So this is a Decware product, but not a Decware amp. They are the unsung hero of Decware in my humble/meaningless opinion.
I will preface, I am not a fan of Decware for no reason other than they don’t do it for me in terms of sound, looks, and noise floor with headphones. That is okay because we have the freedom to choose what we like and what we don’t like.
What I do like from Decware, low cost and readily available book shelf speakers known as Zen Tube Tots: https://www.decwareproducts.com/zentubetots
Thank you to @NickMimi for letting me try these in my set up for the last week or so, he was kind enough to also supply me with the Line Magnetic tube amp I used for the majority of my listening; LM-216IA
Chain: Roon Rock → Some crappy leftover ethernet cable that was the right length → totaldac d1-core w/streamer → Line Magnetic LM-216IA (KT88 in triode mode) → 18 year old Monster speaker cable → REL T5 subwoofer + Decware Zen Tube Tots
The above is powered by a PS Audio P15 PowerPlant, power cords were Furutech through and through.
Some initial thoughts that I am jotting down for provenance…
Fucking blended for small low cost efficient speakers
Built really well and heavier than they look, placement is easy, don’t require toe-in or anything as the sound disperses nicely in front of them depending on how far apart they are. Currently I have them at 6.8’ and 2.8’ from the side walls.
Imaging is spot on, using tracks suggest by Nick to highlight a speakers capability such as how certain pieces in the track are not stationary, I found my head began moving left to right, to left to center to left, to right without thinking about it. Like falling back into a comfy chair
Low volume listening, off a 30 watt tube amp the volume need not be past 8pm
Subwoofer integration was more a result of the space than the speaker’s capability, though I prefer a fuller sound from top to bottom with speakers I would add a bit more on the low end if I had my the option.
First time I heard these, was in a very large space, talking about a two story room which could be a venue for a small rock club, these little suckers had no problem filling the open space and literally disappears in front of us. Caveat the room was treated and running dual subwoofers. That night I was lucky to bring them home on loan for a bit, and thought these are great, will be just like how they sounded earlier.
Nope, and not because of the speaker but the damn room!! I know many of us say this often, yet it bears repeating every time we share our impressions of a speaker. In the adapted words of the Ragin Cajun, Jimmy Carville “It’s the room, stupid"
So yeah I was a bit blown away at these low cost, efficient suckers which effortlessly filled the echo infested room I have my set up in. My normal speakers are very inefficient, like solid state power and can have sharp midrange in a poor room. The Zen Tube Tots pushed my beloved Bowers & Wikens aside, literally moved them into the dining area to get them out of the way.
Perhaps I will write more, though unlikely as I would rather be listening and not typing out impressions. Merry Christmas and ask Santa for some Zen Tube Tots next year if you want a very good low cost speaker to dip your toes into the 2-channel fleawort amp world.