Wide dispersion + high efficiency + detail + coherence in a speaker?


And coherence is the biggest point! I like the liveliness of single driver speakers but I am looking for something with coherence AND bass! High efficiency is important for liveliness, and wide dispersion for a huge sweet spot and instruments in the room presentation.

Any recommendations?
128x128zuio

Showing 4 responses by charles1dad

Brownsfan makes a compelling point regarding Coincident speakers, very coherent. My Total Eclipse II is a big speaker(52"height and 170 pounds) 3 way design with 5 drivers. Despite this they disappear with most recordings.  You aren't visually drawn to them as the source of the sound. They create palpable images and stage and just get out of the way.

I've heard them in my room with about 6 different amplifiers and this vanishing ability is consistent with most recordings.  Some early stereo recordings do sound 'hard left and hard right'. Those are the exceptions.
Charles 
Hi Phil,
I have the Coincident Total Eclipse II which are no longer in product.  I've own them for over 9 years and my happiness with them if anything has grown. It has a simple 1st order crossover and to my knowledge is phase and time coherent. 

This speaker is very open, lively and quite emotionally involving.  Excellent natural tone and exceptionally dynamic(similar to a high quality horn speaker). High resolution but isn't a uber detail type of speaker. Definitely is not clinical or analytical. Overall  summary,  natural, organic presentation and an easy to drive impedance load.

I have no reason to replace this speaker other  if I were forced to use a smaller room. Other than that I have no desire for change. Other speakers I believe that I would also enjoy just for comparison. 
Horning speakers
Trenner Friedlander RA Box
Tekton Encores or Double Impact SE
Aries Car at (smaller floor standing models)
Coherent Audio speakers
Daedalus
Vaughn Audio
Charles 


None of the 3 speakers mentioned/listed would be considered a "High efficiency " speaker (HE). Generally speaking HE would mean a sensitivity of at least 94-95 db with 1 watt at 1 meter and an easy to drive impedance load. Typically 6 ohm load or higher along with a relatively flat impedance curve that avoids dips into the lower impedance range and avoids steep phase angles. Vandersteen has a relatively easy speaker load but has only modest sensitivity (less than 90 db).  There some speakers with 4 ohm nominal  loads that have  generally flat impedance characteristics  and found to be easily driven (examples,  Tekton and Horning). 
Charles