89-300ce said:
Thanks for all the information. I think if I stayed away from models with the Watkins woofer I would save myself some issues with repairs as well.
No love for the RSIIIA/B's ?
Jorg
Jorg,
I don't understand your statement about the Watkins. The only repair would be a little refoam job, like any other vintage speaker. Other than that, I'm not aware of any other problems with them.
I've only had the good fortune to hear one model of Infinities (yup, mine
) and I just can't imagine an Infinity without a Watkins in it. This is one fine woofer.
I think the power debate here can get a little out of hand though. The biamping and huge-a-mongous power amplifiers is all fun and part of the continual quest for perfection that we all have as enthusiasts......but there is a nominal reality. I run a single Adcom GFA 555II (325 WPC @ 4 Ohm) on the Quantums 2's. I haven't fried any Emits or domes, nor has the Adcom gone up in smoke. I've had the system cranked at what I would consider pretty insane SPL (just for hell of it) and was watching intensely the Adcom's distortion meters for any blinking......notta. Sustained listening would have been causing damage to the ear follicles as far as I'm concerned. I usually listen at moderate levels, enjoying the sound QUALITY as opposed to the quantity.
Just giving you a baseline on Amp vs Speaker model that is known to work.
The effect of good clean power on any set of speakers is incredible. The Adcom on my Mach 2's, Pioneer HPM 60's, or AR 2's is just amazing compared to powering them on the Denon AVR 1604.......no contest. I'ld be throwing them in the dump after listening on the Denon, but not after the Adcom was wired up. Totally different.
I would say that if huge rock concert level SPL is what is desired, then the more efficient Klipsches (I've heard some Klipschorns, and they are a VERY VERY fine set of sound-eminating-electromechanical-devices), JBL's etc would be a better choice.
Jorg, buy the best set of speakers for their potential sound quality, and then worry about the amplification requirements later, which is easier to obtain than the speaker is.