Which Companies Are Still Making Powered Towers Today?

organ

Powered towers and flea power single ended tube amps is my holy grail. Yes, I've gone the super high efficiency route with Lowthers, horns, etc, but I still feel these lower end powered towers are as good as some of the best high efficiency stuff I've heard when paired with low power, single ended tube amps.

When a tube amp of less than 10w/ch only has to power 80 or 100hz on up, so much power is saved by not having to do bass. As a result, you can get explosive dynamics out of so little power.
The sound is also transformed with single ended amps. All the good qualities of single ended amps comes shining through (speed, texture, transparency, tone, imaging, etc). I can also listen at any spl I want without worrying about the amp running out of juice.

My other system is wonderful with a pair of B&W and pure SS power, but my current tube and powered towers is more musical and pleasing to my ears. I'm running a tube CD player into a 5w/ch triode strapped EL34 based single ended amp feeding a pair of vintage Polk RT1000p. Speaker cables are Polk Audio Cobras. I'm in audio heaven with this set up.

I hope more SE/SET amp owners look into this direction. The results may surprise some of you.

So, in case my RT1000p bites the dust (I hope not), or if I want to try a different pair of speakers, what companies out there are still making powered towers?

I did a search and only came up with two which is DefTech and Cerwin Vega (I don't think I wanna go with CW).
If I try another one, it will be the DefTech bipolars. I've had great result with a pair of huge Mirage bipolars in the past. I like that type of sound.

So is there any more out there other than DefTech and CW?

txcoastal1

Meridian

organ

Thanks. They look great but way out of my price range. They're also fully powered.
Sorry, should have mentioned it earlier. I want to keep price at a maximum of $2k. I'm not looking for a full active speaker, just active on the woofers for low end like the older RTxxxxp series.

I'm still keeping my eye out for a pair of RT2000p/i, but the ones I've seen come up (very rare) were not in good shape. I know at one point Klipsch made powered towers for their Reference line. So I'm looking out for used ones but after a few years, nothing.

B Run

I'd look at the Def Tech Mythos ST or STS, or even the 8060's or 8080's. I've seen them used and new on sale for around your price range and they're supposed to be great. I'd ask Mantis I know he can give his .02¢ on them.

B Run

double post

B Run

tripple post?

Irrenhaus

I think some Martin Logan's fall on that category like the Purity.

http://www.martinlogan.com/products/purity

Cheers

B Run

^ Those are 100% powered so you could get away with a tubed pre and good set of IC cables, but they're harder to find on the used market.

Inspector 24

I've got a pair of 2000i's for sale locally now, definitely beat the 1000i which I've owned two pairs.

Keep an eye out for 3000p's, even better than 2000's IMHO. As they should be.

organ

B Run wrote: »

I'd look at the Def Tech Mythos ST or STS, or even the 8060's or 8080's. I've seen them used and new on sale for around your price range and they're supposed to be great. I'd ask Mantis I know he can give his .02¢ on them.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll take a look at them when I'm ready. Though the bipolar sound is something I'd like to get back into in the future. DefTech is definitely on the list.
Mantis did say the DefTech were nice speakers a while ago when I asked about them.

Irrenhaus wrote: »

I think some Martin Logan's fall on that category like the Purity.

http://www.martinlogan.com/products/purity

Cheers

Thanks, but it looks like the purity line is 100% powered instead of just the low end. Can't really say I'm a fan of stats or planars at the moment. I did own a pair of Maggies MG-12QR in the past. They have their strengths but didn't really float my boat. But now that ML's are available in bigger chain stores, it will be easy for me to check them out next time I go.

Inspector 24 wrote: »

I've got a pair of 2000i's for sale locally now, definitely beat the 1000i which I've owned two pairs.

Keep an eye out for 3000p's, even better than 2000's IMHO. As they should be.

Aaah, the 3000p's are my dream Polk speakers. I haven't seen any come up locally in my 3 years of searching for them.
If I was close to you, I'd snatch those 2000i's you're selling.
Not sure if you've heard the older non "i" models. For some reason I prefer them over the "i". They're a little harder around the edges but I find them more open and dynamic sounding, especially in the highs while the later versions seem more laid back. I also like the extra sparkle of the older tri-laminate tweeters.

RamZet

You could pick a pair of speakers you like and add an amp to the rear using Bryston's "PowerPAC".
they have a 60w, 120w, and 300w.
You just screw them to the back of the speakers.

http://bryston.com/products/power_amps/PowerPAC300.html

deronb1

GoldenEar

Inspector 24

organ wrote: »

Aaah, the 3000p's are my dream Polk speakers. I haven't seen any come up locally in my 3 years of searching for them.
If I was close to you, I'd snatch those 2000i's you're selling.
Not sure if you've heard the older non "i" models. For some reason I prefer them over the "i". They're a little harder around the edges but I find them more open and dynamic sounding, especially in the highs while the later versions seem more laid back. I also like the extra sparkle of the older tri-laminate tweeters.

If you were close I'd sell them in a heartbeat to a fellow polkie.

the only 'p' series I've heard was the CS1000p in the basement, and to my wife and I's ears we actually preferred the sound of the CS400i for the upstairs. I haven't heard it hooked up in the man cave yet, that may be a better place for it.

My least favorite of the RTxxxi series that I've heard was the 1000i, I much prefer the 800i's any day, smoother, warmer, richer, all the good things, and with a little power they put out very nearly the same bass imho.