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Speakers for Onkyo TX-1500 MKII

U

untox157

New Member
Hello!

I recently got an Onkyo TX-1500 MKII receiver, but I am having a hard time deciding/understanding what are the best speakers for the system.

I've been looking for speakers with the same impedance (8 ohm), but don't really get the wattage situation. According to what I've read the receiver has an output power of 17 WPC (I assume per side L/R) and I can't seem to find speakers in that range. I feel like I'm missing something very obvious here but can't put my finger on it.

There are a few speakers that I like including Klipsch RB-51II, Polks RTi A1, Fluance SX6W and Fluance Signature Series (as mentioned above, I still don't know if the wattage would be an issue with any of these). My budget is in the $100-200 range, and while I don't mind used gear, as a newbie it's easier to research on new gear, but I'm open to any suggestion.

In case it's useful, this is intended to be a bedroom/small living room system, and will be using a record player and DAC for digital audio.

Thanks in advance for any help!
 
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Hi, based on the specs alone of each of those speakers l would suggest the Klipsch's (haven't heard them though). They are the most efficient at 92db so could be driven no worries with your 17 wpc Onkyo.

The 8 ohm nominal impedance is also kinder on the STK output module based TX-1500.
 
Oldsansui441 said:
Hi, based on the specs alone of each of those speakers l would suggest the Klipsch's (haven't heard them though). They are the most efficient at 92db so could be driven no worries with your 17 wpc Onkyo.

The 8 ohm nominal impedance is also kinder on the STK output module based TX-1500.
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Thanks for your answer Oldansui441! I had read that the Klipsch's would perform better with receiver of low wattage due to their efficiency. Are there other alternatives you would suggest? Is there a rule of thumb of how efficiency allows for a more flexible wattage difference?

Also, do you care about explaining what you mean by the impedance is kinder due to STK module?

Sorry for about all these questions!
 
untox157 said:
Thanks for your answer Oldansui441! I had read that the Klipsch's would perform better with receiver of low wattage due to their efficiency. Are there other alternatives you would suggest? Is there a rule of thumb of how efficiency allows for a more flexible wattage difference?

Also, do you care about explaining what you mean by the impedance is kinder due to STK module?

Sorry for about all these questions!
Click to expand...

The higher the efficiency number the easier they are to drive....which means they will get louder easier. The Polks are rated around 90db which means they will be fine as well for your amp. STK modules dont care for 4ohm loads because it causes more power to go through them which means more heat. Dont drive any 4ohm speakers with an amp using STK modules. There are a ton of great 8ohm speakers out there. I like the Polks better than the Klipsch because I dont care for horn drivers, but they are good speakers.
 
Bodyblue said:
The higher the efficiency number the easier they are to drive....which means they will get louder easier. The Polks are rated around 90db which means they will be fine as well for your amp. STK modules dont care for 4ohm loads because it causes more power to go through them which means more heat. Dont drive any 4ohm speakers with an amp using STK modules. There are a ton of great 8ohm speakers out there. I like the Polks better than the Klipsch because I dont care for horn drivers, but they are good speakers.
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Thanks Bodyblue! Yeah, I had read that efficiency plays a big role in how speakers can perform at low wattage. Because of the 17WPC, are bookshelf speakers the largest that my receiver can handle? I might be getting stucked in thinking that speakers need to match watts, but is there a way to calculate how the efficiency level allows a different wattage output from speaker/amp (maybe a calculator?). Thanks again!
 
So, here we are once again, looking for speakers to match a receiver. And no one has asked- What size room will this be in? What volume levels are you typically going to play at? What types of music do you like? Would you like these be on the floor? With stands or without stands?
After all, you can very well get away with lower sensitivity speakers if party level volume is not required
Let us know.
 
ctjetta said:
So, here we are once again, looking for speakers to match a receiver. And no one has asked- What size room will this be in? What volume levels are you typically going to play at? What types of music do you like? Would you like these be on the floor? With stands or without stands?
After all, you can very well get away with lower sensitivity speakers if party level volume is not required
Let us know.
Click to expand...

Thanks ctjetta! The room the system will be is a regular sized bedroom/small apartment living room (sorry I'm awful with dimensions). A little bit of power would be nice, but "party levels" are not what I'm looking for, as long as it fills the room nicely is enough (not trying to get more ear damage).

I like to listen a wide variety of music including reggae, punk, electronic, salsa, cumbia, etc. So something that allows a wide range of music would be better (a nice bass is always appreciated).

I don't think stands are an option for now, most likely they will be on a shelf or desk, but one floor speakers could work along with a bookshelf speaker.

Thanks again! Definitively important things to consider!

EDIT: While I said my budget is $100-200 I wouldn't mind spending some extra $$ if that means I can get something that would be a much better pick in the long term.
 
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untox157 said:
Thanks ctjetta! The room the system will be is a regular sized bedroom/small apartment living room (sorry I'm awful with dimensions). A little bit of power would be nice, but "party levels" are not what I'm looking for, as long as it fills the room nicely is enough (not trying to get more ear damage).

I like to listen a wide variety of music including reggae, punk, electronic, salsa, cumbia, etc. So something that allows a wide range of music would be better (a nice bass is always appreciated).

I don't think stands are an option for now, most likely they will be on a shelf or desk, but one floor speakers could work along with a bookshelf speaker.

Thanks again! Definitively important things to consider!

EDIT: While I said my budget is $100-200 I wouldn't mind spending some extra $$ if that means I can get something that would be a much better pick in the long term.
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Larger speakers do not mean they are more difficult to drive. For example; My Marantz Imperial 6 large "bookshelf" speakers have a big 10in woofer and a big cabinet and are around 95db sensitive. It just depends on how much room you have. Speakers perform best when they are at ear level when you are listening to them. Any speaker you find that is 90db sensitive and up should be fine for what you are looking for I think. The Polks or the Klipschs would be just fine.
This is how I have the speakers in the front room: They are at ear level when seated on the couch across the room.

20181110_125709(1).jpg
 
Hay,

If there's a pair of Bozak Tempos in your neck of the woods, there's an option. Given their age, they're going to need new caps. It's not difficult to do on those. They're a 3-way with a 12" woofer, 92db. Yet, they're in a smaller cabinet, easy to place. I can't say what your ears prefer, but mine have a hard time with horns in a small room. They compress and cause my skull to hurt. These Bozaks have an aluminum cone tweeter and midrange. All 3 drivers provide a very pleasing delivery.

Biggles
 
You're going to want to look for two small speakers- both up high. One on a shelf and one on the floor is a no-no. it will work and if you're only looking for "sound", then fine. But, then you can afford to be less discriminating in your choices.
And don't get hung up on the 17wpc and high efficeincy speakers. I grew up in the '70's and every bottom of the line receiver had little power. If I remember correctly the Sansui 221 had 8 wpc and the Kenwood KR-1400 had 10 wpc.
these were sold all day long with EPI/Epicure, Advent, OHM, Genesis, Avid and others. You can add ADS, Polk and many others that have become popular as well. NOBODY was talking sensitivity back then. Pretty much any speaker in that price range would work.(Those receivers were still in the $200 to $300 price range- no discounters back then).
This is still the case for you. You'll be just fine at the volumes you say you listen at.
If I was to make a suggestion for good small speakers it would be Paradigm. They actually make great small speakers. I would also suggest that you look for a GOOD pair 8" 2 way speakers (or 6"). You won't realize how big a speaker cabinet is until you put them up on shelves or dressers or whatever.
Keep us updated.

Addendum- We keep focusing on vintage speakers; there are many new speakers that are great budget speakers now. Look at ELAC, for example.
 
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untox157 said:
Are there other alternatives you would suggest? Is there a rule of thumb of how efficiency allows for a more flexible wattage difference?

This link might be fun to play around with some figures.
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-efficiency.htm


Also, do you care about explaining what you mean by the impedance is kinder due to STK module?
Click to expand...

I think Bodyblue has you covered here.

In regards to recommending other speakers, l couldn't give you an educated opinion as l mostly have older gear. There will be many others on here that can give advice on new speaker choices.
 
Small room, small speakers, low watts. low budget. Lucky for you the used speaker market is loaded with fantastic bargains. New is fine, but more often than not you can find barely used for a fraction of the cost of new, especially ones that were inexpensive to begin with.
I didn't see your location, but my CL usually has some very inexpensive bookshelf speakers listed. I am a fan of Boston Acoustics models. Especially the vintage "A" series, but they are usually in need of new surrounds. The newer models, like the CR65's, are really good for a small speaker. But they also don't have the punch of a larger cabinet model.
The Polks you mentioned probably sound good. The vintage Monitor 5's and 7's are very well respected around AK.
 
ctjetta said:
NOBODY was talking sensitivity back then. Pretty much any speaker in that price range would work.(Those receivers were still in the $200 to $300 price range- no discounters back then).
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Sure almost any speaker will work, but a speaker with better sensitivity wont work the amp as hard and will probably sound better than one with around 85db or so. When a receiver is around 15-17 wpc sensitivity becomes a lot bigger deal than say a 30-40 wpc unit.
 
At the volumes the OP is suggesting he listens at sensitivity will be a total non-issue. I couldn't even imagine what speakers would be in your theoretical 85db range.Nothing that would be in his price range. He just needs to look for speakers he likes. Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be.
 
Like there is not a zillion of speakers in the 90 db range anyway.

Stay around 90db and enjoy the music.
 
Thank you all for your help! I ended up getting the Klipsch R-51M as they were on sale for Black Friday. Hopefully it was a decent move!
 
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