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Best High Efficiency Speakers

W

wcarpenter

New Member
Hey All,

I'd love some recommendations for high efficiency speakers. I'd be running them out of a Miniwatt N3 (3.5wpc) with a MF V-Dac w/Macbook Pro as the source.

I've heard mixed reviews of the Zu line. The Omen seems like a good option, but I don't want to end up with something bad. The Klipsch series is pretty high efficiency, but the horn loaded tweeter worries me a bit. Also, there doesn't seem to much in the way of info on them.

I'd love to keep the price at or below $1000. I'm only 16, so a $250,000 Avantgarde set-up probably isn't ideal just yet.

Thanks
Walker

Edit: They'd be in a very small dorm room (think 10x10 or maybe 15x10.) In addition, I'm stranded in the woods of New Hampshire, so auditioning isn't possible.
 
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The current RB series (RB-61 or RB-81)from Klipsch seemed like the best bet. I'm very open to used, though. I just don't know what to look for.

Thanks for the welcome!
 
Under a grand? Small room? I'd look for used Klipsch Fortes or Altec 890C Boleros. Klipsch Heresy is a love or hate speaker that I hate but you might love.

Sometimes EVs with efficient woofers and horn treble come up at nice prices too. Basically you just gotta keep your eyes open.

For new HE speakers in your range I'd investigate the Pis and some pro sound speakers like Peaveys, EVs and such with HE woofers and horn treble; some speakers of that type sound very good and are reasonably priced and are not too large. And since Klipsch makes a variety of smaller somewhat HE speakers that are widely available for auditioning some time investigating them would be well spent.

If you're worried about horn tweeters it's gonna make it difficult for you to find a speaker that's truely high efficiency and truely wide range.
 
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If used is good with you, some great speakers can be had for $1000 and under..

A few to think about..

Altec, JBL, Frazer, EV, Klipsch, Tannoy, Bozak.. any of some of the older well reguarded names..

Another thing to think about would be building some ewave speakers... Depending on the driver choices, you can easily get speakers that are in the 100db/1w area...
 
Thanks for the recommendations! My only concern: Most of the speakers from the companies mentioned are quite large. These will be in a very small room, and I'd rather not have two gigantic wooden box in a room that is already quite full.

Any bookshelf or small tower sized options? Thoughts on the Zu?

Thanks guys. I really appreciate all of the help.

Edit:
The miniwatt ran a pair of 90db/w B&Ws pretty well in a similarly sized room. There was some dynamic compression at very high volumes, so I think a speaker between 93db/w and 100db/w would be perfect.
 
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You can't have high efficiency, a small box and deep bass; pick two of three. So if you want a very small box figure what you're willing to give up; deep bass or efficiency.

Some people are well pleased with small somewhat efficient speakers such as Tektrons that use full range drivers. Such drivers in small boxes can often sound good because while they lack deep bass they also lack extended highs. This can result in a very pleasing tonal balance. Back in the 1940s Harry Olson at RCA observed that a speaker could sound good even if lacking extended response as long as both ends weren't extended. In other words extended bass with poor highs sounds lousy as does extended highs with poor bass. But a well thought out roll-off on both ends can sound very good.
 
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Given the amplifier I have, I'd have to give up deep bass. I'm not looking for earth shattering bass, but I'd rather the music not sound anemic.

Maybe I'm asking for a nonexistent speaker. I'd be much less picky if I didn't have to get all of this into a dorm room... Thanks for your patience.
 
Carp, you might consider giving up the amp and buying some small powered monitors like KRKs, Fostexes, Mackies and so on from Guitar Center, Sam Ash or some other prosound-musical instrument store. Then you can have a small package, decent dynamics and fairly extended bass and highs at a price well within your budget.

Just a thought.
 
RB-25's are a nice dorm size speaker. Solid and well made. RB-75's have such great potentials, not many are letting them go though. Klipsch never made an replacement for it.
 
Tom Brennan said:
Under a grand? Small room? I'd look for used Klipsch Fortes or Altec 890C Boleros. Klipsch Heresy is a love or hate speaker that I hate but you might love.

Sometimes EVs with efficient woofers and horn treble come up at nice prices too. Basically you just gotta keep your eyes open.

For new HE speakers in your range I'd investigate the Pis and some pro sound speakers like Peaveys, EVs and such with HE woofers and horn treble; some speakers of that type sound very good and are reasonably priced and are not too large. And since Klipsch makes a variety of smaller somewhat HE speakers that are widely available for auditioning some time investigating them would be well spent.

If you're worried about horn tweeters it's gonna make it difficult for you to find a speaker that's truely high efficiency and truely wide range.
Click to expand...
The Heresy is a controversial speaker to be sure, but there are a couple of minor tweaks that can make them sound a lot smoother.

I owned a pair. First thing I did was stain them Rosewood. They looked beautiful. I stuffed the empty cabinets and changed the old cap for a new poly cap. Zilch was skeptical about me second-guessing the designers, but I can tell you the speakers were transformed.

If you've got the bucks, go for the Heresies.
 
If you are putting them in a dorm room, stick with whatever you can find used for $100 or so. Your $1000 speakers will quite likely be destroyed or stolen and dorm room acoustics leave much to be desired anyway. Then again, maybe your college experience will be unlike mine in the mid-80's in Florida. :smoke::smoke::smoke:
 
I had a pair of Klipsch LaScalas AND a pair of Electrovoice Interface D's in my college dorm. I also had a double wide stereo rack with other goodies.

I'd say, listen to what you like and within the realm of what you like, get what you think will work best for you.

I personally ignore the logic of 'they won't fit' as I did it. My dorm was (guessing) 15x20? I don't remember. There was two of us, bunked our beds and we had two dressers and two desks. This was before the speakers.

Today, I still have those speakers (30 years later) and I've never had to upgrade them. Indeed, the LaScalas are currently hooked up today in my basement. I reconfigured things this past weekend, unhooking them from the very Yamaha receiver I used in my dorm room.

You can make what ever you want work as long as you can live with the reality of it. I knew college was short term for me so I bought some long term speakers.
 
Heresies are a bit larger than bookshelf size, but I highly recommend a combination of tastefully updated (e.g. Crites titanium tweeter diaphragms + Crites crossover rebuild kit) Heresy IIs + a good subwoofer (I have a Hsu STF-1). I get great sound with either a Fisher 800C or a Dynaco ST35 hooked up to this speaker system.

-D
 
Tom Brennan said:
Under a grand? Small room? I'd look for used Klipsch Fortes or Altec 890C Boleros. Klipsch Heresy is a love or hate speaker that I hate but you might love.

Sometimes EVs with efficient woofers and horn treble come up at nice prices too. Basically you just gotta keep your eyes open.

For new HE speakers in your range I'd investigate the Pis and some pro sound speakers like Peaveys, EVs and such with HE woofers and horn treble; some speakers of that type sound very good and are reasonably priced and are not too large. And since Klipsch makes a variety of smaller somewhat HE speakers that are widely available for auditioning some time investigating them would be well spent.

If you're worried about horn tweeters it's gonna make it difficult for you to find a speaker that's truely high efficiency and truely wide range.
Click to expand...

+1 on Fortes. See sig.
 
wcarpenter said:
Given the amplifier I have, I'd have to give up deep bass. I'm not looking for earth shattering bass, but I'd rather the music not sound anemic.

Maybe I'm asking for a nonexistent speaker. I'd be much less picky if I didn't have to get all of this into a dorm room... Thanks for your patience.
Click to expand...

I fit a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls into my similarly sized dorm, they're quite large (3ft. high) but they don't take up as much space as you think. Most people don't usually hang out in the corners of their dorm where the speakers could live. Heresy's would be an okay choice, but young ears will probably be bothered by the rather harsh horns... I sold mine...

JBL 4410s, 4412s, L100Ts would be a better choice because they're still efficient, a good size, sound great with all types of music, and have decent bass. You could get a pair for under $400. 3.5w is more than enough to bother your neighbors. I would also recommend the 43XX series, but you'll be paying for nostalgia, and the 4400s sound better for less money.

I think you would get a better value at your price range if you went used and didn't spend $1k. These are going into a dorm room, things out of your control can happen in college and sometimes you or your possessions are the victims of someone's stupidity.
 
+1 on a few things said. You only can do two of three things that you want to accomplish and buying a different amplifier is a good idea. $1k plus the sale of your current flea amp. will buy a tad bigger amp. and speakers no problem, then your speaker options are much greater while getting more the size you had in mind. Focus on a used set of higher end bookshelves, there will be a lot of low level listening. Low quality speakers at lower levels isn't going to sound much better than a boombox. You'll probably be able to afford a really nice set of cans also, which will likely come in handy.
Good luck-
 
wcarpenter said:
Hey All,

I'd love some recommendations for high efficiency speakers. I'd be running them out of a Miniwatt N3 (3.5wpc) with a MF V-Dac w/Macbook Pro as the source.

I've heard mixed reviews of the Zu line. The Omen seems like a good option, but I don't want to end up with something bad. The Klipsch series is pretty high efficiency, but the horn loaded tweeter worries me a bit. Also, there doesn't seem to much in the way of info on them.

I'd love to keep the price at or below $1000. I'm only 16, so a $250,000 Avantgarde set-up probably isn't ideal just yet.

Thanks
Walker

Edit: They'd be in a very small dorm room (think 10x10 or maybe 15x10.) In addition, I'm stranded in the woods of New Hampshire, so auditioning isn't possible.
Click to expand...
what size are you looking for? Theres lots to pick from. I'd guess in a dorm room you aren't going to want really big, probably a 10" or 12". Some classic CV's would be just the ticket, like D5's, D7's, AT-10 or 12's, or the earlier E series like E310/312, E-710/712. That'd be my suggestion. :)
 
To all who recommend selling the miniwatt: It was a gift from my father and its staying. I currently use it with a pair of Beyerdynamic DT880s and love the combo. I was curious if I could use it as the basis for a complete stereo system. If I can't, I'll get another amp down the road.

Big Tuna: I'm looking for some small to medium sized bookshelf speakers or maybe some small towers. Most of the recommended speakers seem to be very wide. They seem like great options, but knowing the rooms here, they won't fit.

Are there any good, new options. I've been looking around, and most of the speakers mentioned aren't available. Still no thoughts on the Zu option.

I'm not too concerned for safety of the speakers. This isn't a college (boarding high school - only 500 kids) so it isn't quite as rowdy. People don't tend to mess with each others stuff and no ones going to run off with some speakers.

Thanks again guys. I really appreciate all of the help. As a young audiophile, I need all of the help I can get.
 
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