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The most dynamic & transparent bookshelf

I get it when I hear some speakers like Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary, they are musical, detailed, but not on extreme dynamic, it can go pretty low and loud, but still lack a bit more powerful punch. My next aim for powerful speakers, will be something near perfect immune to distortions, must be extreme dynamic, go very loud and does not make the sound quality collapsed, also I insist to stick with bookshelf size, few options in my mind:

Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 (with NrT upgrade, worth?)
Mark&Daniel Ruby
Dynaudio DM 2/8
Proac Response D2
Soundfield Audio Monitor 1

For Dynaudio and Mark&Daniel, I have concern on power and drive efficiency, though I'm using a Class D Audio SDS-400C power amp, it work damn good with my Denton (warm + transparent gear goes really well). My considerations based on factors in this order: price, near full range dynamic, neutral and transparent sonic quality, availability (as I'm from Malaysia, not easy to achieve those speakers), and last your opinions? Any other recommendations? Once again, I'm not looking for speakers with colorations, must extremely dynamic, dead neatral and transparent without snake oil!
wim1983
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 

Sorry Mapman, your comments are confusing to me. The sensitivity spec can be deceptive, however, nothing to do with frequency since it is measured using a 1K Hz test tone at a distance of 1M. The deceptive part can be due to impedance of the speaker, and whether it is stated as 1W or 2.83V. If stated as 1W, impedance is irrelevant for comparing, however if stated as 2.83V and speaker is 4 ohm, that is 2W, and the 1W spec will be 3db lower.
Many smaller monitors do not do the lowest octaves much and are much easier to drive to high volume.
I only see this being possible if the speakers are being driven through a high pass filer, otherwise the small woofers will be overdriven into severe distortion.

Every 3db lower in speaker sensitivity will require double amplifier power for the same volume capability. So if you have 50w on a 92db speaker, then the following would be the required power for lower sensitivity speakers to have that same volume capability,

89db -- 100w
86db -- 200w
83db -- 400w

Again, since loud volume and dynamics at that loud volume are important, it just makes good sense to look at higher sensitivity speakers.
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 
For the most part, I agree. But you still have to like the speakers.
Zd542, no doubt that is true, but the speaker must provide the total package. I once owned a pair of speakers, and loved everything about them except that due to their low sensitivity they were not capable of the desired volume with certain music, even using a little more than maximum power for the speaker.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"I once owned a pair of speakers, and loved everything about them except that due to their low sensitivity they were not capable of the desired volume with certain music, even using a little more than maximum power for the speaker."

Power amp specs can't be trusted. For example, I have a basic 2 channel Sony receiver rated at 150 watts/ch I use on my computer speakers. The Sony is only a few hundred dollars, but compare it to my Ayre V5 that's also rated for 150 watts/ch, and the first thing you'll notice when you listen to them is that the V5 is vastly more powerful than the Sony. It also sounds vastly different.

As far as your comment about the speaker being the total package, I'm not sure how you would define that, but I know what you're saying. If you'll notice, up to this point I haven't made a speaker recommendation. The reason is that I can't think of any small speakers that will do what the OP is asking. I can think of plenty floor standers that he may like, but not monitors. That's why I asked the OP is he could provide some type of reference. There's just not enough info to go on here.
wim1983's avatar
wim1983 OP
221 posts
 
Tls49: Yes, I not only like Denton, but I have to say I love everything from sound to outlook of it, my whole music collection is listenable and enjoyable, as compare to Diamond 122 it does not earn "love" instead only like. So I think 86db sensitivity 6ohm could be not enough volume if I wanna do a party sound testing, but then speakers are design for different purposes, yes Denton is not suit for wild party aggressive kinda, but it actually pretty dynamic for me though, just on the absolute extreme benchmarking, it still lack ultimate punch, like some speakers that people mention about: Joseph Audio Pulsar or even the Grand Teton Gen2?
wim1983's avatar
wim1983 OP
221 posts
 
Speaking of power amp, yes I can assure that the Class D Audio power amp is indeed outstanding, I've got a NAD 3020i, the sound came out from Diamond 122, is bass overbloat, a little warm and less shine on treble, most importantly the sonic does not shine, I can spot this in classic track like Tutti! - Igor Stravinsky - The Firebird - Finale. So the things achieved on the Class D Audio poweramp is neutral, transparent and dynamic tonal balance. Also I notice at higher volume Class D Audio power amp able to control the woofer cone, absolutely fantastic! For small to medium, NAD 3020i still not bad, but not to the extent to cover all music styles and dynamic. So my current audio chain is pretty there, EXCEPT I need a more powerful mini monitor to complete my journey, sound not realistic huh?
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