Choosing speakers for Death of Zen

starbase218 · 5th January 2007, 10:25 PM

Hello everyone,

I have built a Death of Zen amp. I use it with B&W DM14 speakers, of which I replaced the internal wiring with 2x2.5mm2 OFC. It sounds very detailed and revealing, but also too bright, as if the tonal balance is off. As a result, some music sounds annoying in the long run. Also, the speakers aren't very efficient - they're rated at 86dB/watt, and their low-end response could be better.

So, I'm looking for new speakers. Because I have a wide musical taste, I want them to sound neutral. Furthermore, I would like an improvement in the low bass response. Finally, I would prefer a more efficient speaker - I think around 90dB/watt would be ok.

I haven't decided on a final budget yet, but it's probably around 600 euros per speaker (in part, depending on the quality I can get for that money).

So far, my shortlist contains 3 speakers:
- Epos M15.2 (said to be neutral sounding, with improved bass response over the M15, not very efficient at 88dB/watt though)
- Monitor Audio Silver RS6 (more efficient at 91dB/watt, should also go a bit lower in the bass)
- Kef IQ7 (also pretty efficient, but a bit flat-sounding according to some)

So any other suggestions before I start auditioning them?

Cal Weldon · 5th January 2007, 11:35 PM

Have you considered building your own? This is a DIY site after all.

starbase218 · 6th January 2007, 11:59 AM

I actually auditioned a few DIY speakers at a DIY speaker store, and my first impression was good. But I'm not sure I want to take the risk of building them myself. I've heard that speaker cabinet construction is a critical part in the overall result. If I don't do it exactly right, I'm afraid it won't sound as good as it could have. As such, I'm not sure DIY would be worth the effort here.

Zen Mod · 6th January 2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by starbase218
I actually auditioned a few DIY speakers at a DIY speaker store, and my first impression was good. But I'm not sure I want to take the risk of building them myself. I've heard that speaker cabinet construction is a critical part in the overall result. If I don't do it exactly right, I'm afraid it won't sound as good as it could have. As such, I'm not sure DIY would be worth the effort here.

you can arrange that local carpenter make cabs for you
even in that case you'll spend less money,or you can have better spks for given value

choice is yours

making cabs from finished plans is piece of cake

starbase218 · 23rd January 2007, 04:57 PM

An update:

I might be able to buy used Tannoy 615 Mk1 speakers. These are the biggest in the Tannoy "Sixes" series. The efficiency is 92dB/watt, so that's very good. Frequency response is said to be 45-30000 hz (-3dB), so that also looks promising. Maybe someone here has experience with those speakers and DoZ-like amps?

sreten · 23rd January 2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by starbase218
An update:

I might be able to buy used Tannoy 615 Mk1 speakers. These are the biggest in the Tannoy "Sixes" series. The efficiency is 92dB/watt, so that's very good. Frequency response is said to be 45-30000 hz (-3dB), so that also looks promising. Maybe someone here has experience with those speakers and DoZ-like amps?

Hi,

Seems a good choice to me.
You could also bi-amp with the DoZ for the mid/treble.

/sreten.

sreten · 23rd January 2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by starbase218
An update:

I might be able to buy used Tannoy 615 Mk1 speakers. T

Hi,

Seems a good choice to me.

Simple fact is for efficiency and bass you need big boxes and cone area.
You could also bi-amp with the DoZ for the mid/treble.

/sreten.

starbase218 · 23rd January 2007, 06:19 PM

I'm going to audition them next monday

.

starbase218 · 23rd January 2007, 08:30 PM

By the way, what would be a reasonable price for these speakers (they're Mk1's), assuming that they are in good condition?

tkifowit · 23rd January 2007, 10:08 PM

I have spent many trips with my DOZ to stores and finaly found the right speakers for me.
Triangle Celuis ESW. 30,000 TO 40 and sensitivity at 92db.
T

5th January 2007, 10:25 PM	#1
starbase218 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Netherlands	Choosing speakers for Death of Zen Hello everyone, I have built a Death of Zen amp. I use it with B&W DM14 speakers, of which I replaced the internal wiring with 2x2.5mm2 OFC. It sounds very detailed and revealing, but also too bright, as if the tonal balance is off. As a result, some music sounds annoying in the long run. Also, the speakers aren't very efficient - they're rated at 86dB/watt, and their low-end response could be better. So, I'm looking for new speakers. Because I have a wide musical taste, I want them to sound neutral. Furthermore, I would like an improvement in the low bass response. Finally, I would prefer a more efficient speaker - I think around 90dB/watt would be ok. I haven't decided on a final budget yet, but it's probably around 600 euros per speaker (in part, depending on the quality I can get for that money). So far, my shortlist contains 3 speakers: - Epos M15.2 (said to be neutral sounding, with improved bass response over the M15, not very efficient at 88dB/watt though) - Monitor Audio Silver RS6 (more efficient at 91dB/watt, should also go a bit lower in the bass) - Kef IQ7 (also pretty efficient, but a bit flat-sounding according to some) So any other suggestions before I start auditioning them?

5th January 2007, 11:35 PM	#2
Cal Weldon Speakerholic diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: British Columbia	Have you considered building your own? This is a DIY site after all. __________________ Next stop: Margaritaville Some of Cal's stuff \| Cal Weldon Consulting

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6th January 2007, 11:59 AM	#3
starbase218 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Netherlands	I actually auditioned a few DIY speakers at a DIY speaker store, and my first impression was good. But I'm not sure I want to take the risk of building them myself. I've heard that speaker cabinet construction is a critical part in the overall result. If I don't do it exactly right, I'm afraid it won't sound as good as it could have. As such, I'm not sure DIY would be worth the effort here.

23rd January 2007, 04:57 PM	#5
starbase218 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Netherlands	An update: I might be able to buy used Tannoy 615 Mk1 speakers. These are the biggest in the Tannoy "Sixes" series. The efficiency is 92dB/watt, so that's very good. Frequency response is said to be 45-30000 hz (-3dB), so that also looks promising. Maybe someone here has experience with those speakers and DoZ-like amps?

23rd January 2007, 06:19 PM	#8
starbase218 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Netherlands	I'm going to audition them next monday .

23rd January 2007, 08:30 PM	#9
starbase218 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Netherlands	By the way, what would be a reasonable price for these speakers (they're Mk1's), assuming that they are in good condition?

23rd January 2007, 10:08 PM	#10
tkifowit diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA	I have spent many trips with my DOZ to stores and finaly found the right speakers for me. Triangle Celuis ESW. 30,000 TO 40 and sensitivity at 92db. T

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