High efficiency (100db+@1m) speakers.... What's available?

[MattyW]

 

Hey guys. Seeing as I'm planning for a new home in a few years I'm wondering what high efficiency speakers are available in the sub $20k price range that would be a stunning match for my 15WPC SIT-A15 power amp. It doesn't much like low impedances. The obvious choice is the Klipsch Cornwall IV. From what I understand it will have an incredible sense of realism and impact, though likely a backwards step in terms of fine detail and soundstage depth vs my current Lii Song Fieke S6 (98.5db efficient) backloaded horns. The big advantage is that it will be able to not just play at extremely low volumes but also be able to play at near concert levels we which is something the 6" fullrange driver in my current speakers is not capable of..... I mean I never really do it, but it's nice to know that it can.

 

Anyway, I'd like to get a round idea of what else is our there. Surely there's more than just the Cornwall in high efficiency speakers that can both play incredibly quiet and loud also. Altec Lansing where the second brand came to mind but they're really rather expensive.

 

Edited December 7, 2022 by MattyW

[barbz127]

Check out the Zu range - bit harder to get here in Aus but possible.

 

Soul 6 is the new range and getting great reviews.

https://www.zuaudio.com/loudspeakers/soul-6

 

I have a set of the omens and have no issues powering them from a 8w SET and before that directly from the RCA's on a Chord TT2.

[MattyW]

The Zu range use fullrange drivers also though I believe so more in line with Lii Audio than anything else..... Except I like the Lii sound signature more..... I'm more looking for the big efficient speakers of yesteryear..... Things from before my time. Volti Audio for example are stunning but beyond my price point.

[mwhouston]

Klipsch Heresy IV or even better Forte IV. At 15W you don’t need super high efficiency speakers. Anything over 90db should be enough depending on music listen to and volume. 

[MattyW]

I'm very partial to horn loaded or open baffle designs..... Likewise high efficiency as my experience so far is it seems to go hand in hand with realism.

Edited December 7, 2022 by MattyW

[muon*]

What about Spatial Audio

 

https://www.spatialaudiolab.com/xseries

[MattyW]

1 minute ago, muon* said:

What about Spatial Audio

 

https://www.spatialaudiolab.com/xseries

Yes, I looked at those..... But a 4ohm nominal impedance.... 

[muon*]

1 minute ago, MattyW said:

Yes, I looked at those..... But a 4ohm nominal impedance.... 

Yeah just saw that myself.

[Mendes]

These are quite special. 

 

Not 100 db, but close enough to work well.

 

Frequency Response: 26Hz-31kHz
Sensitivity: 96 dB/W/M
Impedance: 10 ohms
Dimensions: 12″d x 18″w x 35.5″h including stands

 

[Mendes]

Orangutan O/96, DeVORE FIDELITY....

[MattyW]

52 minutes ago, Mendes said:

Orangutan O/96, DeVORE FIDELITY....

You wouldn't happen to know the cost of these on the Australian market would you? It is a shame they're a bit fugly with the grille on as with a almost 4 year old in the home speakers need protection. Cornwall IV have the upper hand with the grille on in terms of aesthetics.

Edited December 8, 2022 by MattyW

[sir sanders zingmore]

https://www.mcleans.info/products/devore-fidelity-orangutan-o-96

[stereo coffee]

Klipsch La Scala  have 105db efficiency and look good too ( if that's important )

https://www.klipsch.com/products/la-scala-al-5#product-specs

[MattyW]

11 minutes ago, stereo coffee said:

Klipsch La Scala  have 105db efficiency and look good too ( if that's important )

https://www.klipsch.com/products/la-scala-al-5#product-specs

Yes, aesthetics are part of the consideration. I love the vintage look of the Klipsch Heritage series..... That Devore speaker is stunning but the protection grille is just yuck. Was just talking to @muon* and he mentioned Mike Lenehan has some 3 ways in development? Has anything much been said on here regarding them? Would be nice to get a pair of Mikes speakers. I dealt with him when purchasing my first serious DAC. I started off talking about the PDX but ended up with one of the first Gieseler Gross DAC's. 

[sir sanders zingmore]

The La Scala’s impedance might be a consideration given that you say your amp “doesn't much like low impedances”

Although Klipsch's '8 ohms compatible' doesn't square with our measured impedance minimum of 3.9ohm, the minimum EPDR of 2.0ohm at 60Hz is fairly amp-friendly, although a second dip to 2.0ohm at 377Hz complicates the picture very slightly

 

https://www.hifinews.com/content/klipsch-la-scala-al5-loudspeaker-lab-report

[MattyW]

3 minutes ago, sir sanders zingmore said:

The La Scala’s impedance might be a consideration given that you say your amp “doesn't much like low impedances”

Although Klipsch's '8 ohms compatible' doesn't square with our measured impedance minimum of 3.9ohm, the minimum EPDR of 2.0ohm at 60Hz is fairly amp-friendly, although a second dip to 2.0ohm at 377Hz complicates the picture very slightly

 

https://www.hifinews.com/content/klipsch-la-scala-al5-loudspeaker-lab-report

 

I believe they need more help in terms of bass than the Cornwall IV also? That means pretty serious subs to match their high efficiency.

Edited December 8, 2022 by MattyW

[stereo coffee]

5 minutes ago, sir sanders zingmore said:

The La Scala’s impedance might be a consideration given that you say your amp “doesn't much like low impedances”

Although Klipsch's '8 ohms compatible' doesn't square with our measured impedance minimum of 3.9ohm, the minimum EPDR of 2.0ohm at 60Hz is fairly amp-friendly, although a second dip to 2.0ohm at 377Hz complicates the picture very slightly

 

https://www.hifinews.com/content/klipsch-la-scala-al5-loudspeaker-lab-report

Yes creates a interesting set of unique parameters, namely with so much speaker efficiency, an amplifier is not entering into any effort, at all,  thus low ohms are not of any concern, in fact low ohms will greatly help

[sir sanders zingmore]

11 minutes ago, stereo coffee said:

Yes creates a interesting set of unique parameters, namely with so much speaker efficiency, an amplifier is not entering into any effort, at all,  thus low ohms are not of any concern, in fact low ohms will greatly help

Sure. I was just trying to assist the OP given that he specifically highlighted low impedance as a being of concern. 

[MattyW]

Mmmmm, had a chat to Mike Lenehan about a pair of 2 ways he's building. Only 88db sensitive but 7" magnesium woofers? Sound something really special being the best sounding speaker he's ever made and at 15k right at what I'm happy(ish) spending. They're also small enough that I don't have to wait until I've the new home. I'll need to sell off stuff I'm not using here though so my VTL Reference DAC, B&W DM-16 speakers etc. Heck, maybe even my electric guitars that I never learned to play though I always thought they'd look nice in the new home somewhere. Somehow I suspect my wife wouldn't agree though. Ah well.

Edited December 16, 2022 by MattyW

[MattyW]

Ah, never mind guys. I just pulled the trigger on one of the first 3 pair of Lii Song Platinum-10 drivers in existence. 103DB efficient and supposedly even more bass than the current Silver-10's provide. I'll place in a large 100L Tannoy Turnberry style cabinet. I really love that style of cabinet 

 

I've Mundorf Angelique wire and EIZZ EZ-301 binding posts here already so just need to await the drivers and then order cabs. 

Edited December 16, 2022 by MattyW

[MattyW]

A little more on them. I have absolutely no idea what these graphs mean but here it is:

 

 

Edited December 16, 2022 by MattyW

[mwhouston]

14 minutes ago, MattyW said:

A little more on them. I have absolutely no idea what these graphs mean but here it is:

 

 

The graphs are from channel 2’s finance report. Another bad day on the stock market. 

[MattyW]

I think I’ll need to have a chat to someone local to design and build a nice set of reference speakers around these for me. Given they’re meant to be significantly better than the Silver-10 they really aught to be something when complete so may as well go all out on the cabinets. That and I think we can build better locally than sourcing from China.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on who to talk to around Brisbane? I’m guessing maybe Nigel from Speakerbug.

Edited December 16, 2022 by MattyW

[MrBurns84]

33 minutes ago, MattyW said:

I think I’ll need to have a chat to someone local to design and build a nice set of reference speakers around these for me. Given they’re meant to be significantly better than the Silver-10 they really aught to be something when complete so may as well go all out on the cabinets. That and I think we can build better locally than sourcing from China.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on who to talk to around Brisbane? I’m guessing maybe Nigel from Speakerbug.

Try Creation Audio Matty, who makes some stunning BLH's.  I was the second owner the Petite 8's which in a way i regretted selling them, they sounded marvelous with the Coral Beta 8's.   Not sure if he still in the biz, worth a shot.

 

http://www.creationaudio.com.au/Homepage.html 

[MattyW]

Nigel has suggested Bevan at Naked Audio….. I’ll look have a chat with him I think.

 

https://www.nakedaudio.com.au/

 

Convenient as he’s only about a 17 minute drive from home.

Edited December 16, 2022 by MattyW