But there should be at least a handful of stores in the area available for demos.
It looks like Crutchfield carries a couple of them, and I think they do have a 60 day audition period.
Seeking speakers under $3K for 10x12 ft room and driven by 20wpc tube amp
I currently have a pair of Apogee Acoustics Centaur Minors driven by a new Black Ice integrated tube amp. The small but dedicated listening room means I’m doing near-field listening with me and the speakers forming a 6’ triangle. As you might expect, these speakers have terrific midrange but at 85dB sensitivity they are a bit difficult to drive and feel limited in dynamics. The room is acoustically treated.
I almost exclusively listen to small combo acoustic jazz and vocals and I’m seeking recommendations for something easier to drive and more dynamic that provides a more “palpable presence” of the musicians when played at louder levels. Prefer small floorstanders for aesthetics but not essential and preferably a brand where I might have a chance to audition them (I’m in SoCal). Also open to used (e.g. something like Wilson Cubs). TIA!
p.s. thanks for the Sonus faber suggestion.
Showing 6 responses by immatthewj
@atmasphere , which Fritz speakers do you have?
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@yogiboy , the specs say they only require 25wpc which means they must be an easy load to drive, yet their sensitivity is rated as 84. I guess it is due to the impedance 8 ohm nominal) only dropping to 6.6? |
@atmasphere , I know that we have talked about this before; I note that the sensitivity on those is rated at 88 (which does not seem as if it should be incredibly easy to drive going by that number alone) but I beliewve you said that you are only using 4wpc and the specs listed say 5wpc so I assume that what makes them easy to drive must be that the impedance must not drop very low? |
@atmasphere , I remember in a previous discussion (or perhaps more thyan one discussion) wew were talking about the reason high sensitivity speakers would be better for low level listening or with higher powered amps. In one or more of those discussions I had kind of got the impression that you favored speakers that had a sensitivity up in the 90s. Which makes me assume that the Fritz speakers, although have a listed sensitivity of 88, must not drop too far below their 8 ohm impedance? And if I am correct about my above assumption, does that also mean that how low the impedance actually drops (not the listed nominal impedance) is as important or maybe more important than the listed sensitivity rating? |
@lowtubes , I just did some googling and those have (what seem to my untrained mind) some interesting specs. 15 ohm/minimum of 12 ohm impedance, but sensitivity rated down at 82.5. |