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Speaker choice without need for deep bass

I am slowly moving away from large full size/full range speakers and migrate to smaller 2 way.

This effect is caused by me adding a great 18" subwoofer to the system, and later playing with the 'main' speakers (and main amplifier) relieved of the 50 Hz and below heavy lifting duties (low pass to sub with own dedicated amp, high pass to main amplifier/main speakers). 

So the big full range speakers were replaced with large bookshelf. Everything is fine, except that I have a HUGE (by volume and area) open main listening room.  But now the 2 way speaker with one 6" woofer just CANNOT 'move enough air' to listen to high level music without starting to distort. 

Therefore the next speaker design I want to try is a still small speaker but with two low/midrange drivers simply to be able to play at 'concert level' without distortion; but still no need for very low bass. 

Since still in the trial and error and validation phase of my 'concept', any small 2 (if needed 3) way candiate must also fit the VERY low price (used) criteria ($1,000 or less). 

What comes to mind? 

Note: I had also inquired about the KEF LS50 for example, but was told they (and similar speakers) would suffer from the 'just not enough square inches' issue required for very large rooms. 

 

kraftwerkturbo

Showing 3 responses by yoyoyaya

yoyoyaya's avatar
yoyoyaya
873 posts
 

@OP You are up against the laws of physics. You can make a small speaker play loud, but scale requires the ability to move a lot of air. So if you want concert level spl's and scale, a small two way just will not cut it. The closest to achieving that goal - at a price - that I've heard is the Borresen 01.

If you absolutely have to have a small form factor speaker, the Neumann 310 might work - its a studio monitor, a three way in a pretty compact cabinet. Like most studio monitors, it's active.

But really you would be better with a bigger three way floorstander. An 18 inch drive unit is not really designed to go up into the midbass, so you would be better off with a three way.

yoyoyaya's avatar
yoyoyaya
873 posts
 

@OP I am only managing to reply to you now. With respect, you are missing the point. Small drivers in small cabinets will not deliver scale at high spls even if they do not have to reproduce low bass. 40Hz is (roughly)  low E on a 4 string bass. Most bass fundamentals in rock music are there or above that and their harmonics continue further up into the midrange.

For the price point you are aiming at, you would be better off looking at a pair of PA speakers. If you want high spls and concert type sound in a large room for $1k, you’re not going to get it from a hi fi speaker, regardless of its bandwidth. So, with the specified budget,  you can either have accuracy and limited ability to play loud and clean or high spls and lots of air being moved but with more ragged tonality.

yoyoyaya's avatar
yoyoyaya
873 posts
 

@OP - If you read my original post, that's precisely what I said. Over and out on this one.

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