My experience with the Meadowlark Shearwaters-The biggest deal-breaker for me would be I would have to get much more powerful amplifiers to drive the speakers to the levels that I would require, however, I would like to hear them at some point.
I'm a simple guy, CDP into an integrated amp. I hope that doesn't diminish your opinions of my upcoming comments.
Originally I had a Cary CD-303 CDP into a Cary SLI-80 int. amp , in a tile-floored cement block room about 20x20. (Not the best size or structure. I should have gotten more shag rugs! - Ah, hindsight). But the Shearwaters, pulled out from the wall, kicked it.
Now I'm in a bigger room, ~ 30x20, (crazy as it sounds but it's actually even a bit bigger). Anyway, I'm using a Primaluna Prologue Integrated amp, 36 watts (with EL34s, which I prefer). Unfortunately, I can't let my stereo take over the room, (- GF..., as much as I'd rather listen to music than watch stuff on the big TV...) So the whole thing is placed well, basically in one corner, speakers spread around 8 ft apart, way out from the back wall - and side, with an open doorway to another room as a bass trap (and first reflection preventer) on one side and some cushy couch furniture and the rest of the huge room on the other side. I think it's the best set-up I can have in this place at this time.
But I hear ya. While these speakers are pretty efficient, I sometimes think back to the Cary amp. It ran the power tubes much more aggressively.
I currently listen in the sweet spot in a chair around 8 ft away, of course with a little table next to me for my wine glass which doesn't seem to add any bad deflections to the sound.
I can't comment on lower wattage amps though.
You should really hear the speakers somewhere with an amp that you're comfortable with.
J
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