Speaker Question...first post on the gon

Parasound will tell you (at least this is what they told me) that running those amps in bridged mode is sub-optimal, and that if you want the best full bandwidth performance you should run them un-bridged. They recommend "Single Stereo" which uses only one channel of the amp, and they indicate the power output will increase by ~30% since the PS is only supplying one channel. Depending on your speakers, you could also vertically biamp.

I also agree with the statement that your HK is the weak link. I would take part of the speaker budget (ie $1000) and get a good 2 channel preamp and run it in passthru mode for HT use.

Well even if you run an amp in its stereo mode as John noted its not powering the woofer and has a much easier time playing than many might think so you may not need a boatload of watts due to its easy draw. My father runs a Aesthetix Atlas amp to his Quatro and if its an 8ohm load he is only going 200 watts, it has never even hinted that it was not enough power.
I only cautioned Vandersteen because of a few small words in the original post..."rock at live performance levels" and that could mean 120db to some so if OP will clarify that may clear things up. Vandersteen is an amazing company I champion all the time but not sure its a good speaker for those who want to crank to abusive levels. Its a shame some do want this because its both dangerous and somewhat insane but some do want that so I suggest accordingly.

Wow, awesome replies that definitely give me alot to think about.

Chad, I've been "trolling" around here long enough to know that you love the Vandersteens so I appreciate your candor and honesty with regard to them.

Oj, I totally agree with your comments regarding sealed subs and soft dome tweeters based on my car audio experience.

Shak, I've lusted after Wilsons ever since reading early reviews of the WP5's, but at the time their cost made them seem like speakers only a very rich person could afford and I'm definitely not that person. Now it seems their prices are only average; that is to say that now everyone wants $30,000+ for their best speaker offerings. Don't get me started on that. I appreciate fine craftsmenship and R&D expense as much as anyone, but please. Of course I have never heard 75-200k speakers but they better include a reach around with velvet gloves.

Rock, the Zu Defs have definitely been on my short list. I researched them and have been considering them for a couple of months now.

Rleff, not really a Klipsch fan, so when I tell you all what I wound up doing today, that statement may seem strange.

Deafjim err I mean blind (sorry, couldn't resist)I'm with you on the tubes and plan on trying some with the speakers I bought today. I definitely won't run those amps bridged after what you and Bdgregory had to say. Thanks.

So, in keeping with my impulsive nature, I pulled the trigger today on (drum roll) Tyler Acoustics PD-80's. They popped up on the Gon here and although I had never heard of them they looked like an interesting speaker and after some very brief research (couldn't find much on them, which is a little un-nerving) I called Tyler and after talking about them and getting a feel for Tylers business model and sensing him as a genuine, down to earth audio enthusiast with a particular set of skills, I bought them. That and he said if I didn't like them he would give me my money back so I jumped, after all the water isn't very deep and I have a pretty good feeling that they're gonna do it for me.

The driver compliment per speaker is 2 15" Emminence subs driven by an onboard 500w digital amp. They are ported which seriously concerned me but although I couldn't find much info about them on the Gon or anywhere else for that matter, nothing I did find was negative and one owner review here on the Gon stated that he was concerned that they may be boomy sounding but that they weren't at all boomy but rather were tight and defined with "slam!". The midbass/lower midrange are twin 10" Eminence drivers so I am expecting a very good midbass presentation which would account for the "slam!". From there, a horn takes over, as does my apprehension. I don't really know much about the horn except Ty says it crosses over higher that most horns because he doesn't really like a horn for midrange but I think he said it crosses over at 1800hz, so it will certainly be involved with some of the midrange. Ty claims this horn is smooth sounding and not bright or fatiguing so I'm hopeful but I really don't have any idea what type of image or transparency a properly executed horn is capable of, again I'm hopeful. I do know that I can't really expect any speaker to be perfect in every aspect but if it could reproduce the nuances and impact of a live drum kit better than expected I would REALLY have to dislike the imaging and or vocal presentation to not live with it, at least for awhile. So what is the imaging capability of a properly executed horn
anyway?

By the way, they are 101db sensitive yet are rated to handle up to 600w so I'm sure lack of loudness won't be a factor. Ty says that they also sound very smooth and balanced at low volume levels. If I like them I'm definitely going to put tube power to them.

So, what do you guys think?

I almost bought a pair of those myself a few years ago but went with VMPS instead, I think you will like them and Ty is an absolute prince in this industry, very kind, very knowledgeable and very approachable. I think you going to have alot of fun with these new speakers but do let us know what you think once you get them. Enjoy my friend!

Congrats! Ty's PDs do look interesting. Please report back on those. Would love to hear them myself one day. Hey, I know, crank them up to 11 and open your windows and perhaps I will ;^}