Well I hooked up my CV HEDs to an early 80's Denon DRA-30 33w per side receiver as that's all I had available and I've heard the CVs are very efficient.
I wanted to see what they would sound like with a lower wattage amp first anyway.
I have them on a 3/4 enclosed deck that is facing to the out of doors so I can't really say if the bass is boomy or tight inside a room.
When I first hooked them up the right woofer wasn't working I took them apart and found the leads were not hooked up on that woofer. That's probably why I got them at a thrift store for cheap. I noticed that while the woofer had a cast frame but it wasn't very heavy and didn't have the largest magnet.
I hooked up the woofer, used dexoit on the tweeter pots and wherever else I could as the crossovers are attached to the speaker plates that screw on from the outside and are easy to get to.I tightened up the terminal screws, hooked them up to 14g wires and they fired up like new.
I couldn't get the volume up passed three without almost blowing my self away. I was starting to hear some distortion at about 4 ( I stretched it) but I suspect that was coming from the receiver as much as the speakers.
I turned the tweeter pots down about 1/4 as the highs were definately present close up. I found I really liked the sound at about 2- 2 1/2 on the volume with the amp's loudness control on. They sounded almost elegant even if they have what another AK described as an "all bass and highs sound".
I messed with the tone controls on the amp as I know from my guitar amps that you can cut the lows and highs and what is left are boosted mids.
I finally left the tone controls flat with loudness on, volume about 2 1/2 for my tastes, seated 4 feet in front of them on the deck ( it's a short deck sorry)
When I went outside to find an AC connection for the Denon under the deck and had cranked them to about 4 - 4 1/2 again I walked about 40 feet in front and 10 feet below the deck.
I was listening to a local FM radio station playing the Stones,Steve Miller, Jimi Hendricks, Cindy Lauper (singing the blues) with some Dr John for good mix and I really thought they sounded great for I hate to say it .....Party speakers!
I didn't notice any glaring boominess or flabbyness yet they weren't what I would call tight in the bass either.......... they were loud!
Could have been the source material ya think?
I'm 56, a jazzer, and haven't played stereo speakers very loud, outside, or thrown a party for longer than I care to remember. But I was having fun regardless.
I'd say if you were to put them in a den you could melt the skin off your face real quickly. Maybe with carpeting it would be different ,
For me I think they'll stay on the deck facing outside at least until I can try some better quality amps, more power at lower and or higher volumes and maybe get a different result in the bass.
Can't really say it it was loose or flabby or tight with that amp at least at 2 it wasn't bad.
