The Starlet 4 power requirements state 2x75 watts per speaker, so the 4's may need just as many channels of amplification as the 6's. But then text in the SCT-1.0 test kit description states that the 6's and 9's have separate inputs while not mentioning the 4's. Is the 2x75 watts per speaker requirement mentioned on the site for the 4's an error?

While sloane states that there are [passive] crossovers, the SpeakerCraft site doesn't mention whether or not the Starlets would require active crossovers ahead of the amplification, as the Rogues seem to, or whether both the woofers and the tweeters can be fed full-range but separate signals that may or may not be passively filtered. Assuming that there are existing crossover filters separately for the cones and ribbons in the Starlets, apparently level-matching attenuation was not a part of the design.

I would say that SpeakerCraft needs to do a slightly better job of representing their information - the site doesn't seem to consider the the tech-minded reader.

When one uses an active crossover and connects directly to a driver without passive filtering, level-matching must be accomplished somewhere, either as an adjustment at the crossover or at the amplifier. When bi-amping without the active crossover and without attenuation in the passive crossovers, level-matching would be needed at the amplifier or a separately introduced volume control device.

More information -- found the manual for these speakers online (PDF file). Apparently the Starlet 6 needs to be calibrated so that for 1.75 V at the ribbon terminals, there is 0.5 V at the woofers. This information is at the bottom of Page 11. The smaller Starlet 4 doesn't require any difference in levels. The Starlet 9 has a different level change.

I guess that's typical of ribbons. The woofers are actually more sensitive than the tweeters. Maybe they didn't want to pad the woofers by putting series resistance in the crossover? (Or a ploy to get you to buy their amps? {grin})

Anyway, this is solvable. If I did the math right, this works out to about 5.4 dB of attenuation at the woofers relative to the tweeters. Some amps will let you do this. You might want to call SpeakerCraft and ask them what amps (in addition to their own) they recommend for use with these speakers. While you're at it, ask them what the crossover points, types, and slopes are.

If I was in your shoes, I'd probably go with the Outlaw M200s, and build two voltage dividers to put at the inputs. I'd need four female RCA jacks, two more interconnects, and I'd probably pick a pair of 1.2kOhm and a pair of 470 Ohm resistors. I'd then wire 950 -> voltage divider -> M200 -> woofer terminals. This voltage divider would ONLY work with these speakers. If you're not comfortable doing this, then you should probably stick to one of the other options.

Whatever you decide, please let us know how they sound. I'd be interested to find out.

Well guys, I am giving up. This all too complicated and expensive for me. Temporarily unemployed secondary to throat cancer (cured with radiation,but bad insurance means big bills) so, anybody interested in a New set of Starlet Sixes. I have only opened the one box to look at one of them. My loss, your gain. I'll be advertising them on Audogon and Videogon first.