I suppose I should contribute to this as I specialise in this kind of pairing and a fair bit of experience.
1. A multiway horn system is asking for SETs on the tops and midrange - nothing new there as we all know about this (see my thread for more background). I would go as far as putting a PP valve amp using say 6L6 or KT88 or EL34s, or an 845 on the midbass as its a vintage Vitavox AK157 which I cut off at 60 Hz (its own bottom limit is 40-45 Hz) and only handles 50w. As stated above I wouldnt dream of using valves on the subs - its current all the way with those and preferably something that doubles into 4 ohms (a sign of a stout power supply).
2. Floorstanders - the extra capacity (over standmounts) of the cab helps with efficiency and you want something with a kind impedance - something that doesnt drop much below 8 ohms, such as the WAD KLS9 kit speaker that's been doing the Bake Off circuit in the South so successfully. That was designed by a valve amp manufacturer of course and its been paired with a PP WAD amp and a Prima Luna KT120 paralleled PP amp in recent weeks. The KLS9 is a reflex speaker, but ..
My Jantzen TQWT is a rearloaded horn and closely resembles a number of fullrange designs that use Mark Audio, Lowther etc drivers. The Jantzen are very valve amp friendly having an efficiency of upwards of 94 db/w.
3. My horn system is active, using analogue electronic XOs, but the Avantgarde range are interesting as a passive (though the sub bass may be active) speaker. I need to listen to some of these and, of course, the Cessaros (though I may need to get to Munich for those).
Jack
1. A multiway horn system is asking for SETs on the tops and midrange - nothing new there as we all know about this (see my thread for more background). I would go as far as putting a PP valve amp using say 6L6 or KT88 or EL34s, or an 845 on the midbass as its a vintage Vitavox AK157 which I cut off at 60 Hz (its own bottom limit is 40-45 Hz) and only handles 50w. As stated above I wouldnt dream of using valves on the subs - its current all the way with those and preferably something that doubles into 4 ohms (a sign of a stout power supply).
2. Floorstanders - the extra capacity (over standmounts) of the cab helps with efficiency and you want something with a kind impedance - something that doesnt drop much below 8 ohms, such as the WAD KLS9 kit speaker that's been doing the Bake Off circuit in the South so successfully. That was designed by a valve amp manufacturer of course and its been paired with a PP WAD amp and a Prima Luna KT120 paralleled PP amp in recent weeks. The KLS9 is a reflex speaker, but ..
My Jantzen TQWT is a rearloaded horn and closely resembles a number of fullrange designs that use Mark Audio, Lowther etc drivers. The Jantzen are very valve amp friendly having an efficiency of upwards of 94 db/w.
3. My horn system is active, using analogue electronic XOs, but the Avantgarde range are interesting as a passive (though the sub bass may be active) speaker. I need to listen to some of these and, of course, the Cessaros (though I may need to get to Munich for those).
Jack