by Peter W. Wed Aug 10, 2016 3:54 pm
What are moderately efficient speakers?
If new, too expensive to consider if any good.
If vintage, too expensive to consider if any good.
Point being that good sound is about moving air. And that takes some combination of energy and surface area. One (1) EL84 on a very good day *might* be able to push out 8 watts. Driven to the bleeding edge. You will note that the ad says "Desktop SPL Levels". Suggesting a perhaps 3" speaker at best? Maybe?
I keep acoustic suspension speakers and I keep a pair of large Maggies. I have one 225WPC/RMS/8, one 100W, and four 60W solid state devices, in tubes, one 75, one 30, and one 15 W device. The Maggies suck up every watt of power from the big amp, my AR M5s perform well with the 100W amp, and my AR Receiver matches the AR3as well. The tube amps are adequate for the AR Athena sub-sat system, and the AR 14s. The poor little ST35 works OK with the AR4x speakers in a small venue. This single-ended EL84 amp would not stand a chance.
Perhaps Klipschorns would do it. They are remarkably efficient, excellent sounding speakers, but huge and difficult to place. But, for good sound, good range and reasonable volume, that is where you would have to start.