Ohm Speakers, thoughts?

Mapman,

What size room are your 5's in? When you were running them full out, were you monitoring the power output of your amp, or measuring in some other way? I ask because I'm really not sure how to determine where full out really is, or if I could even stand it without ear protection or risk disturbing the neighbors. I find it uncomfortable to listen at much more than 85db for any period of time. Do you measure sound pressure?

Just to add my experience to this conversation.

I have the Walsh 5's series 2 and drive them with a Carver amp. that outputs 600 watts per. ch. into 8 ohms and 1200 into 4 ohms. I have on occasion play them loud enough (in a 16' X 24' X 9' room) that i cannot hear my own voice when taking normally. I heard that the series 3 are easier to drive but don't know if that is a fact or not.

My 200 series 3s are in a den that is 2/3 open to a nook/kitchen to the rear. The dimension on the open side is 15.5' x 35' x 8'. The closed-in 1/3 is 12 feet deep instead of 35. It amazes me how well the Ohms handle this. The only qualitative difference I notice from the closed side of the room to the open side is the bass level.

I measure 90db 10' back from the speakers with the Outlaw 990 reading "-10db". This is quite loud (not rock concert loud) but it is near my comfort limits. I've never heard any distortion the few times I've pushed it louder.

I have no idea how to tell how much of the amplifier's 250wpc at the S3's 6 ohms I am using.

Line,

I can claim similar results regarding driving the Walsh 5 S3 and Walsh 100 S3 drivers to high volumes with my system. Never a hint of stress or strain!

This is just a theory, but since the Walsh drivers take a while to break in to best sound, it may not be a good idea to drive them to the limit fresh out of the box, but rather work up to high levels gradually. I tend to do this with most new stuff just to be safe.

MWR0707,

I've heard a lot of good things abut the Outlaw amps. I would probably consider one myself if I had the need.

I don't know a thing about your player, but my understanding is that in general mixed video/audio format disk players are not not up to snuff with comparable cd-only designs, which makes sense. I use a $400 Marantz DVD player in a smaller A/V system with CDs and it sounds good, but I'ved never tried it in my reference audio system. I've used a $600 dollar Denon CD player/recorder in my reference audio system for two years. I am satisfied with it and I suspect I could do better with another CD player maybe, but it has not been an issue for me. The Denon sounds clean, smooth, lively, and great overall! I could easily recommend it for the budget and/or feature conscience. You get two drives and the ability to make essentially perfect sounding recordings to boot.

MWR0707,

The f-5 series 3s are in approx. a 27X20 foot inverted "L"shape room as sketched below with a thinly carpeted solid concrete floor. I do not measure decibels, but I like music to be played at realistic sound levels, including rock music. I push the Walsh 5 drivers as hard as my ears can stand before I stop. I have not reached a point where I notice any ill effect on the sound due to volume. The power level lights on my Carver m4.0t do light to near max levels, but does not appear to run out of juice. You can hear and feel the music throughout the house (~3700 square feet) at this point. Nothing I've ever had before ever came close to being able to produce this level of sonic exhiliration!

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