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Full Range speakers and modern AV receivers

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Wayne1959

New Member
Full Range speakers and current AV receivers

Looking at some of the information on full range speakers like Fostex models makes them very attractive. My problem is they all use very low wattage. Are there any full range speakers that would work with current AV receivers pushing 80 to 125 watts without the need for specialized amps or custom gear?
 
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Looking at some of the information on full range speakers like Fostex models makes them very attractive. My problem is they all use very low wattage. Are there any full range speakers that would work with current AV receivers pushing 80 to 125 watts without the need for specialized amps or custom gear?
 
Just because a receiver can put out 80W doesn't mean it always will. That's just at full throttle. If you turn it down things will be fine. Most full range drivers like the Fostex are pretty sensitive so you most likely won't turn it up all that much.
 
And as many have said on this board before... high output amps don't (normally) kill speakers, under powered amps do! Distortion and clipping are the enemy! :yes:
 
mmmm.. Bet I can kill some of those Fostex with too much power, with no clipping or distortion from the amp...
 
These low-power fullrange drivers can still sink a decent amount of power on some transients, so while their high-ish sensitivity allows them to do well on low-power amps, having more than enough power is not a bad idea in itself.

az
 
All of them would work. Just don't get carried away with the volume control.

Just because a speaker plays loud on a few Watt's doesn't mean you can't use a lot. For instance, Klipschorns will play extremely loud on 5 Watt's but sound just fine when driven by 100.

IMO current AV receivers tend not to sound as good as "specialized" amps and that's what you have to watch out for.

It's not the power it's the sound.
 
One of the reasons for the concern about wattage is headroom. I don't want someone to turn up the unit and blow the speakers when I'm not around. Having said that would the larger 8" drivers would be the ones to use with a current AV reciever?
 
Wayne1959 said:
One of the reasons for the concern about wattage is headroom. I don't want someone to turn up the unit and blow the speakers when I'm not around. Having said that would the larger 8" drivers would be the ones to use with a current AV reciever?
Click to expand...

I can vouch for the recent FF225WK 8". It has a versatile set of parameters and is rated 34W input, 100W "music power". It has a decent sensitivity at ~93dB/W/m so won't require tons of power. You're looking at ~108dB for the rated 34W input, quite loud. IMO, most fullrange won't sound good anyway at this SPL, if truly used fullrange...

az
 
audiozaz said:
IMO, most fullrange won't sound good anyway at this SPL, if truly used fullrange...

az
Click to expand...

Exactly...the treble will become quite unbearable. I love my FE207Es, but if you ask them for too much, boy do they complain...and not very nicely either.
 
I've run my Fostex Sigma drivers on as little as 2 watt amps and as much as 80 watt amps perfectly fine.
Just because yer gas tank holds 20 gallons, doesn't mean you have to use it all at once.
 
You'll be fine as long as you have self control with the volume knob. Also, if you're worried about people cranking it while you're gone, make it impossible for them to do. Every time I left the house for a day or two, or perhaps a vacation (when living with room mates) I took either the power cables, or the patch cord, etc.
 
I know everyone has already said this, but I'm gonna say it also.

You will be just fine with a higher power amp as long as you don't turn it up too loud.

for example, My Rotel RB 1080 I had in the shop a month or so ago, and on the bench, running hotter then it usually runs in my house, (could touch the chassis over the heat sinks, but it was not comfortable) the amp was only pushing 20 Watts. MOST of the time, a big amp isn't pushing anything near its capabilities, and as efficient as the full ranges are, you'll reach maximum volume long before you reach maximum power.

don't expect live rock and roll volumes and you'll probably be fine.



HTH.

jaz
 
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