New House, New amp, need speaker recommendation....

[jsantoro]

Hi Folks,

Moving to a smaller house, listening area will be approx 20X15'. Will be using a Millett DCPP tube amp I just finished which is 17W/ch. Prefer floor standing due to where this system will be. Listen to music fairly loud so something 95db or so.

Current using SS amp and Magnepan .7 which I have sold.

Kit's or built is fine. All I see around are Klipsch's.

Regards,
Jim

 

[frangus]

I can recommend the 425 Azurahorn or similar JMLC with a 12" pro woofer from beyma or ciare. Powered subs below will help if you can accomodate

CD horn if you want wide sweetspot but sound is a little less accurate

There are many ways to skin this cat, just offering up what has worked out the best for me after trying many different things

Midbass horn is another option if you have the space

 

[LineSource]

17W/ch... Listen to music fairly loud so something 95db or so.

The EconoWave group design investment can be applied to low cost 3-way speakers.

97db/watt
LOUD
tube amp acceptable Zmin ~5ohms
$550-each for speakers and crossover parts at Parts Express
18" Peavey LoRider woofer ($215)
12" Eminence Delta Pro 12A ($130)
Dayton SEOS12 clone ($14)
Dayton 250P screw in compression driver ($40)
Dayton + Bennic Caps + Jantzen inductors crossover ($150)

23" wide cabinet
47.5" high (4' x 8' plywood sheet)
17" depth for 6cuft usable woofer ported volume
----21" depth (or increased height) can create 8 cuft volume deeper bass.
============
TOO BIG??
You could also consider a 10" coaxial like the Radian 5210 ($280) with low cost 12" woofers below.

For greater detail, but lower SPLmax, you can add a tweeter and woofers to a 95db/watt full range like the Tang Band W8-1772. Bache 001 is a well reviewed example.

 

[djn]

I've built 6 different styles of the eWave and can't say enough about the sound vs the cost.

Zilch's AK Design Collaborative - Econowave Speaker | Audiokarma Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums

 

[djn]

What is your budget? What are your sonic expectations?

 

[jsantoro]

Thanks, everyone. Budget is around $1K. Expectations, my ears are old. I have tinnitus but can still tell good from mediocre if that makes sense.

 

[LineSource]

I have tinnitus but can still tell good from mediocre...

Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic forums on tinnitus and speakers:
1) LIMIT SYSTEM VOLUME TO 85db. "Tinnitus can permanently worsen with repeated 2-hour/day exposure at over 85db"
2) LIMIT TOTAL ROOM SPL. "select speakers and placements which inject the lowest sound pressures into the room to reach 85db at the listener" ..... treat the side and back walls with absorption material"
3) USE STEEP NOTCH FILTER.... Patients with tinnitus ringing over a very narrow frequency range might experiment with notch filter attenuators. Reduced-db filter recommended over 0-db filter.

Narrow Directivity Speakers:
1) 60Hx40V Synergy horn down to 200Hz + woofer. If you desire a complex diy construction and crossover adventure.
2) 90Hx40V SEOS24($200) waveguide down to 500Hz with BMS 4594Nd($650) coaxial compression driver + 18" Faital 18FH500 woofer($280) greatly simplifies construction
3) 60Hx40V 18Sound XT1464 horn($85) down to 700Hz + 1.4" Faital HF146compression driver($250) + 15" woofer is probably the best value vs. construction effort. Floor Standing for deeper bass.
4) == original BIG 3-WAY post with larger 90Hx40V waveguide for 1" CD to reach lower 1000Hz Xover.