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The most dynamic & transparent bookshelf

I get it when I hear some speakers like Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary, they are musical, detailed, but not on extreme dynamic, it can go pretty low and loud, but still lack a bit more powerful punch. My next aim for powerful speakers, will be something near perfect immune to distortions, must be extreme dynamic, go very loud and does not make the sound quality collapsed, also I insist to stick with bookshelf size, few options in my mind:

Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 (with NrT upgrade, worth?)
Mark&Daniel Ruby
Dynaudio DM 2/8
Proac Response D2
Soundfield Audio Monitor 1

For Dynaudio and Mark&Daniel, I have concern on power and drive efficiency, though I'm using a Class D Audio SDS-400C power amp, it work damn good with my Denton (warm + transparent gear goes really well). My considerations based on factors in this order: price, near full range dynamic, neutral and transparent sonic quality, availability (as I'm from Malaysia, not easy to achieve those speakers), and last your opinions? Any other recommendations? Once again, I'm not looking for speakers with colorations, must extremely dynamic, dead neatral and transparent without snake oil!
128x128wim1983
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 
It's not possible to come up with that kind of detail from specs.
Agree, however, since very loud and dynamic at loud volume are very important, you should be concerned with speaker sensitivity. If the Wharfedale Denton at 86db was not adequate, then it will be best to look at speakers with a higher sensitivity, most likely in the range of 90db and above.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,866 posts
 
Sensitivity specs are useful but can be deceptive. Sometimes they do not
apply to the lower frequencies if present or sometimes they are good
because low end extension is limited so take them with a few grains of salt.
Many smaller monitors do not do the lowest octaves much and are much
easier to drive to high volume. It's the lowest frequencies that require the
most power out of the speakers to deliver with flat response. Power
demands increase exponentially with lower frequency as else held
constant. You need more power or larger speakers or both to do it.
Smaller speakers in larger rooms will tend to distort more if asked to play
loud and deep. Small rooms are much easier and the world is more your
oyster there. Also the good news is not much happens with the lowest and
highest octaves with most music so those on a budget can practically cut
some corners there when needed unless you are into organ music or gotta
hear the lowest frequencies that might be synthesized on occasion.
bongofury
1,160 posts
 
Although you are asking for books, I really love the new micro towers by Kvart and Bolge. Best kept secret.

Also like the ATC 7s and 11s, and Evolution Acoustics.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"05-09-15: Tls49

It's not possible to come up with that kind of detail from specs.

Agree, however, since very loud and dynamic at loud volume are very important, you should be concerned with speaker sensitivity. If the Wharfedale Denton at 86db was not adequate, then it will be best to look at speakers with a higher sensitivity, most likely in the range of 90db and above."

For the most part, I agree. But you still have to like the speakers.
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 

Sorry Mapman, your comments are confusing to me. The sensitivity spec can be deceptive, however, nothing to do with frequency since it is measured using a 1K Hz test tone at a distance of 1M. The deceptive part can be due to impedance of the speaker, and whether it is stated as 1W or 2.83V. If stated as 1W, impedance is irrelevant for comparing, however if stated as 2.83V and speaker is 4 ohm, that is 2W, and the 1W spec will be 3db lower.
Many smaller monitors do not do the lowest octaves much and are much easier to drive to high volume.
I only see this being possible if the speakers are being driven through a high pass filer, otherwise the small woofers will be overdriven into severe distortion.

Every 3db lower in speaker sensitivity will require double amplifier power for the same volume capability. So if you have 50w on a 92db speaker, then the following would be the required power for lower sensitivity speakers to have that same volume capability,

89db -- 100w
86db -- 200w
83db -- 400w

Again, since loud volume and dynamics at that loud volume are important, it just makes good sense to look at higher sensitivity speakers.
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