Big dynamics with refined clarity and a wide sound stage for less than $2000 a pair

[dpattillo]

Can I really have it all? My first pair of decent speakers (Tekton Lores) arrived a couple months ago and initially I was in love with them. They are really good speakers for the money, but now I find myself wanting more clean volume and a wider sound stage, not to mention all those cool things you hear in the reviews like music floating on air, LOL. My living room is only 16x20 with a 10' ceiling but it opens into my dinning room, kitchen, foyer and a hallway which really increases the space 3 times over. I'm powering them with an old Pioneer 110W per channel AVR (I purchased a Denon 3313ci last month but sent it back after experiencing no improvement in sound). I'm going to move the Lore's to a smaller room and need suggestions on something big and bad yet refined on a $2000 a pair budget. Is this even possible or do I have to trade big dynamics for refinement with my limited budget?

 

[TLS Guy]

Can I really have it all? My first pair of decent speakers (Tekton Lores) arrived a couple months ago and initially I was in love with them. They are really good speakers for the money, but now I find myself wanting more clean volume and a wider sound stage, not to mention all those cool things you hear in the reviews like music floating on air, LOL. My living room is only 16x20 with a 10' ceiling but it opens into my dinning room, kitchen, foyer and a hallway which really increases the space 3 times over. I'm powering them with an old Pioneer 110W per channel AVR (I purchased a Denon 3313ci last month but sent it back after experiencing no improvement in sound). I'm going to move the Lore's to a smaller room and need suggestions on something big and bad yet refined on a $2000 a pair budget. Is this even possible or do I have to trade big dynamics for refinement with my limited budget?

Up budget X 10 to 20

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Big and bad = dual Subs.

Just keep your current speakers and get dual Subs.

VTF-15H DualDrive Package

 

[dpattillo]

Big dynamics with refined clarity and a wide sound stage for less than $2000 ...

Big and bad = dual Subs.

Just keep your current speakers and get dual Subs.

VTF-15H DualDrive Package

According to the description using 2 gives you 4 times the output of 1. That's fantastic!

 

[shadyJ]

Lol, I think you misread that description. That description would only be valid for co-location as well, which probably isn't what you would do with two. And it wouldn't hold when pushing these subs to their limits as well, where they will only give you 2x as much output. So no, buying two will not give you the potential output of four. However, buying two can bring down the distortion characteristics much more disproportionately than having a single sub. There are other good reasons to get multiple subs setups as well, such as better frequency response throughout the room, and much reduced localization.

 

[Grador]

Lol, I think you misread that description. That description would only be valid for co-location as well, which probably isn't what you would do with two. And it wouldn't hold when pushing these subs to their limits as well, where they will only give you 2x as much output. So no, buying two will not give you the potential output of four. However, buying two can bring down the distortion characteristics much more disproportionately than having a single sub. There are other good reasons to get multiple subs setups as well, such as better frequency response throughout the room, and much reduced localization.

From what I have read [in a few places], room gain is very favorable to a second sub. I've seen some test results that have shown near 6db increase from a second sub, which is 4x the output. Would I count on getting 6db? No. Would I expect more than 3? Yes.

 

[shadyJ]

From what I have read [in a few places], room gain is very favorable to a second sub. I've seen some test results that have shown near 6db increase from a second sub, which is 4x the output. Would I count on getting 6db? No. Would I expect more than 3? Yes.

A 6 dB increase is a quadrupling of the intensity whereby you need 4x the electric power for that result, but the result is only a doubling of sound pressure level - ie loudness. A 6 dB gain when adding a second sub is the greatest increase in SPL that can be achieved, and it mostly only happens when you co-locate the subs. Outside of co-location, the gain you get is going to be frequency dependent, so I wouldn't expect an even increase through out the frequency spectrum.

 

[dpattillo]

Big dynamics with refined clarity and a wide sound stage for less than $2000 ...

Dual subs would be great, but I'm also having issues with harsh highs at high volume. At low and medium they are great, but crank it loud and it can be a little irritating. Would a dipole give a better surround effect or sound staging? How about smooth highs at high volume? Maybe some Martin Logan electrostatics with a couple subs. I've also considered building the Linkwitz Orion's or the Statements by Jim Holtz.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Dual subs would be great, but I'm also having issues with harsh highs at high volume. At low and medium they are great, but crank it loud and it can be a little irritating. Would a dipole give a better surround effect or sound staging? How about smooth highs at high volume? Maybe some Martin Logan electrostatics with a couple subs. I've also considered building the Linkwitz Orion's or the Statements by Jim Holtz.

Maybe it's just the recording itself. Some recordings have harsh highs at high volume.

Is there a frequency response measurement of your speaker? That's why some of us keep on talking about FR and off-axis FR.

Maybe your speaker is +6dB @ 8kHz. We just don't know unless it was measured.

If it were -2dB to -3dB from 2kHz-16kHz, it may just be your music that is harsh.

 

[TLS Guy]

Dual subs would be great, but I'm also having issues with harsh highs at high volume. At low and medium they are great, but crank it loud and it can be a little irritating. Would a dipole give a better surround effect or sound staging? How about smooth highs at high volume? Maybe some Martin Logan electrostatics with a couple subs. I've also considered building the Linkwitz Orion's or the Statements by Jim Holtz.

You are correct subs will not help those problems.

What it takes to do what you want is drivers of sufficient quality to handle the power you need without high distortion and little thermal compression. It requires correct loading of the drivers and excellent crossover design to produce a smooth frequency response and matching on and off axis frequency response.

You need sufficient amplifier power to drive the speakers without clipping.

Then you will achieve your goals. These goals are easy to define, but hard to achieve.

 

[GranteedEV]

DIY a pair of CBT36 with a pair of 18" sealed subs

 

[dpattillo]

Big dynamics with refined clarity and a wide sound stage for less than $2000 ...

DIY a pair of CBT36 with a pair of 18" sealed subs

I've seen those before at parts express and they're within my budget. Hope they get loud.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I've seen those before at parts express and they're within my budget. Hope they get loud.

As long as you pair them with great subs.

 

[cpp]

Your looking at way over 3200 sq fr of area to push air through when you include your open floor plan... 2 SUBS sure, but it also appears you could have a room problems when you start taking about harsh highs. What you have is reflections arriving at your ears at different times than the sound from your speakers. You need something to help absorb those reflections.. moving furniture around, rugs, drapes or even adding some room treatments can help.

 

[Ricardojoa]

May i suggest acoustic panels behind listening podition to tame dow highs and refective sounds Reglective come make you sound harsh . i have the problem, when listening to liw volume everything sounds good, once is loud, things starts to bounce all over the place.
Dual is good to, it will help unload you fronts.