2a3's vs. 45's

[denti alligator]

So 45>300B>2a3 ?

How much are good 45s going for?

[Paully]

First response, do a search on converting the Paramount to 45 as there is a lot of very good information in the archives about changing out the two big cathode resistors, etc...  More than I can remember and repeat here.

Second, a pair of 45s will run from $120 to $200 with the increased demand and dwindling supply pushing it steadily upwards.

[johnsonad]

With your listed sensitivity, you are going to have a hard time with 2A3 and beyond difficult with the 45 if you listen at higher volumes. Yes the 45 has a special sound but unless you have the speakers for them you will be left disappointed and looking for new speakers.  Just don't get your hopes up. If you want the magic you need the right speakers. Paully and I are running 19's and they get plenty loud on a watt though I've driven mine to clipping on occacion with my 2 watt SEX amp.

It may be possible to get a 45ish sound with a 300B and that's what I'm chasing now. I'll report back if it ends up successful

[Paully]

I didn't even notice the speakers.  His next thread will be asking about Klipsch, single drivers, and Altecs...

But no, I don't think 45s are going to work well from my previous experience with 2 watts on 90db.

[johnsonad]

And neither is a 2A3 very well. SET sound has a price and that's a higher efficiency speaker or listening at a very low level. 

[denti alligator]

You talking about me or the OP? My Klipsch are 99db.

[galyons]

Matching to speakers is critical with SET's.  An easy load can offset  lower sensitivity in some cases.  Low sensitivity and impedence picks  are not a good match.

I have a pair of Gallo Nucleus, the original 1 ball speakers with the capacitive tweeter.  There is no crossover.  They are extremely easy to drive and 90dB/1w/1m.  300B great, 2a3 actually pretty good, the 45's did well on female vocals, small ensemble jazz and chamber music.  My room is a bit largish, 16X40 with a cathedral ceiling 14'.  IMO the key is no weird crossover issues and/or impedance peaks. 

My buddy has Thiel CS3's, 89dB/1w/1m and none of the above amps, (nor my 40w 6L6GC PSE amps)  sounded good...pinched frequency range and thin bleached timbre.  Thiel crossovers are fairly complex and they were not a good match with any of my tubes amps, although almost, (to me), listenable with Rogue Audio Magnum M150's.  He is a sand guy, but wanted to hear the Thiels with tubes.  He is now looking to replace the Thiels.

As in all things, YMMV....

Cheers,
Geary

[johnsonad]

At Sam, that was directed at the OP.

[Paul Birkeland]

So 45>300B>2a3 ?

That may not really mean all that much.  The 71A and the 10Y are wonderful DHT's as well, but even harder to match to speakers than the 45. 

It's tough to tell if TJ is producing more 45's.  The EML's are quite nice, and old stock is still pretty well available.

[ALL212]

Gee...darn...I'll have to get some new speakers...bummer.  I'm all broke up...this is terrible...worst thing ever...

   SWEEEETTT!!!!   


This appears to be a new journey for me.  I am going to start with what I have and 2A3's.  Once proper speakers are found then I'll change the amp to run the 45's and see what happens next.

Since I'm the OP can I change the topic...oh, that's already been predicted  !!  How about the kits on Madisound with the Fostex drivers - folded horns, no crossover, full range?

I really do appreciate the input - this is a new journey for me and I'm really looking forward to this!!

[johnsonad]

Go big or go home. You may find happiness with the Madisound cabs and Fostex drivers (I didn't) but once I found the big Altec's I didn't look back. Think GPA 604's, 19's, or Valencia's if you go big.  There are other routes but I'm an Altec fan and biased

[Paully]

I am with Johnsonad, go big, but we are Bottleheads so we do care about value too.  There are lots of threads on speakers but Blumenstein is loved around here (needs a subwoofer), Klipsch is a great and reasonably priced option especially if you pay attention to the overlooked models like Chorus II (had a pair of those, liked them a lot) and of course us Altec lovers will tell you you are stoned if you don't love them too.  Altec quality is well respected even if they don't trip your trigger.  I have a pair of Model 19s and I am done for the foreseeable future.

As far as Madisound and that whole concept goes, I don't know.

[ALL212]

You guys ever heard of "WAF"?   

'Tis part of my equation for success...

[johnsonad]

Lol, good luck with that! My wife is happy with my monster 19's which in many ways makes me a lucky man. You could consider a 604 in a Stonehenge cab possibly.

[Paully]

Ah, the dreaded WAF, you are obviously in the living room.  My section of the basement allows me a lot of latitude.  Well, Madisound have a smaller footprint, Klipsch Heresy, Blumenstein are beautiful and small and you can stick the subwoofer off to the side somewhere.  Anyway, the archives are your friend here and on audioasylum.  Good luck!