounds.

I'm using the Seas A26 speaker kit from Madisound with my Inspire KT-150 Hotrod that I picked up a couple months ago.

I had built the speakers shortly before deciding to go the tube amp route. I have a little regret that I didn't wait and buy a more efficient speaker, but they do sound great in my fairly small room and I'm not wanting for more volume. I selected the Mundorf Evo Supreme Gold/Silver/Oil cap option and I'm amazed by the performance of the tweeter. I can't get over how great everything sounds. Instruments and vocals alike have a sweetness and realism to them. Any changes to gear or tube rolling is immediately evident. I'm curious if more efficient speakers would increase dynamics or bass slam, the bass is quite nice with the right tube combination though. I'm glad this SE amp has the grunt to make lower efficiency speakers sing!

The Seas A26 is spec'ed at 88db, that's not bad. I believe the average bookshelf speaker sold today is 88db. A little on the low side for a 10 wpc amp in a larger room or for concert levels or loud orchestra works. But it would be okay in smaller rooms or for someone listening at moderate levels.

Consider that the old Dynaco A25 was measured at 82db, and several of the vintage AR speakers were in the same range at 82-83db. As well as the classic BBC 3/5a type speakers. Many people used 15-20 wpc tube amps to drive them. 20 watts into an 82db speaker is equivalent to 5 watts into an 88db speaker.

I have a 30wpc tube amp driving 84.5db speakers in my bedroom. That's a bit more headroom than what you have but to the best of my knowledge I've never clipped that amp.

I owned a pair of Dynaco A25XL’s, which were alleged to be 3dB more sensitive than the A25’s. I could run them with a 6wpc Tripath amp to high levels in my room. The A25 series had a 10” woofer that ran with no crossover elements at all. I think this well-behave driver running unimpeded made it very easy to drive.

It's good to know that I shouldn't be giving up much with these speakers. I appreciate the input! Back to more listening and tube rolling :)

If it sounds good to you...it is good. Trust your ears and enjoy. :thumbsup:

I am now using my Klipsch KG4's with my new Universal Fire Bottle SET amplifier.

updated my small test (mule) speakers with some Scanspeak midrange/woofers and a few more crossover mods. Matching the right speakers with these amps has been a learning process, and worth doing.

I'm running Serenity Acoustic Super 7s, one of only 7 made before the company went out of business. It uses a quad of BG Neo 10 midrange drivers crossed over to a BG Neo 3 tweeter in a wave guide. Bass is handled by dual 12 inch powered servo subwoofers from Rythmik Audio in an open baffle configuration. Subs handle bass from 20hz to 200hz, and the midrange/tweeter handles everything from 200hz to 20khz.

Basically my Inspire amp drives the top part of the speaker, from 200hz to 20khz. That part of the speaker is 97db efficient and has a very, very, very flat 7 ohm impedance. Almost a perfect speaker for low powered tube amps.

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Kilpsch Forte III review by Kevin Deal
 

An interesting review by Kevin Deal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giU7PbNKfg8

Enjoyed his message about revisiting simpler times.

I am running Tekton DI or Cornwall 3s on an Inspire HO SEP. Nice...

I am using Klipschorns with Inspire Firebottle PSE
 

I am using a pair of modded Klipschorns with my Inspire Firebottle PSE amp and matching Inspire LP-3a preamp.I love the sound of this combo deep bass with smooth top end and wide soundstage,plus it is dead quiet between tracks.