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advice re old shelf speakers

hi all. hoping for some guidance. i am after a pair of, probably old, shelf speakers as cost is a major factor. how they look/condition unimportant. just need to be able to handle all sorts of music and be LOUD!  i care for my mother as has dementia, so funds tight. all good though, i just have to be creative and do the research. example, i have a pretty decent old technics midi separates system eh600 which i found on gumtree for £50 in mint condition. perfect. i have run audio to it through a good quality optical out from tv to a fiio k5 pro dac/amp then line out to line in on the technics. now volume nicely boosted and sounds good and clean as also quality leads and upgraded 4 wire type speaker cables. for v little spend it does a decent job, but i love my music so always looking for more and i feel my neighbours really need to listen to more slayer, rush, jinjer, etc. the technics speakers are pretty decent but now struggling a bit with the added oomph i can now get out of my system. had no real idea where to start, then thought there may be some wonderfully helpful people out there with the knowledge and patience to help me. fingers crossed and thanks v much in advance if it's you. apologies for the long post. gerald  
geraldoneill100
elliottbnewcombjr
5,534 posts
 
EFFICIENCY: Sensitivity Rating reveals if they will play loud.

You want 90 db//1m/1w (2.83v) or higher. Horns are more efficient, new or old.

$380. in budget? Klipsch, Horns, 96 sensitivity.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/164898282539?epid=8046079482&hash=item2664b41c2b:g:9PgAAOSwOKFgujnu

Note: those have rear ports, Not too close to wall, or not inside a bookcase, UNLESS you simply tape the ports shut with some strong duct tape. I’m using smaller Klipsch like these

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265117011332?epid=9031080949&hash=item3dba348d84:g:grEAAOSwbmJgSYsj

for my 5.1 rear surrounds: ports taped over, behind my sofa, on their backs facing up, using the space between the sofa and wall like a transmission horn.

Loud, without too much bass can be better than loud with too much bass. Tone controls somewhere will be helpful.

what is your ideal max cost?
elliottbnewcombjr
5,534 posts
 
probably old: I love vintage, but, use caution regarding the cones: dried out/cracked paper; split or rotted surrounds

I loved my AR-2X that were stolen from me, as a bad example here's a pair of 4X, look at the nasty photo of the drivers

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255098223561?hash=item3b6509fbc9:g:KmsAAOSwXjRhHFix
geraldoneill100 OP
12 posts
 
thanks for the replies. the speakers that came with the system are 6 ohm and say input 160w music and 80w din. says output sound pressure level is 80db. 17cm woofer, 12cm mid 6cm tweeter. as system cost me 50 quid plus 150 additions and i am not fussy i am trying to find something under 100, maybe 200 if a compelling reason. and i can wait. current set up really quite good, but i would like more. would like same quality as my melomania buds or yamaha p100 plugs. i figure must be some old, possibly cosmetically challenged, kit i can source eventually if willing to bide my time. i will certainly try to bear in mind 'high sensitivity ratings and above average power handling' as per mastering92, but i thought most numbers were made up/not accurate. maybe that is just rms?
geraldoneill100 OP
12 posts
 
the klipsch look nice.in uk they are £500. i am hoping to spend way less. no issue re space behind speakers. i use potplayer as media player on laptop for music videos/concerts as the best sound i have found and have the bass way down as i do on the technics eq. think i might need to remove towels under speakers and put something under the corners as i think will give me more room for manoeuvre re bass. i often run files through an editor to reduce bass on some of stuff i want to play so everything sounds roughly similar. i am a bit ocd..
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
Get a job and save up for the good stuff!
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