2. speakers
  3. 1431016936

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!
128x128wim1983
wim1983's avatar
wim1983 OP
221 posts
 
Tls49: Ya, that's the thing, the Denton is not able to take over 60% of my power amp full strength, so it's will be very interesting to see how the power amp drive the Wharfedale Jade 3. What's power range for Wharfedale Jade 3? Any thoughts and calculations?
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 

Sorry, you're missing the point of my post. The Wharfedale Jade 3 will NOT likely play as loud as the Denton, and NOT a speaker you should consider. The Aon 3 at 90db sensitivity is a much better choice for being able to play loud.
wim1983's avatar
wim1983 OP
221 posts
 
Tls49: Though I have concerns on how the sound quality, any thoughts on how both of them sound?
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 

Sorry, I have no experience listening to these speakers.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
Wim1983, FWIW I bought some Dentons for a second system but I did play them in my main system 'just for fun'. I was amazed by the fullness of the bass (well away from the wall behind them) and the tonal balance of the mid-range which was both on the warm side of neutral but retained very good transparence thru the mid range.

But, compared to my full range speakers the highs were neither extended nor transparent, in fact they were a bit more forward in the mids and rolled off and congested in the highs. All in all a very pleasant sound when driven by my 40wt tube amp and I enjoy them in my second system.

My point is that perhaps the 'loss of dynamic range' you are experiencing has more to due with the tonal balance of the Denton itself than anything else. But, if you really like the tonal balance of the Denton you may be giving up something important to you.

What ever speakers you buy, you should really hear them in your home if you can before purchase, or at a minimum take the Dentons into the dealers store for a side by side comparison.

Good luck.
More to discover