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Missing the Old Days

I’m new to the higher end audio game. What I don’t know about modern audiophile technology and doctrine could fill a library.

What I do know is how I like to listen to my music, which I’m quite sure would make some crinkle their eyes and squint at me with a look of “my lord son, really?” Kinda look lol.

My first foray into good speakers are my current Goldenear Triton 5’s and my JL D108 Sub. They sound nice....very nice...but they just don’t sound the way I like. So now I’ll soon hook them up to a Parasound Halo A21/P5 which I’m sure will improve the sound.

However, I’m aware that it still may not deliver the goods for me personally. I miss the days of those big, solid, powerful speakers that’d shake the dust off your shelves and make the squirrels living in your my attic fear for their lives. 

I miss my trusty old MTX AAL 2230’s. They weren’t fancy, they certainly weren’t overly detailed, but they kicked ass. They kicked a lot of ass. Where are the speakers that can deliver big sound, driving Bass and clarity without the need to run 1 or 2 Subs? Speakers that are powerhouses without costing 10, 15, 20 thousand or more? There used to be a time when you could go to any number of local Stereo shops and have multiple choices of all ranges of speakers and equipment. I have to drive an hour or more to find any store remotely close to that.

I’ve seen Tyler Acoustics, but I’m Leary. No dealers, only direct sales, very generic specs, and hardly any reviews anywhere. I’d like to hear a few of his models, the cheaper Halo 1’s that closely resemble my beloved MTX’s just look like a white van special Speaker with those shiny black woofers.

Maybe I’m just an old Deadhead stuck in the past, but if there are speakers like this out there that are quality and don’t cost as much as a car, I’d love to hear about them!
128x128bigjohn9095
pbnaudio's avatar
pbnaudio
1,613 posts
 
Erik,

With a low of 3.5 Ohms with a phase angle of 15 or so degrees is not out of normal for a nominal 4 Ohm speaker system - you must look at both impedance and phase angle.  Through the whole Bass and lower midrange, where most of the current is delivered anyway,  the speaker is almost resistive. Most amplifiers of modern design will drive this easily.

Good Listening

Peter 
erik_squires
16,041 posts
 
@pbnaudio - I was a little hyperbolic there! Yes, it is resistive, so it's not quite as bad as an exotic ESL or pure ribbon speaker, but even with the low impedance out of the bass area, a better than average amplifier should be used. OTOH, I assume it's very high efficiency, so the overall power used should be low. 

Also, kind of cries out for bi-amping, which then lets me use my favorite comination, bi-amping with EQ on the bass. :) 

Best,


E
erik_squires
16,041 posts
 
I think after thinking about this, that the M2!5 has what might be called a "discerning" speaker. Meaning, it’s more likely to show differences in an amplifier’s current capability than less challenging speakers. Still, for the output I think that’s not a terrible price to pay overall.  Based on Paul's other designs, and what I see here, he's arrived at the impedance authentically, and didn't deliberately try to make it this way just for the sake of showing up lesser amplifiers.

Going back to my pro-theater roots, I’d be quite tempted to bi-amp these. Maybe with a Parasound A21 on the top, A23 on the bottom.

Like I said, I really really like the design. These are minor nits.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
"And you get 60 days to try them in your home without paying a dime if you don't like em..."

Return shipping cost on heavy speakers can be quit a bit...DAMHIK.  
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
Peter, I just looked at your high(er) end floor standing speakers and they are truly works of art. Your Master Reference III model in particular is awe inspiring. I'm very glad to see someone out here kicking the butts of those mega $ European builders but unfortunately, I have this feeling that I’ll probably need to mortgage my house to even afford one of your lower end models.
Wish you great success.
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