• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Wife Wants Big Speakers that Rock - Suggestions?

KeninDC said:
I think I've got the list narrowed down, courtesy of a local AKer with some HPM 100s and JBLs. I am giving away a pair of nice KLH 5s this weekend (another gigantic "bookshelf" speaker) to another local AKer, so I reckon that some audiokarma is coming back my way.

Ken
Click to expand...

Unless you're going to be stacking HPM-100's and/or JBL-100's , I don't see how they classify as BIG speakers? The HPM-1100's stomp over the 100's!

The larger JBL's (not the L-112's) are really the way to go and I'd say the L-250 or L-300 would be the optimum choice, but sound out of reach price-wise.

Also, if you can find a pair of these Polk SDA's, I'd say you could be convicted of possessing a lethal weapon of mass destruction.
 
Maybe these are worth a audition?? :scratch2:
Infinity SM155 $200

SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency Response: 29Hz - 27kHz
Crossover Frequency(ies): 500Hz, 5.5kHz
Sensitivity: 102dB (1 watt/1 meter)
Power Rating: 10 - 300 watts
Nominal Impedance: Compatible w/8 ohms
Woofer: 15" (381mm) polypropylene coated
Midrange Driver: TWO - 4.5" (114mm) polypropylene coated
Tweeter: 1" (25mm) high-output polycell
Dimensions - 17 3/4" Wide x 40" High x 12 1/2" Deep

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ele/203761562.html


Cheers!
Mark
 
Hpm-100's aren't tiny, and they're hard hitting speakers in the bass department. The mach series although not as accurate are great party speakers. I love them all! You can't go wrong with either one!

Derek
 
I am ashamed of you guys! Not a one of you has mentioned the obvious...

The flagship of the entire Dominator line. The MX-10. I have a pair of these myself.

30 inches of thigh-slappin', blood-pumpin' nuclear brain damage!

----

From the movie Ruthless People. Stereo salesman (played by Judge Reinhold) sells speakers to a customer, a young ex-surfer dude with pregnant wife:


Customer: Hey, you? Wanna sell me a stereo?

Salesman: Yeah, I'll sell you a stereo.

Customer: All right. I'm lookin' for something real hot. I don't wanna get ripped off, you know?

Salesman: Okay. You're looking for some real hot speakers, right? I'm not talking about something you just listen to. I'm talking about the kind of sound you can feel.

Customer: Yeah!

Salesman: You know what I mean.

Customer: Yeah!

Salesman: When it comes to great stereo, you can't beat big speakers. I'm talking about big speakers with big woofers like this.

You can get this. It has a nice little eight-inch woofer, or this ten-incher. Over here we have a nice big 12-inch. But I can tell by the look on your face, man, you want something even bigger.

Customer: F---, yeah!

Salesman: "F---, yeah" is right. We gotta go to the big room for this!

The big room! Check it out, my man.

The flagship of the entire Dominator line. The MX-10. I have a pair of these myself.

30 inches of thigh-slappin', blood-pumpin' nuclear brain damage!

Customer: Bitchin'! Hey, what's the f---ing cost?

Salesman: That's the bitchin' part about it. It don't matter. If you can't afford it, f---in' finance it!

[ Loud Hard Rock ]

Salesman: Yeah! Whoo! So what if it's as big as a Subaru and costs as much! You'll never have to trade this in. This is gonna be with you for the rest of your life. And when you die, they can bury you in it!

Customer: I want it!
 
bowtie427ss said:
OK........... so ya wanna rock the house on the cheap?

Still want some decent fidelity?

Search the used "pro" market for a pair of peavey sp-2's, you can find them in decent shape for 200-300 bucks.
Click to expand...

There you go! I recently bought a pair of Peavey SP1, which each have a horn loaded 15" Black Widow driver and horn HF driver for $204 including a Peavey 600 watt PA Amp (which should sell for $100 to $200 by itself) As you can see, my net cost was small and they will rock the house, just as they do for Live Bands.. It's what they were made for and they do it well.

Here's a pair of Peavey SP-2 (non-horn loaded woofer) on EBay for $ 222 (currently) as an example.

If you want to get loud and sound live.. use what works for Pros..
 
Instead of the HPM-100 everyone has suggested, how about the HPM-150 or 1500, with a 15 inch woofer instead of the 12 incher? Another one I really like when it comes to volume AND fidelity is the JBL L100T or L100T3.
 
A voice in the wilderness....

While I like, and could live with, the JBL 4311b, I'm going to recommend three other vintage speakers that meet your requirements. For a budget speaker, the DCM KX-12. For more money, the Snell Model B. But that's only two, you say! My third vote goes to Signet SL-260 bookshelf speakers, powered by a Crown 1,000 (or was it 1,200?) watt amplifier. I heard this combination at a demo held in a hotel's multipurpose room (large). Everyone was looking for the sub-woofer. In vain. Till then, I had no idea so much sound could come out of so small a box. Music FILLED that (roughly 35' x 70' with a 16' ceiling) room. In short, if you have a monster amp, you may not need the large speakers to get the effect you're looking for. Happy auditioning and shopping.
 
Take it from someone who has a pair. If you can come up with a pair of JBL L300's (or even build a pair) those would damn near give her CPR.

I have a pair bi-amped with a Phase Linear 400 for the (swapped out) Altec 411b's and a Hafler for the mids and tweets. The crossover is an old SAE with an SAE 2800b eq. The preamp is a BGW 202.

The only downside is that the woofers need new surounds every ten years or so (yes, I've had these almost 30 years).

It was great to see people walk by the front of my house and say something like "Nice band..." :thmbsp:
 
Wow, I am really surprised how many people are suggesting good, but ordinary home speakers.

The Altec 19s are an exception as are some of the larger JBLs (not that I ever cared for L200 or 300s), but they are also mega dollars for a decent set.

There are pro speakers that would kick serious tail for well under $500. Try getting 19s or L300s for that without a weird fluke.
 
I hate to mention this because I don't consider these home speakers at all but a friend who DJs has a set of Electro Voice SX 200s for his DJ rig.

They can rock for sure and sound quite nice. I have never heard them in a home setting but in open air settings they do put out some serious SPLs and I think could be had quite reasonably.

Any of the large Altecs would be my first choice but some of the nice EVs could get this job done quite well and require half the floor space of the big guys. Don't fear going to pro gear but understand it might not have the audiophile sound quality when easy listening is the order for the evening.
When it is time to rock and dance, EV has some great stuff.

Gary
 
Just want to add that when it comes to auditioning speakers in your home, "pro" boxes present a unique opportunity in that you can go to your local music store and rent them for a weekend, have a party, and review the feedback from your partygoers as well as have a decent amount of time to experiment with room placement, and several different music sources.

You'll find the guys at your local music store very helpful, and when you explain that you are looking to "rent" they will not hassle you or waste your time trying to push a sale.

For the sake of a friendly argument here, i have a hard time defining "home speakers" since there are companies like Klipsch, whose "pro line" largely consists of their "home speakers" dressed in work clothes. My large basement system is comprised of what most would call "pro boxes", however, they have never left my home since new, have never seen the rigors or stress of commercial handling or sound reinforcement use, so i very much consider them to be "home speakers". I would also point out the altec A7, was once available as the "A7 Magnificent", it's the same A7 used behind thousands of motion picture screens, just dressed in a beautiful walnut veneered box with a very striking grill................... definitely aimed at larger home settings.
 
All:

I have had loads of fun with this thread AND have gained quite an education regarding "rockin'" speakers. I appreciate your time and advice. If all goes well, I will be picking up some HPM 100s from a fellow AKer this weekend (perhaps JBL L36s). This does NOT mean I have decided that HPM 100s are the best "house rocker" around. I just think that they will meet my needs for the time being. Like most of you, I am always looking. In fact, I hit an estate sale this AM.

I am looking forward to hooking them up Sunday afternoon and introducing them to my wife. To quote Al Pacino in "Scarface"... "Say hello to my little friend."

Ken
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom