Need some new speakers

Will62
Will62 Posts: 98
edited March 2013 in Speakers
I recently purchased a new integrated amplifier. It's a hybrid tube and solid state model. See link below.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=QIA3

I just found out that one pair of speakers that I own are not compatible with this amplifier. See link below.

http://www.castle.uk.com/ClassicSeries/Conway3/tabid/69/language/en-US/Default.aspx

According to a friend (broadcast engineer) this particular design is well suited to solid state amps but not tube type. This is his response to my inquiry:

"The problem isn't speaker cables, it's the amp's damping factor. This is one area where a solid state amp has the advantage over a tube amp. I see the Castle speakers are ported; I'm guessing the Mirage ones aren't. The damping factor puts the brakes on the cone excursion and a sealed box does the same thing."

I have some Mirage OM 10 speakers that sound great with this. But I am planning to purchase a second A3 and build another system for another room in the house. Thus, I need to find a second set of speakers that will work properly with the Qinpu amp.

Can anyone recommend any Polk speakers that will be compatible with this kind of tube amplifier? I prefer a neutral sounding speaker (not artificially bright like Klipsch) that won't serve up a lot of listener fatigue. I have heard that Polk makes some warm sound speakers and so I am hoping that I can find several models that might work with this amp.

Any suggestions will be appreciated!
Post edited by Will62 on
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Comments

  • B Run
    B Run Posts: 1,888
    edited March 2013
    I'd definitely check out the Lsi or Lsim line depending on your budget.
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,320
    edited March 2013
    Would not run polk towers on that integrated amp

    plus I am not buying into his question...looks like a product plug
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • Will62
    Will62 Posts: 98
    edited March 2013
    This is NO PRODUCT PLUG. I provided these links to help the uninitiated to learn more about the amp that I am using and formerly the speakers I had been using.

    Thanks for the first suggestion. I will research these. Hopefully Polk offers a money back guarantee. If I purchase a set of speakers I will know within a matter of hours (prior to the break in) whether or not they will work with this amp.
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  • Will62
    Will62 Posts: 98
    edited March 2013
    txcoastal1. BTW. My Mirage OM 10's are a tower speaker and they not only sound great I can't even turn up the volume past about halfway on the amp before the sound gets too loud. A sensitive speaker with at least 90db will easily drive this amp regardless of whether or not is a bookshelf or tower speaker.
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,320
    edited March 2013
    OK will please read the specs below and do the math...and the LSi line are 4ohm loads even more difficult to drive...welocme to Club Polk

    Integrated Specs: Output Power: 2 x 8.5 W (8 ohms RMS)

    The Conway 3 specs:
    Sensitivity
    91dB for 1w at 1m
    Amplifier Requirements
    25-175 watts

    LSiM 705 tower specs:
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms
    Efficiency 88 dB
    recommended: 20-250 watts per channel

    LSiM 703 bookshelf specs:
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms
    Efficiency 88 dB
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,320
    edited March 2013
    I have seen the 705's run beautifully on a Unison 12watt single ended tube amp and awfully on a 35watt integrated tube amp...I have alot of experience with the LSi/LSiM line really don't recommend that 8-watter for the value...just my opinion
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • Will62
    Will62 Posts: 98
    edited March 2013
    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    I have seen the 705's run beautifully on a Unison 12watt single ended tube amp and awfully on a 35watt integrated tube amp...I have alot of experience with the LSi/LSiM line really don't recommend that 8-watter for the value...just my opinion

    Thanks. What is a 705?
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,320
    edited March 2013
    Will62 wrote: »
    Thanks. What is a 705?

    http://www.polkaudio.com/products/stereo-and-hi-fi/floorstanding


    The 705's kicked butt on this one:
    http://en.unisonresearch.com/3146/simply-italy/

    The 705's not so much on this one:
    http://www.ravenaudio.com/cgi-bin/ravenaudio/00108.html

    So the 8-watter will be a gamble
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited March 2013
    Any of these: http://www.sonist.com/

    They're designed to be powered by low powered tube amps and sound wonderful doing so.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,469
    edited March 2013
    Will62 wrote: »
    Thanks. What is a 705?

    The bottom half of a 703

    Galveston oh Galveston, I still hear your seawinds blowing, I still see her dark eyes glowing, She was 21 when I left Galveston
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,469
    edited March 2013
    Oops, my bad, the 703 is the bottom half of a 707 :mrgreen:
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,320
    edited March 2013
    Geoff4rfc wrote: »
    Oops, my bad, the 703 is the bottom half of a 707 :mrgreen:

    u talking about her or the speakers bottom half:cheesygrin:
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • Will62
    Will62 Posts: 98
    edited March 2013
    Face wrote: »
    Any of these: http://www.sonist.com/

    They're designed to be powered by low powered tube amps and sound wonderful doing so.

    Wish I had 2 grand to spend at this time but I don't. Looks like a great speaker though.
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  • Will62
    Will62 Posts: 98
    edited March 2013
    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    http://www.polkaudio.com/products/stereo-and-hi-fi/floorstanding


    The 705's kicked butt on this one:
    http://en.unisonresearch.com/3146/simply-italy/

    The 705's not so much on this one:
    http://www.ravenaudio.com/cgi-bin/ravenaudio/00108.html

    So the 8-watter will be a gamble

    I'll have to find some cheaper speakers this time around. I don't want to drop a couple grand for something only to find it doesn't sound right with the amp.
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,904
    edited March 2013
    with that 8 watt amp i think you are going to need speakers in the upper 90+ db range with high impedence (8+) ohm.
    i think you are buying wrong. get the speaker first as speakers have the most effect on sound. you are limiting your choice of speakers to the amp and the limited choice may not be to your liking soundwise and now you are making your options even less by your budget.
    GET THE SPEAKERS FIRST.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • Will62
    Will62 Posts: 98
    edited March 2013
    marvda1 wrote: »
    with that 8 watt amp i think you are going to need speakers in the upper 90+ db range with high impedence (8+) ohm.

    It is an 8 ohm amp and that would be ideal. But I've found that even my Mirage OM 10 towers sound great with it even with a 90db sensitivity.

    I read all the reviews on Amazon for the A3 and the MK6000 amp and several people report success with Polk speakers including some models with only an 88db level of sensitivity in their speakers. Most are bookshelf models. One guy is using a Monitor 70 and said they sound great with this amp.

    I decided to write Polk Customer Service to see if they can offer some recommendations.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited March 2013
    That amp wouldn't even drive my headphones. I'd look for a new amp as you're really limiting yourself.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Will62
    Will62 Posts: 98
    edited March 2013
    Face wrote: »
    That amp wouldn't even drive my headphones. I'd look for a new amp as you're really limiting yourself.

    Some headphones such as Grado don't work well with these amps. But there are speakers that do. Again, my Mirage OM 10's sound great on this amp and it has plenty of power. And the audio quality blows away the sound I had on my Cambridge Audio A 300 amp with the OM 10's. Unfortunately finding a similar speaker in my price range is difficult now. The Mirage OMD 5 would probably work fine but it is a bookshelf speaker and likely will require a subterranean woofer to sound the way I'd like it. Tower speakers with the Omnipolar design by Mirage now start at over 2 grand. Trying to find a more cost effective solution.
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