Grant,
Welcome to the journey! There are a bunch of very helpful members on this forum who can really make better recommendations than mine. But I have a similar size room and I'd probably start out with Lii Audio F-15's and homemade open baffles...use your sub if needed. The F-15's are $399 and you can pickup a counter top at Home Depot to make the baffles with and stay under $1K. If you have some basic woodworking tools it maybe a good option. If you have a woodworking buddy even better! The F-15's are very efficient, which is the important requirement with the UFO's as it relates to loudness. I have F-15 open baffles that I drive with a Se84UFO25 and they are plenty loud. The size of the baffles are a consideration if location is a challenge. The F-15's are single drivers that don't come with grills which might be a little scary with small kids as well. Sounds like you have some time to decide and there are options like used Klipsch Heresy etc that are more conventional speakers. Good luck and happy shopping.
Malcolm

Hi Grant,

Let me piggyback on Dana's recommendation.  Below is a message I sent to another from a while ago, but your interest brought it back to mind:


"I now have two pairs of Caintuck speakers in two rooms:  Betsy's and Lii Fast 8's.  The Lii Fast 8's sound better to my ear, but the Betsy's are excellent.

What made a big difference for me was the addition of the Caintuck Alpha Bass Baffle.  I highly recommend that option for your consideration.  Also, I went in a bit of a different direction with the Lii "Fast 8's."  I think if you search "Fast 8's," you will find that Steve gives them a thumb's up somewhere in his comments.

Both of these options, Fast 8's and Alpha Bass Baffle, are a bit less expensive than the F-15 drivers, and that may help with giving you more room to work with for the amp.  

It is hard to know which speaker you would like best without hearing them.  Hopefully, it helps when current owners report that they are delighted with their purchase - like me."

Tony

Some options here from below to a little above $1,000.
https://omegaloudspeakers.com/

All of this is great info! I really appreciate your time. The good news is I live near Peoria, IL where Decware has a listening room with some of these open baffle speakers as well as the 945 (I hope). That might be a starting point. I have also heard good things about Zu Audio. Their Omen Dirty Weekend speaker got good reviews and is around $1000 (if I can find some). I'll have to look into the Omegas, too. They look a little pricey new, but I haven't bothered looking for used. Is there a recommended used model? I have heard good things about Klipsch Heritage speakers with the 2 watt Decware amp (Heresy, Cornwall, Forte, etc), but every review of their newest model makes it sound like the older models aren't all that great. Should I also look into some older Klipsch models? Thanks again!

It'll be fun looking around for sure. I knew nothing about Decware until I ran across a couple of reviews on YouTube. Both of these are posted on the home page here. Yup, I am old and tore up and NOW I find out about this outfit! Time is not on my side.. lol, but ordered anyway at the insistence of my wife. Blessed to have her. I have been interested in a tube amp for a long time, but couldn't afford anything here in America as I refused to buy a Chinese made one. And then I find out about the affordable quality, made in America Decware. What struck me most is that both reviewers were very impressed (VERY) with the amps and they were hooked up to Klipsch speakers. Of course I cannot speak of other speakers that would go well as I haven't heard anything hooked up to a Decware amp in the first place. Yet. But I will never trade off or sell my 1996 Klipsch Chorus II's. Very high sensitivity and I am sure they'll work beautifully with the Zen. I can wholeheartedly recommend a good, clean pair of Klipsch. Lots of used ones about, but people sure seem to tear speakers up for some reason. Keep an eye out for a good clean pair. Especially of the heritage line. Our son will be purchasing a new pair of Forte 1V's to go with his Zen when it arrives. Expensive though. He listened to them inside a stereo/theater store in Ohio and has to have them now. Used Klipsch should be doable... Just another suggestion. You'll get a lot here. ~Lots of friendly, experienced folks here on this forum.~ I have also heard good things about the new Klipsch
RP-600M Bookshelf Speakers. Between 7 and 800 new. I don't know the sensitivity rating. Definitely check out Mr. Deckerts outfit and give a listen. You live too close to not do that! Our son plans on a visit as well. Looking outside, I have got to get going and move some snow.......Good to have you here and have fun! Take care. ~Mike

You should look at the Tekton Lores, and Tekton Lore reference. Exceptional speakers and sensitive enough for your Zen. Lots of folks have this small business / all American pairing.


I had the Lores with an SE84UFO and it was exceptional for the price!

It sounds like you have made progress on deciding what would be your best speaker.  In my earlier post, I did not mention that my two sets of Caintuck baffles were 7/8 inch and the newer 1.5-inch hardwood as it did not seem relevant.  If you are now asking about sonic difference, I like the sound better from the thicker baffle and conclude that it does make a difference.

The visual appearance may not make any difference to you, but the thicker baffles look better - what Randy calls the "eye candy."

I don't know if you saw a recent post that Caintuck is now offering the thicker hardwood baffles for the larger-sized drivers too.  I found his prices reasonable, so you might price them to see how they stack up against having the baffles built for you.

Good luck, Tony