5 year old thread but still relevant. I'm also interested in trying high efficiency speakers, maybe the Classic Audio smaller speakers, or maybe the T3.4 or T7. Also interested in the Reference 3A Reflector. I don't think it is possible to listen to these in Colorado, so I'll probably have to do a road trip at some point.
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?
Any recommendations?
56 responses Add your response
you didn't specify efficiency but the Spendor D series are the best all around speakers I have heard for my system and ears. Impeccably coherent, real 90 db efficiency that sounds lively and fast and near horn like without the downsides and deep sub bass territory because of the long tuned flared bottom firing port that sounds akin to a transmission line design |
@zuio , several of your assumptions are patently false. High efficiency is only important for liveliness if you have a pea watt amplifier. Wide dispersion does not give you a wider sweat spot. It gives you much more room interaction which is never a good thing. To narrow is not good either. You want controlled dispersion like you get with horns and planar dipoles. As for coherence there is only one type of loudspeaker that specializes in coherence and that is the full range, one way electrostatic loudspeaker. |
What about Zu Audio speakers? Full range, 12 ohm/100 db efficient or so, no crossover, fast, dynamic, hi res, great soundstage, musical -- they design their speakers to revolve around the naturalness of the human voice and "live" sound I have a pair of the Bookshelf Zu’s, they are impressive. The Soul Supremes and Druids are even more impressive, they have the same to similar specs as above. Order direct with 60 day trial and full refund available. just sayin’ |
sometimes you can even hear the horn honk coloration on voices...I know some horns don't have this..You are right- some horns don't have that at all. It all depends on how well the throat of the horn is designed; many don't have the benefit of computer optimization but some, like the Classic Audio Loudspeakers, do. This makes them very free of any 'traditional horn' artifacts. The Kapton surrounds help as well, since the driver won't break up if driven at too low a frequency. Often you can't get away with a 6 db slope on a compression driver, but the Kapton surround allows for exactly that. Take a look at some of the AV Showrooms videos on YT. Peter never seems to have any complaints about the Classic Audio Loudspeakers. |
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 |
The only speaker I have personally auditioned that fits all of your criteria, and does so very well, is the Coincident Pure Reference Extreme. It is 26K. I can also say that I own both the Coincident Super Victory II speakers and the Triumph Extreme II monitors. They both have superb coherence, as defined by mapman above. They both sound like single driver speakers, as does the PRE. I have not heard the Total Victory or the new Dynamite. The PRE and SVIIs I would characterize as lively, but the SV II has a laid back demeanor. The Coincident speakers run from 92.5-94 dB efficiency, depending upon model. As always, an audition is mandatory. |
atmosphere, That sounds like a heck of a speaker. I've only heard one or two of the Classic Audio speakers at shows and enjoyed what I heard. If I had the space I would definitely have tried out horn speakers by now, but they just don't fit at all in my scenario. (Btw, something fascinating to me is how, as counterintuitive as it may be, there is something of the character of various speakers that actually seems to come through on the many youtube demo videos. Sometimes it seems like the character of a lowther horn speaker really comes through, a sense of liveliness, dynamics, or just the more "full" and chunky sound seems to be present vs recordings of other speakers (sometimes you can even hear the horn honk coloration on voices...I know some horns don't have this...). |
A budget has not been mentioned. One speaker that has solved similar desires I have in a speaker is the Classic Audio Loudspeaker. I have the model T-3.3. It is 98 db, 16 ohms, goes from 20Hz to 35KHz. The all important midrange is a beryllium diaphragm compression driver that is field coil powered. The field coils insure that the speaker is very fast since unlike permanent magnets, when you put amplifier current in the voice coil the magnetic field does not sag in turn. This speeds up the driver; on top of that the beryllium construction (with a Kapton surround) means that the first breakup is at about 35KHz, so not only is the speaker fast but its smooth, very much like an ESL, but with considerably greater overall efficiency. The crossovers are 6db with Mundorf capacitors. The Kapton surround allows the compression driver to go down lower than its horn does, so its very free of artifacts and the drivers blend effortlessly- it is very cohesive. As far as dispersion goes, that is the weak point, but its really only the higher frequencies- the speaker images easily and the sweet spot is wide if you are back more than 8 feet. I have my speakers about six inches from the wall behind them and they image quite well, so despite their size they are easy to set up in most rooms. I can play the system softly and hear every note, if I play higher volumes its so effortless I can't tell how loud its playing unless I try to talk to someone sitting next to me. In a nutshell this speaker is one of the most uncolored, revealing speakers I've heard; its really easy to drive and no need for a sub- it goes down lower than a a lot of subs do (dual 15" woofers in each cabinet). |
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 |
@zuio hi, have you found your prospective speaker candidate ? i think all of the suggestion are good but the best which are not suggested here are from Green Mountain Audio range of speakers. It haves time & phase coherent alignment speakers. Please researched their site. their R&D had paid off and proven in their speakers as among TOTL with lesser trade off, however i do not know their pricing but it's not over valued either. perhaps anyone whom may know the cost would give a estimate please. i'm interest too. @charles1dad do you still have the Coincident speakers which are coin by manufacturer as time and phase electrically coherent speakers, may i ask what is your opinion about their performance as compare to others which you may heard it before ? i heard their top model years ago, but its cost prohibitive for me! : ( so i wonder if their lower range with usual contemporary drivers setup would also "align" the sound well too? -phil |
The Hereseys are a bargain when you look at what $1800 buys these days. Big soundstage , huge dynamics, very good imaging, tight bass , clear and clean sound regardless of volume. Feed them a good source with a good amp and they are hard to beat. Too bad they aren't held in high regard by most "audiophiles" , many of which I doubt have even heard them. |
Coherence and dispersion = Revel. But not efficiency. Efficiency plus coherence maybe Goldenear Triton; anything with the powered woofer (3+ and up). No efficient speaker with coherence and dispersion comes to my mind. Zu may be efficient and quasi single driver coherent but forget dispersion. And frequency response curve is a deal breaker for me. Good luck. If you find a real answer lemme know. |
+1 on the Ohm suggestions. I have had the 2000s since 2009, and they provide as much of what you’re looking for as possible in one speaker. No, they do not project laser sharp images, but there is image specificity within a very wide, deep and tall soundstage. The bass is extended, solid, and accurate, and they are pretty easy to place. With the right amplification and source material, the dynamics can be nuanced and explosive, IME. They are not, however, very efficient (~87 dB sensitivity, IIRC). But they do quite well exposing fine detail without becoming etched or overly bright. And they are very affordable (the 2000s are $2800/pr). You can read my full review of the 2000s here on Audiogon in the review section. Over eight years of listening to them and I wouldn’t trade them for anything I’ve heard under $14K. I do run them with subwoofers, and they respond well to improvements in the signal chain (I have upgraded most of my system since I got the 2000s). Forget the preconceptions about omni designs people who haven’t heard the current Ohm Walsh speakers will tell you, and hear them for yourself. Ohm offers a 120 day in-home trial. |
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When it comes to dispersion I think it's a question of whether the off axis response is just lower in volume or whether the off axis frequency response is bad. When I think of bad dispersion I think of a speaker that has good on axis response but the off axis response is poor. In cases like this you want to hear as little of the off-axis reflected sound as possible since it's messed up. If the off-axis response is low in level but the frequency response is still good then I don't consider it bad dispersion. |
You won’t sacrifice detail and clarity with OHMS if set up right. You will hear it all. There will be so much going on you will just have to decide what to focus on at any particular time, similar to a good live performance. They also compete in coherency with anything. Hence the name Walsh "coherent line source" driver. Lots of bass. There are even step up models with built in integrated powered subs if needed. Set up right, the whole line sounds similar so if your room is small or you do not need the ultimate bass smaller less expensive models will do. |
JBL 4319 monitors. Mine are still breaking in and are still amazing me. Not highly effecient (92db) but 6 ohm and they don’t have to be aimed directly at me to sound wonderful. The highs can reproduce bells and chimes like they are in the room and have bass that can rattle my windows. As for coherence and the ability to unravel the music, they can undo Gordian’s knot without slicing it in two. All the best, Nonoise |
As the OP goes: ... A rather unambiguous way of stressing the importance of efficiency (i.e.: liveliness and dynamics), as well as implicitly downplaying soundstaging/imaging (or aspects of it) compared to other traits - certainly if Vandersteen and MBL are anything to go by in this regard. Single-driver speakers are also mentioned by the OP, and so may point to a desired carrier of coherency here other than liveliness (coherency likely means different things to different people). Options may not be multiple, and some compromises are inevitably to be made. Nevertheless, should be a fun journey. |
I should say coherency is in fact about the entire presentation, timbre, soundstage imaging, the whole shebang. OHM Walshs exceed at all that but as I described not in exactly the same way say as a good pair of monitors in terms of "pinpoint" imaging. More coherent overall than mbl but hard to match mbl in terms of sound stage depth and associated 3-D imaging possible there. |
I use subs and new Klipsch Heresy IIIs…subs bought used a few years ago (200 clams each…REL Q150e, Q108 II)…with a well sorted pile of gear behind them, the Heresy IIIs are surprisingly coherant…not beamy, especially for horns (phase plugs do work it would seem), and not too expensive (under 20 thousand bucks…YAY…), but you have to have subs for the anemic bass response. I think "live" sounding is sort of an apt description that could have something to do with efficiency (claimed 99 db), and I mix live shows frequently as a hired Knob Turner so for me live stuff is frequented frequently making me a frequency freak for what I feel is accuracy. Note that as a mixer for live stuff I get to impose my taste on innocent bystanders…hundreds of them at a time…I relish the power and it simply stokes my ego until I spend hours rolling up cables and storing gear…at which time I return to being a regular person. |
auxinput, As I recall the larger Walsh models are somewhat more efficient than the smaller ones, like the microwalsh, and overall they are not any harder to drive than most, perhaps easier. Not high efficiency like Klipsch though for example, for sure. OHM Walsh goes for extended bass in a smaller package so cannot be high efficiency. Also, regarding coherency, I take that to mean clean integration of all frequencies for the listener. That is what OHM means when they talk about coherency with their Walsh CLS (Coherent Line Source) technology. Imaging and sound stage are different things. OHMS/omnis do those differently for sure, especially imaging. The imaging can be very focused when set up right or not so much otherwise. Omnis and their ilk will probably never be as pin point focused as say a pair of very high quality monitors can be in practice. The OHM Walshes go for a live like presentation in regards to sound stage and imaging, not a pinpoint one, which might occur in certain studio recording masters, but hardly ever live in real life or in live recordings. |
@zuio -- Perhaps some older Tannoy Gold 15" dual concentric drivers would do the trick. Simon Mears Audio makes Tannoy Autograph replications with these drive units, refurbished and all, and they provide you a uniform dispersion pattern (much more important than "wide" dispersion, I’d say), true high efficiency (~99dB), detail/insight, coherency in spades, and great dynamics and bass to boot. They’re big and heavy, and will cost you at least or about $20,000/pair, but you asked for it without specifying a retail limit, and I’m giving you an example of speakers that may fit the bill according to your needs. Not least, they’re beautifully made from ground up to original specs. |
Charney Audio horns. I have the Maestro with Omega RS7 drivers. All of his horns are high eff and produce clean articulate coherent bass. Charney utilizes the Tractrix theory in his designs. The horns are rear loaded and couple with the room to produce coherent, 3d, and engaging music. No sub needed for any of his designs. I have had a number of people in my room (11x15x8) and usually the first response is "How did he (Charney) get such great bass out of a 6.5" driver?". Zuio - All of your speaker requirements are delivered with Charney Audio Horns. http://charneyaudio.com/ |
Depending on your budget and on the physical size of a speaker that would be suitable for your room you may want to consider the Daedalus Argos. Click on the "specifications" box on the left side of the page for detailed specs. As an owner of their Ulysses model, which differs from the Argos mainly in that the Argos is designed to provide a much wider sweet spot, I suspect it could very well meet your requirements. I don't know what current pricing is, but as a very rough guess I wouldn't be surprised if it is in the vicinity of $20K. Good luck. Regards, -- Al |
You should should check out Living Voice OBX RW speakers. They are effecient/sensitive with a benign impedience curve. 94db and the impedience does not drop below 6 ohms at any point. In a small room, 12x14 or so, 8 watts is fine. In a larger room 20 - 30 watts will do wonderfully. They are the most coherent speaker I have owned and deliver uncanny musicality. Wonderful wide sweet spot and soundstage to boot. The midrange is very open and lively with wonderful tone. The bass while not 20 hertz deep and thunderous is full bodied and present down to about 30 htz. They are rather small and easy to set up in most any space. |
I never understand why dispersion Is important to people. When I do any serious listening I sit down and listen. In fact I consider lessxdispersion a good thing as you get less room interaction. If you’re looking for a party speaker, then yes dispersion is crucial. But nobody is critically listening during a good party! |
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 |
