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Matching Speakers to Components

Just purchased a Yamaha CD S 300 player. Also added the Pangea 14 AC 14XL cable to the mix. The sound I am hearing blows me away when compared to my former 13 year old Cambridge Audio CD player that bit the dust in September and an even older Teac model.

I have noted the music has more layers or dimensions and there is more air around each instrument. Can also hear details I've never heard before. And the sound is definitely warmer than before.

In a previous thread I mentioned I am speaker shopping. While I prefer a neutral sound a bit of warmth in the mid range or high end is fine. But I don't want to overdo the warm sound.

Should I try to purchase a pair of speakers that will be very neutral to compensate? Or if I purchase something like the Wharfedale Denton's which is a very warm sounding speaker will it simply retain the current warm sound and not enhance it further?
will62
zd542
5,339 posts
 
The easiest way to do it is to listen to a bunch of speakers and pick the ones that sound the best.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
Based upon reviews I've read I have narrowed down my field of speaker choices to the Wharfedale Diamond 220 which is a neutral speaker. Wharfedale Denton's which are warm. NHT Absolute One 2.1 which is neutral to a bit warm. Magnapan MMG which was recommended. Probably neutral.

Have to use mail order since no local dealers carry what I am looking at. That being the case can only listen to one pair at a time.

Amp is a Dayton T amp. DTA 120. Cleanest sounding amp I've ever owned with great detail.

Need a speaker that can work near a rear wall. My current Jamo C 601's need to be 2 feet from the back wall to sound right. Don't have the luxury of space in my new house. Need a speaker that can be within a foot of the rear wall. All the afformentioned speakers fit the bill in that respect and can be placed near the rear wall and sound fine except for the MMG which I could move back and forth as needed.

I
will62 OP
177 posts
 
Contacted a Tech at Dayton about the amp. He said the sensitivity is more important than the ohm rating. After doing some research online of other owners of this amp it seems as though an 8 ohm speaker with a sensitivity of at least 88 db will be fine. 6 ohm speakers with at least 86 db sensitivity seems to be adequate. Not sure about 4 ohm speakers since I can't find anyone using them with this amp.

Someone with the MMG's said he tried them with the Dayton 100 amp but it won't drive them well. Rules out the MMG speakers.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"Based upon reviews I've read I have narrowed down my field of speaker choices to the Wharfedale Diamond 220 which is a neutral speaker. Wharfedale Denton's which are warm. NHT Absolute One 2.1 which is neutral to a bit warm. Magnapan MMG which was recommended. Probably neutral."

For the most part, reviews are worthless. You need to work with a good dealer. Try The Cable Company (fatwyre.com). They have a program where they'll send you demo components to try in your system first.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
I'd hardly say reviews are worthless as long as you see the majority describing a certain product uniformly. That is a good indicator that certain attributes of the product are indeed present. But I agree that it can be used only as a gauge and ultimately having something at home in the right atmosphere is the best way to choose.

Unfortunately I do not have any dealers of the products I want nearby. Maybe Best Buy but they don't carry any of the speakers that interest me in stock. A two hour drive to the nearest mom and pop shop is required.

Will look into the link you posted.
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