[Arzupancic]

Hey all,

For years I’ve listened to vinyl and cassettes through a modest Marantz set up consisting of a 2230 amp and 5220 deck. This year I’m going to branch into tubes, so starting to deep dive on the net. Think I’ll pursue a flee watt amp and sensitive speakers. Mostly listen to jazz - bop and ballads. But I also have a lot of classic rock in the vinyl collection and the cassettes are all 80s albums that my wife’s uncle ripped from vinyl back in the day.

- Tony

[FullRangeMan]

Welcome to AC 
You are in the right track with small tube amp and a sensitive speaker.
Please note some Circles of interest you may like>
The Fullrange Driver Circle:
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=128.0
The Open Baffle Circle:
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=90.0
The Tube Amps Circle>
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=144.0

DIY project from a member: Eminence Alpha15A + 4.7mH + Visaton B200.

Decware OB with the Lii Audio F15 driver:

If one have a woodworker is possible try the Lii Audio F15($399/Pair, pair not each) 97dB/8Ω and benign impedance curve suited to OB or Bass Reflex box or the F18($540/pair), no Crossover, no Tweeter beaming, no Phase rotation, no driver sensitivity loss, no Harmonics loss, no Retail price.
http://www.glowinthedarkaudio.com/lii-audio-f18.html

If you want a bigger woofer there are 18'' and 21'' from Lii Audio:
https://www.lii-audio.com/product/w-18/

https://www.lii-audio.com/product/w21/

[ArthurDent]

Greetings & Welcome to AC Tony   

[Phil A]

Welcome!

[JLM]

Welcome!

20 odd years ago I looked hard into flea amps and high efficiency loudspeakers.  Found that deep bass takes more power than small amps can deliver, so the SET crowd "learned" to be "allergic" to bass and their speakers were bass weenies.  As I believed bass to be fundamental I left the cult behind.  Understand that I'm not a bass-head, I'm 66 now and listen at moderate levels to mostly small ensemble jazz, classical, and classic pop.  Did own to 7 wpc T-amp that handled above average efficiency speakers remarkably well.

Have ventured into several genres of stereo/audio.  Have found tubes to be fussy (easily blown/hard to match), complex (many brands to pick from), and some to be expensive.  High efficiency loudspeakers tend to reveal system warts and make listening to quiet passages difficult. 

Good luck on your search for satisfaction.