Efficient speakers -- What was your journey from A to B to ?
This thread is for people who have tried a successive number of efficient speakers and are willing to relate what they learned on the way.
Here's where I am: Recent experiences with speakers and amps has lead me toward lower watt (not ultra low) amps and more sensitive speakers.
I currently am looking for a second pair of speakers to alternate with my Ascends which would play more nicely with my Quicksilver Mono 60s and my Pass XA 25. (If I found the right speakers, I could be willing to look into SET amps, etc. but that is not my quest, now.)
I am open to design -- horns, open baffle, single driver, etc. My budget is flexible but I won't spend tens of thousands. So, some options are likely not possible.
Here are the speakers I am keeping an eye out for, used, but please add to my list!
Audio Note
Coherent Audio
Coincident — planar magnetic tweeters
Daedalus
Fyne
Klipsch
legacy
Living Voice
Omega
Pure Audio Project
spatial
Tannoy
Volti
Again, I'm especially interested in hearing from folks who have tried more than one of these speakers and can explain what lead them from one brand or model to the next -- and why.
Thanks!
@trivema The Klipsch I’ve heard have sounded a bit shouty and harsh. I bet this was due to (a) poor synergy between speaker and amp(s) and likely (b) lack of good room acoustics. I am hoping my next speaker adventure does not immediately launch me looking for an amp that will make a speaker sound good. Curious how people would react to the assertion, "Klipsch speakers need a more careful pairing than other similar speakers." That would be helpful, possibly, as a data point. |
@decooney and @hilde45 Just a thought, on Volti’s web page, Greg has an nice and thoughtful writeup on comparing and contrasting the Forte and Razz. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t replace an actual sit down and listen to each of them, however he has strong points to pay attention to during auditions. |
I use a pair of Charney Maestros (needed speakers designed for corner placement) with a 300b amp and a First Watt M2. I am very happy with them, and they would be fine with less than the 8 watts from the 300b. Because of my placement limitations, and because I am close enough to NJ to have demoed the Charneys, I didn't comparison shop them with other speakers. If you are interested in the category, also worth looking at AER and Voxativ speakers (they make the drivers that Charney uses). |
I do think one needs to pay more attention to supporting gear when going with klipsch. That said, the current models of Heritage speakers are more forgiving and linear than older versions. If what you heard was something out of the 70s or 80s (even 90s), then what is available now is a different animal. My LS II are vintage 2019 and you would be hard pressed to hear anything "shouty" about them with any type of recording. But better source components and amplification will get the most out of klipsch speakers, no doubt. And proper positioning and room treatments. These are, of course, things that make any speaker shine. But may be more important with horns. |
@ozzy62 Thanks. You're surely right those details matter more with horns. I wonder as @doyle3433 points out whether the Volti is more forgiving/flexible than the Klipsch (modern versions -- good point you made about that, too). |
