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Need feedback on loudspeakers

Hello All,
I have been researching a lot about loudspeakers lately - their measurements including sensitivity, impedance, phase, etc to make sure that they match in my system. Also had a chance to listen to a couple, but yet undecided, since I am not able to listen to all of the ones I have shortlisted below. I have a very short list of criteria for the speakers:

Sensitivity more than 88db
Nominal impedance 8 ohms and minimum not dipping below 3.5 ohms
Go down to about 27-30Hz
Price range is about $7k new/used

The loudspeakers that I have short listed are:
Spendor D7
PSB Imagine T3
ProAc D30
PMC Twenty 24
Tannoy Definition DC10T
Revel F208
Focal 1038 (used)

Could also consider the following, but not sure if they would match in my system because of their nominal 4 ohms impedance:
Sonus Faber Olympica III (used)
ProAc D40R (used)
Audio Physic Scorpio 25 (used)
PMC Twenty 26 (used, but has low sensitivity)

I love speakers that have the sound image starting about 2-3 feet behind the speaker front face, throw a wide image and disappear completely. That is what my current speakers do. My room is 15 X 18 X 8 and the speakers are placed very precisely (5feet from back wall and 3 feet from side walls) to achieve this imaging. I have a few panels to tame the sound in the room. My amp is Parasound A21 and I have an excellent Promitheus TVC. Current sources are able to effectively drive the amp and the speakers, without any issues.
I have listened to PSB Imagine T3 and Audio Physic Classic 20, and found that they image per my liking.
I know I have listed too many speakers. But would love to hear from owners of these brands on the "vocal characteristic" of the loudspeakers, now that I have provided a brief explanation of my preferences. There is no denying that the best way to seek a set of speakers is to audition in person. But sometimes this is not possible. Please provide your feedback, as much as you can. Thank You in advance!
128x128milpai
paraneer's avatar
paraneer
818 posts
 

Unless your listening room is in an auditorium, may I ask why you are concerned about speakers of 4 ohm nominal impedance when you have a Parasound A21?  It puts out 400 wpc RMS into 4 ohms. 

I drive 4 ohm Vienna Acoustics with my Marantz Reference PM15S2 that only puts out 140 wpc into 4 ohms without any issues.  The volume makes me back of the knob long before the amp ever gets warm.  Or even remotely gets close to clipping.

On your first list, I have heard the Spendor D7 and PSB Imagine T3 and both were very impressive.  On your second list, I have heard the SF Olympica III's and would suggest you seek out an audition.  You'll have no problems driving them.

milpai's avatar
milpai OP
2,326 posts
 
Dan,
Thank you for the feedback on the Tannoys. I believe I did listen to the Tannoy 10A at AXPONA last year. I believe they were fairly new pair of loudspeakers. Sounded slightly upfront than what I am used to. But will seek out more audition.

Paraneer,
Very good question on why I am concerned about 4 ohm loudspeaker. As I have mentioned, I have a TVC. A TVC generally sounds best when you are not near the maximum value position. My TVC has 24 positions for maximum volume. Currently I am listening to anywhere between 14-16, depending on the loudness of the CD/SACDs and more recently, Bluetooth streaming.If I get a more sensitive speaker, this position would go much lower and I can derive maximum benefit as far as sound quality is concerned. Mind you, in my system anything above position 17 drives me off the room, since it is too loud.
If you could compare and contrast between the Spendor D7 and the PSB T3, that would be helpful, since I am aware of how the PSB sounds. About the Sonus Faber - did they sound better than the D7 and T3?
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,509 posts
 
I've never owned a Spendor that I didn't like !
paraneer's avatar
paraneer
818 posts
 

I would give a nod to the Spendors I heard but in all fairness, they were driven by ARC electronics. Full bodied sound but very accurate too.

The PSB T3’s I recently heard at Axpona and driven by NAD gear. Very nice too but I preferred the Spendors.

I liked the Olympics III’s best of all. Driven by a 200 wpc McIntosh in my audition. Very powerful speaker and sounds much larger than it looks. Again, I encourage you to give them a listen.


bwaslo
51 posts
 
I think you may be confusing sensitivity and efficiency? For an amp like yours, I’d only look at sensitivity (usually spec’d at 2.83V). Provided the amp can drive the impedance (yours can), an 88dB sensitivity 4 ohms speaker will play just as loud as an 88dB sensitivity 8 ohm speaker, with no difference in volume setting for equal output. The efficiency (rated at 1W, not at a voltage!) of the 4 ohm speaker would be 3dB lower, but that doesn’t actually matter (at any volume setting level, the amp will put 3dB more power into the 4 ohms than into 8 ohms, that’s all).
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