Hi Folks. Can I get your opinions?

I love listening to different combinations of components. (BTW, I listen at about 70-80 dBs, at about 8 feet from my speakers.) I currently have a pair of Zu Dirty Weekends, but I know that there will come a day when I'd like to try others. I'm afraid that going with SE84UFO25 will lock me into the high efficiency route too much. Several people on the SE84UFO25 forums claims that the amp punches way above its weight, and might even handle >85db efficient speakers.

1. Does anyone have direct experience with low efficiency pairings? if so, which speakers? I don't remember if statements I've read are speculations or reports.

2. I can have two more 'cautious' entries into the decware universe. I can go with :
   A) a Torii Jr or MK5, get more amps in return, but lose the 'purity' of non-push-pull SET.... But how these compare to the sound signature of the SE84UFO25? All have tube voltage regulation, which I take to be one of the main advantages of the SE84UFO25 over the standard. For those of you who love the SE84UFO25, is this too much of a sound-signature change? Not worth what is essentially 'insurance' for changing my mind about speakers later?

   B) I can also go with a non-25th anniversary Zen Triode, which will be less limiting in the sense that it will allow me to get more powerful amplification later. At this point, it is even a fair 'dip into the pool' given that difference between the SE84UFO25 and the standard version?

Thanks!

I would definitely love to hear your impressions. Also, I like the elegance of your solution: get both!

I think the key to using low-powered Decware amps is how loud you want to play. Obviously everyone has different rooms, desire for bass, musical preferences, etc.... (read FWIW). Since you say you listen between 70-80db, I think you'd be ok with a SET. But it's better to explain what I've tried.

For my bedroom (10ft by 12 ft) system, I currently use an SE84C+ (2w SET) with a pair of Sony SS-A3. These are 86db, not efficient. In the bedroom space, I can't turn up the SE84 before the speakers get too loud for that space, which I'd guess is about 86-88db. It's not ear piercing loud, I'm just saying I've got gain I could use beyond anything I would ever want to listen to in the bedroom. Surprisingly I get decent bass with this setup, but keep in mind I'm not a bass head.

I used the same system in my LR (12ft by 17ft) for a few weeks. For music it got loud enough in that space, but for movies (Blu-ray not recorded as "hot") it's just barely "enough" at full blast. It was doable, but I would have liked a little more volume.

My other experience is with a Mini-Torii (4w SEP) and a pair of Yamaha NS-1000m (90db). Keep in mind I don't throw parties or like to listen at ear piercing levels, but I had lots of gain left in the LR as loud as I could stand it. The other thing that was suprising was the bass. I expected that might be missing with a 4w amp. It was not at all. The bass was fast, tuneful, great. Mick Fleetwood came across as he should.

So in my experience, if you don't need loud volumes and aren't in a huge space, Decware SE amps do work with inefficient speakers.

This is a good post. I am thinking about buying Walsh 1000 or2000 Ohm speakers.
The 1000 has the following rating: sensitivity: 88 dB @ 2.8V
The 2000 has the following: 88 dB @ 2.8V

I have the 25th anniversary amp with a ZROCK II. The room I will play the speakers in is small ie 16 x 14 so I will not be playing these speakers loud.

I am using my SE84UFO25 with 91dB B&W DM630’s and it has a complex crossover which is likely to suck part of the signal.  I am very happy with the outcome.  My limited experience with single-driver, high-efficiency speakers (including Zu Audio and Omega) has not been that good; I have mostly had a listening fatigue.  I am sure with some room treatment, the issue could have been solved, but with the B&W’s I am already very happy, so I am not likely to change the speakers in the short run.

I have also tried it with my ProAC DM28’s at 88.5dB, and it sounded even better, yet a little less volumuous.  

My other Decware amp is an SE34I.2+ which I run through Rega’s bookshelf speakers which are, I believe, 90dB and they sound OK as well.  

Please let me know if you need any other details…