AudioCircle

Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Owner's Circles => Virtue Audio Owners => Topic started by: virtue on 15 Jun 2009, 04:40 am

Title: Recommended speakers
Post by: virtue on 15 Jun 2009, 04:40 am
The Virtue amps are versatile, being able to drive high and low impedance loads of varying sensitivity.  Much was made of our ability to drive Mark & Daniel speakers which are notoriously inefficient.  Moving past the academic question of what speakers the amp can drive, what speakers do you like and why?
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: ltr317 on 15 Jun 2009, 05:18 pm
Hi Seth.  I used the loaner Two from you to drive AAD 2001s, ACI Emeralds and Hsu HB-1s.  The best sound came from the ACI Emerald pairing.  Very smooth presentation and excellent mid-range.  The AAD 2001s also work well, but I had to increase the volume pot to get the same sound level.  I can testify that the Two drives the MarK & Daniel speakers easily, as I brought the amp to a friend who has a pair of Topaz speakers and wanted to hear the amp.  He was impressed with the Two, which compares favorably with his mono blocs. 

Paul
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: virtue on 15 Jun 2009, 05:37 pm
Paul, thanks for this... great stuff.  Hey, can you tell us more about what you found with the HSUs by comparison?  I ask because Stereomojo recommended that we team up.  In what areas do you think those speakers complement the amp and vice versa... or more directly, where does the amp NOT work with certain speakers and why do you think?
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: rhing on 15 Jun 2009, 06:16 pm
I really enjoy the pairing of the Virtue Two with my custom-made Fostex FX120 monitors. Without a crossover in the way, the single driver experience makes for really fun listening. Yesterday evening I listened to "Scheherazade" and I could hear the conductor Fritz Reiner breathing in rhythm with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. More importantly, spatial cues like natural hall reverb, timbre and the attack and decay of notes really make music listening more involving.

A friend of mine, Bernard, purchased a Virtue Two and a pair of Fostex F120A's, a driver that's similar to the FX120's, but with an Alnico magnet motor. These are supposed to be even more refined than the FX120's. He's having custom cabinets made, and I am sure he will post his findings on this thread.

Even though the Fostex FX120 and F120A full range drivers are only 89dB efficient, they are significantly smoother than the standard, but more efficient Fostex FE-series speakers (e.g., FE126 and FE127). The midrange and treble are very clear with absolutely no hint of sibilance or other distortion. Fostex's Kenaf cone material is very similar to hemp forumaltions used in other well known and more expensive single driver speakers.

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=19431)
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: ltr317 on 15 Jun 2009, 06:36 pm
Paul, thanks for this... great stuff.  Hey, can you tell us more about what you found with the HSUs by comparison?  I ask because Stereomojo recommended that we team up.  In what areas do you think those speakers complement the amp and vice versa... or more directly, where does the amp NOT work with certain speakers and why do you think?

The Hsu HB-1 are good monitors, especially at their price.  I used them in my bedroom system for non-critical listening without a subwoofer.  The bass goes down to about 60 Hz, minus a couple of db.  Compared to the ACI Emeralds, the HB-1s are less refined sonically.  The Emeralds have a tactile mid-range and overall tonal smoothness that the HB-1s can't match, but the Emeralds cost twice as much. The HB-1s sound slightly thinner in comparsion.  The great strength of the Emeralds is the evenness of the frequency range, no one part of the sprectrum sound louder than any other part.  Because of this, I think this attribute contributes greatly to its perceived fullness, even though they go down to only 70 Hz, minus a couple of db.  Of course, both speakers, benefit from a subwoofer for mid-bass impact, and low bass.  In conclusion, The HB-1s work well with the Virtue, but the Emeralds work better.  If someone is putting together an inexpensive system, I wouldn't hesitate in recommending matching the HB-1s with the Virtue One or Two.

The AAD 2001s don't need a subwoofer in my living room, as they go down to 30 Hz, minus a few db.  They like a lot of power, so if the next Virtue amps could produce 100-150 watts per channel, more for dynamics and less strain, than for more power, that would be good.  Btw, the 2001s cost about 7 times of the HB-1, and about 3 times of the Emeralds. 
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Cheerwino on 15 Jun 2009, 10:23 pm
The single driver rear folded Horn Shoppe Horns http://www.thehornshoppe.com/ (http://Horn Shoppe Horns http://www.thehornshoppe.com/) ($850 shipped) sound sweet with the Virtue One and 30v 130w power supply. The sub helps round out the bottom but you can get by without it as long as you have the 30v/130w PS. The Horns needed the sub with the 30v/90w PS. For the extra $150 the 30v/130w PS is worth it on this set up.  :rock:

I posted  here http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=61055.0 (http://here http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=61055.0) about my Horn Shoppe buying experience. Ed is a real character and I highly advise a road trip to his pad to audition the speakers. :uzi:

I've also had success running two Virtue Ones as monos alone and through a Peachtree Audio Decco as the pre. No matter what the set up, I am really impressed how the Virtue One can rock. It's sweet for the slow, jazzy or country stuff but can crank rock and pop and is satisfying at various volumes. It really is a special amp. Thanks to Seth, Roger and now Michael for all of their work on this great product line.  :notworthy: I really can't wait to experience the Sensation. I've enjoyed the all-in-one aspect of my Decco. The only downside has been the amp stage paired with the Horns (which, I admit, is a speaker with special demands). But the Virtue One alone or with the Decco as pre really sings!  :thumb:

http://www.thehornshoppe.com/ (http://www.thehornshoppe.com/)
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: panomaniac on 16 Jun 2009, 02:52 am
Yeah - Hornshoppe is about 2  hours south of me.  Gotta take an amp down there and have a listen.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: virtue on 16 Jun 2009, 03:34 am
They already have a demo amp and from what I hear, like it very much.  We're adding an 8db bass boost jumper for those speakers in the next amp.  They're so darn sensitive that even powered subs can't keep up without the extra boost from us on the pre-out side.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: droht on 17 Jun 2009, 12:14 pm
Very good results pairing the ONE with Usher S520s and Onix Ref1s.  Plenty of juice to power these moderately efficient speakers.

The Usher + Virtue combo yields some serious sound quality for very reasonable dollars.  I'm sure I will be recommending this to folks who want to start up a < $1000 two channel system.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: classicjt2 on 20 Jun 2009, 04:45 am
Aloha Seth-

I'm using a pair of Shahinian Obelisks, 7 drivers per channel and supposedly "hard-to-drive", but no sweat for a Virtue One with the 130 watt power supply (or even with the 90w supply). Deep, solid bass, huge, spacious soundstage, and effortless detail. Everyone else who uses Obs recommends big Plinius' or Bedinis, but this micro-amp drives them, no problem.

When I get brave enough, I'll hook the Virtue One to my 81dB Apogee Stages.

James
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 20 Jun 2009, 05:59 am
I drive my diy Open baffle using Grundig alnico 9" fullrange, isophon 13cm paper tweeter and actively crossovered 18" dipole woofer (Celestion) with the Virtue Two on 30v/90w ps.

Beautiful sound!

Behind is another baffle project using all SABA 10" fr and coaxial

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d198/ringo4703/IMG_2191.jpg)
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 20 Jun 2009, 07:13 am
you can see the red virtue two in the middle, alongside a pair of 300b pp mono, as well as Pop Pulse (another tamp) which I compared the Virtue Two to.

(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/rexk/IMG_2969.jpg)

Close up of another baffle with SABA drivers. Each SABA has 5ohm and they are all connected in parallel so the baffle has an overall impedance of 1.66 ohm in nominal, and perhaps even lower at certain frequency. Lucky they are sensitive enough. Virtue Two can drive them with ease.

(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/rcwy/Welborne/P1050733.jpg)
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: stevekr on 20 Jun 2009, 11:06 am
For those on a budget, I would recommend a pair of Behringer 2031P's. I work for the BBC and they use Genelec pro monitors in their edit suites, studios and dubbing theatres. Whilst trawling the web I found that the Behringers were very similar in design and way, way cheaper. I bought a pair to use in my home editing set-up as broadcast monitors and liked them so much I moved them to my main hi-fi and was gobsmacked at the quality they produced so much so they have now become my main speakers replacing my Lake Audio floor-standers. I'm still scratching my head at how Behringer can sell thse speakers at the price they do, GB ?140!!! I like speakers with a minimum woofer size of eight inches (there's very good technical reasons as to why this is so) and the 2031p's fit the bill exactly. I'm not saying these are the best speakers in the world but for the price they're very hard to beat, IMHO.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: panomaniac on 20 Jun 2009, 02:45 pm
Hi Welborne!  Thanks so much for the great photos, nice to see those speakers. I know you've worked long and hard to get where you are.  Cool! 

FYI - Mr. Welborne is not easy to please, he's got a very critical ear. He's normally an SET man. So knowing that the Virtue works well in his system is a big compliment.  :thumb:

Steve - LOL!  I was just looking at a pro sound catalog this morning and thinking "hmmmm.... wonder if any of the Berhringer monitors would work well with the Virtue amps?"  And look, you've answered the question.  Thanks.  Will certainly check them out. In the U.S. they are under $200 a pair.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Jason T on 21 Jun 2009, 02:33 am
88db 6ohms 28-30khz
 8" 3-way built by yours truly
12db series crossover
38"H 21"W 6"D    90lbs each
driven by my Virtue Two W/130w power supply

I also use the Two on the 2way smaller towers I built

 (http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=19792)

Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: panomaniac on 25 Jun 2009, 10:01 pm
Those look very nice Jason.  Great work.

Has anyone tried the kits from http://www.theloudspeakerkit.com/ (http://www.theloudspeakerkit.com/)?
They look as tho they might be a good fit for the Virtue.  And of coarse you could finish them in a color to match your Virtue amp!
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: oskar1 on 9 Jul 2009, 09:40 am
Hello "Virtuers"!
Now I use the Virtue Two for a couple of weeks in my main system and can say:
I NEVER had an amp making such natural and involving music like this little guy.- And I had a lot of amps-transistors as tubes. Its the FIRST time since I'm "on Hifi" that everything sounds "right"(a little step into this direction was the "Trends TA-10", which I tried before. Seems there had been a lot of distortions and phase-problems . As you can see in the picture below, I use it with the Dynaudio Evidence Temptations and believe me: they never sounded better. Almost a joke, speakers for 36.000 Euro and this little amp-----.
Many Congratulations to the team of Virtue and thanks for the PERFECT service .
Seth, I can't wait for the Sensation and probably a new DAC from you , and I hope I will be the first to receive the Sensation in Europe!! ( I'm tired to get on my knees everytime I change the source ).


Many greetings from Austria      Oskar

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=20264)

p.s.:Thanks to Michael Mardis! When I looked for the "Trends"-modifications on his site, I got aware of Virtue--and ordered the TWO on the same day.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 9 Jul 2009, 10:36 am
Oskar, what a scene!!
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: virtue on 10 Jul 2009, 03:25 am
Oskar, that takes the cake!  The most expensive speakers we'd ever hooked up previously were the Audience LSA16s at around $35,000/pair (I think).  We're honored to be part of your stand-out system!  Thanks so much for the ringing endorsement and the great photo!!!!   I needed a monocle to see our little amp ;-)
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: doorman on 10 Jul 2009, 03:35 am
Didn't someone say "it's not the size of the dog, it's the fight in the dog"?
Don
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 10 Jul 2009, 11:28 am
Seth,

Speaking of Audience speaker...I have collected over the years about 32 units of a special alnico mid-high driver from vintage Isphon, about 2 inches in diameter and have been hoping to make a tall line array without crossover (i.e. 16 units each channel). I have dropped this project for long time because I don't know what i could do with them, until you mentioned the Audience line array again. Can you shed some lights on any projects I could follow? I like opne baffle though...and how to wire those drivers altogether? they are about 5ohm each
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: virtue on 10 Jul 2009, 02:24 pm
Audience spent more than 10 years perfecting their design and I have no idea what else they do to make those speakers sound so good other than using terrific 16ohm drivers and wiring them quite conventionally - they started with Bandor and moved to an Audience/ADI design - the A3.  Frankly, you're going to have difficulty wiring 16+ 5ohm units together and producing a speaker with > 1 ohm impedance.  Perhaps the Virtue TWO will drive 1 ohms (why not); you could test and let us know.  We do have a line array topology in mind for the future but it's proprietary (not to us) and I can't tell you how it's done, sorry.  Michael - want to point out some line array resources on the web?
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: planet10 on 10 Jul 2009, 05:33 pm
you're going to have difficulty wiring 16+ 5ohm units together and producing a speaker with > 1 ohm impedance.

Why? Straight forward series/parallel with 16 drivers will get back 5 ohms.

dave
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: virtue on 10 Jul 2009, 05:47 pm
Thanks for the correction, Dave! Series is additive and parallel divides... I'm having a bad day.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 10 Jul 2009, 07:03 pm
you're going to have difficulty wiring 16+ 5ohm units together and producing a speaker with > 1 ohm impedance.

Why? Straight forward series/parallel with 16 drivers will get back 5 ohms.

dave

can you elaborate? do you mean....4 in a group wired in series, and then 4 sets of 4 wired in parallel and then back to 5ohm?
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: virtue on 10 Jul 2009, 09:51 pm
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/177977/need-help-wiring-line-array-to-keep-8-ohms

here was the first hit I found...


Resistance in series:

R = R1 + R2 + ...

Resistance in parallel:

1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + ...

So you can wire two speakers you get a 16 ohm load. Do this with another set you have the other 16 ohm load. Then you parallel this configuration to get an 8 ohm load.

I hope that helps. You should be able to find enough pictures out there that explain how to wire in series and parallel


If you want to make a pair of speakers utilizing those drivers, with each speaker rated at 8 ohms, you need to wire each speaker in the following manner:
numbers refer to driver number, R(red, or plus) and B(black, or minus) refer to polarity of voice coil:


Speaker R----------1R----------3R
Speaker B----------2B----------4B
1B-----------2R
3B-----------4R

This is equivalent to:

(+)-----------
| |
D1 D3
| |
D2 D4
| |
(-)-----------
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: panomaniac on 11 Jul 2009, 12:20 am
The 3" driver line array from Audience worked much better than I ever thought it would.  Very surprising.  It's a good little driver, I have 1, but only 1! =(

So Welbourne you should be able to do something as long as you keep the drivers as close together as they can go.  No idea how much bass you would get.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 16 Jul 2009, 05:04 pm
Can Virtue 2 w/ 130w ps drive Apogee Duetta Signature with good result?

I have been offered a pair of this speaker at very resonable price, almost new old stock. But i heard those are very power hungry beast...
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: panomaniac on 16 Jul 2009, 05:26 pm
I think you will be right at the limit.  Those planars do need a lot of power.
The Virtue can drive 2 ohms, and the 130W supply will be needed for the Apogees.  But you might still be right at the limit.

Can you take your amp to the speaker to try?
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 16 Jul 2009, 05:43 pm
I think you will be right at the limit.  Those planars do need a lot of power.
The Virtue can drive 2 ohms, and the 130W supply will be needed for the Apogees.  But you might still be right at the limit.

Can you take your amp to the speaker to try?

yes, i will see if the seller let me do just that..
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 16 Jul 2009, 05:52 pm
btw, i found an image of the small Isophon mid-high driver that I mentioned above. Looking at the large dustcap in the middle, don't they remind you of Audience A3 driver used in the line array system? :)
(http://wonki.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/isophontweeterbetter.jpg)
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 16 Jul 2009, 05:53 pm
Audience A3
(http://www.audience-av.com/images/A3web180.jpg)
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: virtue on 17 Jul 2009, 06:27 am
Yes, now that I think about it... Roger copied the entire design!!!!

(kidding) that's ridiculous. 

The A3 is a marvel and is a not so subtle peek at the transducer end-game.  We're anxiously awaiting the next 4" driver that ADI is developing.  I think it will have as great an impact on sound reproduction as the Tripath chip will prove to have on amplification (by the time we're done with it).
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: panomaniac on 17 Jul 2009, 02:38 pm
They do look similar from the front.

But I doubt they sound anything alike.  The A3 has a low Fs and large x-max to allow it to play low.  And it will play low in a line array.  What is given up is effeciency.
Your driver is probably 15-20dB more effecient.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 17 Jul 2009, 05:26 pm
They do look similar from the front.

But I doubt they sound anything alike.  The A3 has a low Fs and large x-max to allow it to play low.  And it will play low in a line array.  What is given up is effeciency.
Your driver is probably 15-20dB more effecient.

I don't know about mine but i guess they are quite sensitive. They were the same midd-high used in Telefunken flagship monitor O85a where the famous v69a amp resides. I have seen a graph of these mid-high units and they are almost flat from 250hz to 17khz
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: MichaelDK on 23 Jul 2009, 02:13 pm
Hello
I recently bought a pair of Sonus Faber Toy and the Virtue 1 really makes these babys sing. Sounds great - really good clarity and voices, space. In size the speakers match the V1 very fine too and after exchanging all the cds with a small Squeezebox receiver there is plenty off space for the music :icon_lol:
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Tarun on 12 Aug 2009, 12:45 pm
I use Omega XRS (4.5" hemp drivers, not the alnico version) with my Two. Sounds great 90% of the time... at other times, I wonder if I can do something to increase warmth (not an amp issue, since Ive tried the speakers with other amps as well)... have a Kingrex preamp, and am considering adding it to the mix.

I may go for a diy solution with a larger driver, 6.5 or 8 inch + a fast sub (TBI/ ACI/ part express titanic)

TP
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: al128 on 17 Aug 2009, 02:05 am
Hello "Virtuers"!

Many greetings from Austria      Oskar

(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=20264)

p.s.:Thanks to Michael Mardis! When I looked for the "Trends"-modifications on his site, I got aware of Virtue--and ordered the TWO on the same day.


seawas, oskar! greets nach .at

;-)
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Wind Chaser on 17 Aug 2009, 02:14 am
Are these amps okay with a 4 ohm load?  Just bought a used V-1.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: dvenardos on 17 Aug 2009, 03:44 am
Yes, they are stable to 2 ohms.

Are these amps okay with a 4 ohm load?  Just bought a used V-1.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 17 Aug 2009, 09:52 am
My other pair of open baffle consisting of the legendary east german communist era Schulz TH-315 12" coaxial studio monitor with actively driven 18" celestion open baffle woofer. I use Virtue 2 for the coaxial and populse for the woofer via dbx 223, similar to my grundig with isophon tweeter set up. Sound is glorious!! :thumb:

(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/rexk/P1080088.jpg)

with measurement taken at listening position (about 2.5 m from baffle) by Behringer ecm8000 condeser mic+Audionet CARMA V3 rta+emu0202 usb sound card with class-a mic-preamp

(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/rexk/fullschulzwithwoofer-1.jpg)

Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: jkelly on 26 Aug 2009, 10:15 pm
I just received a Virtue Two amp and I am using it with my Erlings design OB with great results.
The source is a Bolder SB3 and PS.  Nice tone and great depth.  Plenty of juice for this rig.

(http://mysite.verizon.net/jkelly/ac/sp2.jpg)
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 27 Aug 2009, 07:04 am
I just received a Virtue Two amp and I am using it with my Erlings design OB with great results.
The source is a Bolder SB3 and PS.  Nice tone and great depth.  Plenty of juice for this rig.

(http://mysite.verizon.net/jkelly/ac/sp2.jpg)

 :thumb: very nice baffle set up.

Are the woofers Eminence Alpha A 15", what are the sensitivity like.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: panomaniac on 27 Aug 2009, 02:12 pm
Very cool!  Yes, please tell us more.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: jkelly on 27 Aug 2009, 02:35 pm
These speakers started out as a CS2 clone.
I never really got them sounding right so I decided to change the top
horn area to a replaceable section to try different mid/tweeters.

At the same time Erling posted his work on a similar design.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=65570.0 (http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=65570.0).

Erling selected these drivers and designed the crossover.

So far I am very pleased with this setup.

Jeff

Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Welborne on 27 Aug 2009, 02:57 pm
These speakers started out as a CS2 clone.
I never really got them sounding right so I decided to change the top
horn area to a replaceable section to try different mid/tweeters.

At the same time Erling posted his work on a similar design.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=65570.0 (http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=65570.0).

Erling selected these drivers and designed the crossover.

So far I am very pleased with this setup.

Jeff

Your set up is quite similar to mine, especially in the aspect where I can try different speakers on top with tailor made mounting board etc. I guess they must sound delicious :drool:
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: dvenardos on 23 Oct 2009, 07:55 pm
I have got the GR Neo 2x demo speakers in the house. These speakers make a fabulous match with the Virtue Two.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=67863.0
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: Affordable on 18 Nov 2009, 06:43 am
I am waiting for new stock to be available. This is a whole new arena for me, I am interested in the desire of Virtue to bring in new folks to the
Audiophile realm, that's me. The biggest speakers I have are for HT and nothing like the expensive ones I see on this list. Isn't the best thing about Virtue the affordability and performance ? One of the biggest uses of Virtue Amps seems to be a way to save money on an Amp to spend it on expensive speakers... So, what do folks suggest for small speakers (as a Virtue Amp is a small unit) ? At an affordable price, I'll be interested in ideas under 500 and under 1000. I will listen to them as I move around the house, no listening room or anything along those lines. I may even stream some music over a wireless link. Thanks.
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: virtue on 18 Nov 2009, 04:18 pm
You get it, Affordable!  We're a step closer to bringing the ONE "classic" back today.  After much deliberation and small tweaks, the latest PCB including soft-start, and the separate external soft-start went off to prototyping yesterday.  We'll have what I hope is the "gold master" by the end of the month.  As soon as I authorize mass production, I'll email the mailing list (sign up on the left side of the home page) as well as posting here.  We'll do a first-come, first-served waiting list and I'm going to offer the ONE.2 with the stepped attenuator and dual input caps (bass management) for a flat $299.  We'll also do a combo special with RedWine and GR Research for their battery kits.  We'd love to have you "steal" an amp from us!  You can spend the money you save on a great pair of speakers.  We exhibited with GR Research, Ascend Acoustics, Silverline, Omega, Usher, and Audioengine at RMAF.  Each of us have our preferences, at different price points.  You choose!
Title: Re: Recommended speakers
Post by: dvenardos on 19 Nov 2009, 02:55 am
For under 1K I would recommend the Neo 2x, but they are not small speakers, they are large monitors. For under $500 I would recommend Tweak City Audio's WAF-1. They are tiny by audiophile standards and a very solid speaker. Unbeatable for the price.
http://tweakcityaudio.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=21&category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 (http://tweakcityaudio.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=21&category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1)

I am waiting for new stock to be available. This is a whole new arena for me, I am interested in the desire of Virtue to bring in new folks to the
Audiophile realm, that's me. The biggest speakers I have are for HT and nothing like the expensive ones I see on this list. Isn't the best thing about Virtue the affordability and performance ? One of the biggest uses of Virtue Amps seems to be a way to save money on an Amp to spend it on expensive speakers... So, what do folks suggest for small speakers (as a Virtue Amp is a small unit) ? At an affordable price, I'll be interested in ideas under 500 and under 1000. I will listen to them as I move around the house, no listening room or anything along those lines. I may even stream some music over a wireless link. Thanks.