I'm using a FirstWatt F5 or a KR Audio Kronzilla amp with Avantgarde Duo Omega speakers - with a pair of Sub231s for "normal bass" and a pair of Sub255s for "low" bass.
(So that's 2x12"/500W RMS plus 2x10"/250W RMS for bass on either side)
--Jatinder
Well... as a past owner (including stacked pairs), I can certainly suggest that ESL57s do tight and controlled bass. However, they don't go very low, or give massive amounts of it. I cartainly agree with Lawrence that impedance curves are important with conventional cones, but ESLs have a curve that's as friendy as a starving shark, yet work extremely well.
The problem with looking at impedance curves is that you need to know the complete behaviour of the amplifier as well, and that's the sort of thing you won't find published. Nevertheless, as a rule of thumb, a relatively flat curve is better for valve amps in general.
Jack has listed a few decent alternatives above. Normally I'd add my favourite Living Voice, but the 'narrow end' bit would mean LVs not working at their best. Audio Note or Snell, however, are ideally suited to that sort of configuration, though I'd avoid the larger ANs, as bass may be too much.
Try telling that to my EV Patricians when used with my Korneff Clone (2 watt) SET. They'll be too busy testing the structural strength of the plaster ceiling with fractions of a watt to listen to you. And too dumb, because they're only bits of wood, plastic and metal.Deep bass and valve amps doesn't happen imho. I use my MingDa 845s to run my SEAS soft dome midrange drivers in my active setup....using the 845 valves in their sweet spot.
I have used them in the past to run passive speakers .....but deep bass needs big drive units and solid state grunt, which is how I've tailored my activity setup
So what design of speakers should I be looking at Wilmslow Audio that would best complement my Ming da MC34A amp, rated at 38 watts push pull?I would put my trust and money in Wilmslow HiFi to be honest, I told them what I wanted in terms of frequency response and audible crossover values in a floorstander and they delivered. Any speaker parts you might need are there. Unfortunately IPL has closed, Ivan is a lovely man and a wealth of knowledge that has now gone.
Edit I'm running a Vincent SV237 hybrid so not 100% valve but Wilmslow
Audio speaks.
You need to look at the actual measured impedance curve.If you can't get that then do not buy them.You want something with an impedance that does not dip below around 5 ohms in the bass region.You also want something with decent efficiency although a 38 watt push pull valve amp should suit anything above about 88 db/watt efficiency.Also the simpler the crossover the better.So what design of speakers should I be looking at Wilmslow Audio that would best complement my Ming da MC34A amp, rated at 38 watts push pull?
I broadly agree but if a valve amp has 4 ohm taps can we lower the minimum impedance requirement to say 3.5 ohms?You need to look at the actual measured impedance curve.If you can't get that then do not buy them.You want something with an impedance that does not dip below around 5 ohms in the bass region.You also want something with decent efficiency although a 38 watt push pull valve amp should suit anything above about 88 db/watt efficiency.Also the simpler the crossover the better.
The Seas A26 kit speaker would be a safe choice.It has almost no crossover.Another good choice would be the JLTI Elsinore kit speaker which has a flat impedance curve.
No.Valves amps are not optimal with speakers below 4 ohms.They are really happiest with 16 ohms but 8 ohms is O.K.I broadly agree but if a valve amp has 4 ohm taps can we lower the minimum impedance requirement to say 3.5 ohms?
I thought the transformers were built to make them optimal with 4 ohm loads, is your point that valves are inherently not able to supply the current needed to drive these speakers whether or not the transformers are designed to do so? In which case are 4 ohm taps a bit of a scam to make buyers think they will work ok with modern low impedance speakers?No.Valves amps are not optimal with speakers below 4 ohms.They are really happiest with 16 ohms but 8 ohms is O.K.