Focal speakers, opinions on amps

[GrimSurfer]

Obviously I was mistaken that my speakers are 91.5db efficient, that said what does this statement mean? I’m also not dilutions that my speakers are better than they are, I’d guess they are at the at the higher end of a mid level bookshelf.


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It means that with 1 watt input, and measured from about 3 feet, the speaker is capable of producing 91.5 decibels of sound pressure.

 

[GrimSurfer]

WRT current, that's an amp's ability to output a meaningful amperage. I'm not aware of a formal definition but it's commonly held that a high current amp will be rated to drive speakers of 4 ohms impedance or lower.

 

[lovinthehd]

A high quality amplifier will perform close to its rated specs, large capacitors, transformer and heat sinks. I’d throw in the term high current but I can’t honestly say what that means. The benchmark testing all went over my head, would you kindly give me a dumbed down Cliffs notes version, thanks.


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Just read the article from Stereophile for the cliff note version of what the graphs reflect, to an extent, or the definitions provided by soundstagenetwork.com. Dig into that sort of thing more perhaps with this article https://www.audioholics.com/loudspeaker-design/measure-loudspeaker-performance.

Specs can be tricky, depends on their basis mostly (so you can compare like specs to like specs). The particular hardware you mention are good things, no doubt. High current amps generally refer to those that can handle lower impedance loads. Then again you asked about avrs rather than a power amp....but you could always get an avr with pre-outs so you could use an amp of your choice (or a pre-pro and power amp, altho that tends to be a more expensive combo). What's your budget?

Obviously I was mistaken that my speakers are 91.5db efficient, that said what does this statement mean? I’m also not dilutions that my speakers are better than they are, I’d guess they are at the at the higher end of a mid level bookshelf.


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91.5 dB is a sensitivity spec (somewhat the same as efficiency altho that's usually expressed as a percentage), generally the spl at 1 meter distance fed with 2.83 V (which is 1 watt at 8 ohms). Impedance is what the 5 ohms refers to, not sensitivity. Many speakers overstate the sensitivity a bit, as you can see from spec from speaker manufacturer to 3rd party measurements. They're still relatively high sensitivity, i.e. require less amp power to get loud than lower sensitivity speakers (like those in the mid or lower 80's range). Read those links...they'll help.

 

[Swerd]

Based on the SoundStage and Stereophile measurements, your speakers don't seem to be difficult to drive. Their sensitivity is rated at 87-88 dB and the manufacturer had rated them at 89.5 dB. (That's quite honest compared to some other speaker makers.)

The impedance is as low as 4 ohms, but not lower. In the frequency range of roughly 150-300 Hz, where the impedance is lowest, the impedance phase angle changes by less than 90°, a phase angle change that doesn't put a drastic load on an amp. All that adds up to speakers that don't require a "Big Iron" amp. Any AVR rated to deliver at least an honest 100 watts/channel, over the full audio range of 20-20,000 Hz, when driving two 8 ohm speakers, at distortion levels no greater than 1%, and which is stable at 4 ohm loads should easily handle those speakers.

Just to include room for growth, look for an AVR that has RCA-type pre-amp output jacks for at least the front left & right channels. That allows the option of adding an external amplifier while you continue using the AVR as a pre-amp for those channels.

There are a number of Denon or Marantz models that offer all of what I described. What Marantz AVR model did you have in mind?

 

[lovinthehd]

One little consideration when it comes to sensitivity. Since it takes a doubling of power to gain merely 3dB spl, a speaker of 90 dB sensitivity would need half the power to obtain the same spl as a speaker of 87dB sensitivity....

 

[TankTop5]

My budget, the Focal L/R/C have set me back $350 and the NAD stereo receiver got me for another $25. I have big eyeballs but I think my realistic budget is cheap, Marantz and Denon look nice but what about the Onkyo TX-NR777?


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[lovinthehd]

My budget, the Focal L/R/C have set me back $350 and the NAD stereo receiver got me for another $25. I have big eyeballs but I think my realistic budget is cheap, Marantz and Denon look nice but what about the Onkyo TX-NR777?


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Well I guess there's an example of even the manufacturer's page isn't always the best for reading spec... The overview stating 110wpc into 8ohm, 220wpc into 6 ohm, LOL! Those are definitely not on the same basis....but if you dig into the specs you'll see:
110 W/Ch (8 Ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 Channels Driven, FTC)
220 W/Ch (6 Ohms, 1 kHz, 10% THD, 1 Channel Driven)

What's your budget? Might also check out accessories4less.com for refurbs and closeouts if money is tight (but understand the risk/terms/warranty).

 

[GrimSurfer]

LOL. That's the first time I've seen a rating like that.

10% THD?!

Also, did you see the 250 watt power rating at 3 ohms (for an amp that is specified for use at 4 ohms or higher)?

This should stand as a lesson to everyone just how far a manufacturer will go to post a big power number.

I wouldn't touch this component, ever.

 

[lovinthehd]

LOL. That's the first time I've seen a rating like that.

10% THD?!

Also, did you see the 250 watt power rating at 3 ohms (for an amp that is specified for use at 4 ohms or higher)?

This should stand as a lesson to everyone just how far a manufacturer will go to post a big power number.

I wouldn't touch this component, ever.

Nowadays the 10% THD spec for a big number isn't all that unusual. Just keep in mind what the spec actually is and ignore those marketing folk as most of us with any sense do. Look at all the craziness in audio marketing over cables at the high end that get taken seriously by doofuses with too much money vs brains.

 

[GrimSurfer]

Nowadays the 10% THD spec for a big number isn't all that unusual. Just keep in mind what the spec actually is and ignore those marketing folk as most of us with any sense do. Look at all the craziness in audio marketing over cables at the high end that get taken seriously by doofuses with too much money vs brains.

In this case, the manufacturer was so desperate to show a power figure double with declining resistance that they were prepared to accept a 10% THD rating. I know that this doesn't necessarily mean it was well into clipping, but I'd imagine it was.

 

[lovinthehd]

In this case, the manufacturer was so desperate to show a power figure double with declining resistance that they were prepared to accept a 10% THD rating. I know that this doesn't necessarily mean it was well into clipping, but I'd imagine it was.

Boys like big numbers. Look at speaker marketing nonsense with max wattage and what guys end up taking away with that. The industry is full of crap marketing. It apparently works, tho.

 

[GrimSurfer]

Well I guess there's an example of even the manufacturer's page isn't always the best for reading spec... The overview stating 110wpc into 8ohm, 220wpc into 6 ohm, LOL! Those are definitely not on the same basis....but if you dig into the specs you'll see:
110 W/Ch (8 Ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 Channels Driven, FTC)
220 W/Ch (6 Ohms, 1 kHz, 10% THD, 1 Channel Driven)

What's your budget? Might also check out accessories4less.com for refurbs and .

Boys like big numbers. Look at speaker marketing nonsense with max wattage and what guys end up taking away with that. The industry is full of crap marketing. It apparently works, tho.

Started a new thread on this issue... couldn't resist!

https://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/desperate-for-dollars-manufacturers-absurd-claims-specs-science.114210/