[anubisgrau]

As winter is approaching (in my part of the world), it's time to prepare a good system for long nights of listening.

My Altmann system (DAC plus amp plus car battery) is fully up and running and it's time to round it up with a nice pair of speakers.

I've heard several high eff models and on the top of the list at the moment are Oris Swing and Teresonic Integrum (with Lowther DX3 drivers). Quite different from each other, both have their strengths and weaknesses. Swings are probably too big for my 22m2 room. Teresonic is the best Lowther I've heard, pretty flat, not as shouty as used to be and goes quite deep, however still not 101% sure if they are less music-material picky than before.

I wondering what combination of BYOB and speakers you know that functions well and how? It would be good to expand a list of the options as I am really keen to go back into my audiophile hybernation for another 10 years once I sort the speakers out.

PS. I am also considering some Audio Note speakers as less idiosyncratic and more mainstream solution, there are some affordable AN-Js around....

[miklorsmith]

Price range?

[pardales]

I have the same electronics as you. If you look me up at Audiogon you can see pictures and details of my system. I love my Lowther 2.8 Ambience speakers (which I got from commonsenseaudio.com). That said, speaker preferences are highly personal--trust your own experience on this. The BYOB amp can drive a wide variety of sepakers, of varying efficiency, but you probably know this. Have fun!

[anubisgrau]

Price range?

up to 5-6k used

[anubisgrau]

I have the same electronics as you. If you look me up at Audiogon you can see pictures and details of my system. I love my Lowther 2.8 Ambience speakers (which I got from commonsenseaudio.com). That said, speaker preferences are highly personal--trust your own experience on this. The BYOB amp can drive a wide variety of sepakers, of varying efficiency, but you probably know this. Have fun!

i've recently experienced 2 new or relatively new lowther designs (new magnets etc) and once again i noticed how lowthers are sensitive to an amp choice. my preference would be 2A3 much rather than 300b (both SETs, naturally), alhtough 300b i listened had lundahl interstage trafos and looked as a very serious piece of engineering. however both with 2A3 and 6C33C SETs (only half of the valve used) sounded more dynamic, faster transients and less polished (in a negative way) than 300b. could be i'm tripping but 300b was a bit pedestrian for me. anyway both teresonic and other DIY lowther based on modified hedlund design exibited a quality that is unique on current scene, the only shorthcoming being just a tad lightweight balance although much better than before.

[miklorsmith]

You might be able to squeeze into a used pair of Zu Definitions at that price.  I've had mine for a while and have no desire to change.  The Altmann amp would be pure muscle on them.

[anubisgrau]

You might be able to squeeze into a used pair of Zu Definitions at that price.  I've had mine for a while and have no desire to change.  The Altmann amp would be pure muscle on them.

i really have to hear them somewhere first.... there is no dealer for zu in this part of the world

[ferenc_k]

I can assure you the Altmann amp works extremely well with the Zu Tone and Druid, at least for my taste. Definition and the new Presence should be killer. I will have a chance to try the Tone with Druid speaker/Mini Method combo, it will be something special, I feel and I hope at least. I am very happy with my Altmann BYOB and Avantgarde Trio, but it is in a different price range.

[anubisgrau]

hi ference, nice to hear you again:)
can you please add a few comments of often repeated complaint that a stock pot at altmann BYOB very easily runs into overload with speakers over 100db/w sensitivity. i understand that the AG trios are under 100db/w but still i would love to hear your thoughts.

[ferenc_k]

You should have to be just a bit careful, as the Trios are roughly 108 dB/W/m sensitive. However nowadays I am using a Promi Ref TVC between the Altmann DAC and the BYOB amp and you can ask Nicholas to make a - 6 dB version of TVC if your speakers are "too" sensitive and you want a bit more range for your volume. Actually I liked the Altmanns with the Zu Druid as much as with the Trio, YMMV however. I have a friend in Serbia, who is using the BYOB with a ProAc D80 and he is really satisfied with it, and we have another friend here who was really happy with the BYOB and a Dyno A42 I think, until he heard it with a Zu Tone, now he is waiting for his Zu shipment. Soon I wll have a chance to try the Altmanns with the Danley SH100B and with the SH50. Will be fun!