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your thoughts about "hybrids" or larger than average bookshelves

I am a relative newcomer to the high end audio enclave and have been auditioning speakers for the last 9 months, including bookshelves and floorstanders.  My room for my entry level system is 15' by 15' with a 9' ceiling.  The wife acceptance factor is high as she dislikes floorstanders and generally wants the speakers and system to fold into the furniture and not stand out.  I have just gotten my Yamaha PF-1000 turntable cleaned up, gave my ADS 1590 speakers to my church and am looking for a CD player, integrated amp and speakers for this room.
While I am willing to listen to advice on the other components, my biggest concern is in my listening I have begun to enjoy "hybrids" or larger bookshelves like the KEF R-300, Wharfedale Jade 3, Monitor Audio GL-100, Revel M-105, and B&W CM5.  If a regular bookshelf picks up say 65% of the range, it seems to me that the larger speakers pick up an additional 15-20% leaving only the deep bass behind. Looking for ~$1500 speaker range, thoughts?
128x128mbrdbr1953
rja's avatar
rja
2,370 posts
 
The type of speakers you are referring to all benefit from high quality stands so don't forget to figure them into the formula.
meerzistar
232 posts
 
I know of 50W amps that make others having double the wattage rating sound anemic when the kick drum starts chiming in. Wattage ratings can have little bearing on what an amplifier is truly capable of. Wattage ratings are often inflated to put gleam in the eye of the important guy, the consumer. You want (at least I do) an amplifier with a high current power supply, beefy transformers and out put caps that closer resemble soda cans. Or a much larger bank of smaller ones that wont let you down when you want to get down. As a rule of thumb look for amps that double down in output power ratings, or get close to that. When dropping from 8 ohm down to 4.

Sound waves behave more unfavorably in symmetrical rooms. Its a decent size space, it could be worse, a lot worse. You can improve upon room acoustics with upholstery, carpet, creative defusers and sound absorption panels that cancel waves disallowing them to reflect back into the bigger problem areas. Now while none of us, or perhaps just most wouldn’t have any problem slinging spongy room treatments up around the place. In a shared space life could get lonely doing that. This is when you have to start getting a little more creative. Type /acoustic treatments room acoustics diy/ into your browser. That should keep you busy for a little while.
mbrdbr1953's avatar
mbrdbr1953 OP
2 posts
 
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me.  The Marantz PM 6005 puts out 45 wpc into 8 ohms and 60 wpc into 4 ohms, and has received very favorable reviews; Cambridge Audio CXA-80 puts out 80 wpc into 8 ohms and 120 into 4 ohms.  While neither of these are "double" their initial output, reviews have been very positive.  The speakers mentioned above are 88 db with the Wharfedales being 86 db sensitivity.  Potential problems?
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