Speakers for 400w Emotiva amp for under 5k

[e32lover]

Gday, I just bought the Emotiva 5x400wrms amp, and i need to get some decent main speakers for it. The house that it is going in is a very large open pan design, so i need some powerful equipment.

 

 

I have briefly looked and it seems that for 5k u could only get some smallish qood quality floor standers for that money, however I am after some larger more powerful speakers, full massive if possible. I dont mind getting a lower end less audiophile speakers as my main priority is to get some very powerful large speakers that still sound decent. I think to get some propper high end speakers of this power and size would be like 10k+.

 

It seems there are no brands that cater for this, from what i can find. All you can find for under 5k are some crappy massive super powerful rubbish Pioneer or JVC speakers, or you can get some high quality AVR Jordans 3 ways or similar, but of pissweak power handling.

 

What speakers would suit my requirements?

 

 

[betty boop]

if a large open plan area its actually subwoofers that will make the difference. also power isnt really your answer. e.g. 400w is only giving you 3 db more loudness vs say 200w. speakers draw power, watts isnt a guarantee. you havent given us the size of this large open plan area. this will give clues the kind of sub/s you need. re speakers you can get some pretty high efficiency ones eg klipsch but really most decent ones in your price bracket would do.

 

as a note its not loudness per say but quality of sound you want. you can get PA speakers cheaply from jb hifi that will sound pretty loud but rubbish as far as quality goes. a good pair of speakers coupled with subs that replay dynamics well you wont find you need to cr@nk to the max

 

some brands on the ht side to consider, paradigm, klipsch. in the aussie brands try krix, vaf etc. plenty of great speakers around in your price bracket

[henry218]

If you after speakers that can play loud, look the ones with bigger drivers and possibly with horn/waveguide. You can have a listen to JBL dealers, im sure they will display some jbl models with horns.

 

JBL and REVEL usually can play loud better.

[avalon27]

nice amp mate

[Janjuggler]

Hi

 

For big sound you will need big, sensitive speakers, why not try some big bad Cerwin Vega XLS-215's  or the little brother the XLS - 15's

 

                

 

XLS - 215 :Sensitivity 95.3db, 2 x 15" woofer, 38hz - 20 khz, $1750 a pair at Billy Hyde

 

XLS - 15 : Sensitivity 92.5db, 15" woofer, 38hz - 20 khz,  $1375 a pair at Billy Hyde

 

Review here ....

 

JJ

Edited August 27, 2013 by Janjuc

[DoggieHowser]

If you are also interested in multi channel music as well, I'd recommend going for identical speakers all round, placing them equidistant from the listening position and in the right angles. 

 

KEF LS50 would be my bet. Should work well with the Emotiva amp (until you decide you want better).

[rocky500]

There is some JTR speakers for sale on the DTV forum that could be good for what you are after.

http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=139245

[automated]

Bose 901?

[Newman]

Just to clarify, your 5k limit is for a centre, two front and two rear speakers? What about sub? Is that also to fit in the 5k limit?

 

KEF LS50 would be my bet.

 

This seems to be completely the opposite of what the OP asked for?

[houdinifangs]

Look here

http://www.adelaidespeakers.com/summoner-floorstanders.html

[DoggieHowser]

Just to clarify, your 5k limit is for a centre, two front and two rear speakers? What about sub? Is that also to fit in the 5k limit?

KEF LS50 would be my bet.

This seems to be completely the opposite of what the OP asked for?

I sometimes wonder what some posters really want. If he wants a good quality speaker for multichannel playback the LS50 IMHO is well worth the audition. They are large enough sounding and they are small enough that you could use the same speaker for all 5 channels. Unless the objective is to go for large imposing looking speakers.

[henry218]

well, i think he is looking for speakers that can play really LOUD, although we are not sure yet how LOUD it is, typical HT @90db average is loud enough prob with peaks 100-105db.

 

I dont know about LS50, but surely this speakers will struggle to handles low freq @100db peaks, im not talking about 50hz, but 80-150hz.

[rocky500]

The JTR speakers have a sensitivity of 101db.

Useable output to 133 db.

Up to 1600 watts RMS (program)

http://jtrspeakers.com/home-audio/triple-12ht/

 

That should get some volume going in any place.

[DoggieHowser]

well, i think he is looking for speakers that can play really LOUD, although we are not sure yet how LOUD it is, typical HT @90db average is loud enough prob with peaks 100-105db.

 

I dont know about LS50, but surely this speakers will struggle to handles low freq @100db peaks, im not talking about 50hz, but 80-150hz.

 

You really need to listen to these speakers. They are astounding.

 

Here's a review from JDarko

 

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2013/07/kef-ls50-loudspeakers-w-three-budget-amplifiers/

 

with links to other reviews as well

[Guest Muon]

Look here

http://www.adelaidespeakers.com/summoner-floorstanders.html

He has a nice suggested HT setup for under 5k down the page a bit.

http://www.adelaidespeakers.com/summoner-floorstanders.html

[e32lover]

Thanks for the repplies, Im looking at 5k for just front speakers, ill worry about the rest later. I understand that doubling wattage only creates a 1 or 2 db gain, but i have found in the past that that 1 db is really noticable at higher db levels.

 

cheers for the repplies, definately some useful info here.

 

Wow, just wow at those adelaide speakers, they look fabulous, They seem to be very well priced, are they a half decent speaker?

Edited August 27, 2013 by e32lover

[Newman]

The JBL Studio 590 speakers are $2500 per pair and might suit you. They are a recent model, designed by JBL's top guy. They seem to be highly rated for music. Maybe try an audition?

 

There is a review and measurements in the current issue of Australian Hi-Fi magazine.

 

They also are part of a series, so you could fill out the 5 channels later with (sonically and visually) matching speakers. They come in a black or wood finish.

 

[davewantsmoore]

Unfortunately, choosing speakers which are any more efficient than what Newman has recommended is going to mean you need an amplifier with high quality output at very low power levels.... and ideally low amounts of gain.

 

What speakers would suit my requirements?

 

Tell us more about your requirements?

 

Will you be sitting close ever?   Will you listen at normal volumes (like to a TV show at a level you could easily talk over) very often, or just discotheque levels !?

 

Do you need coverage over a wide area?   (Eg. someone not standing right in front of the speakers, but off very much to the sides)

 

 

I think you need efficient speakers with constant (controlled) coverage pattern ....   I think everyone needs this though, heh.

Edited August 27, 2013 by davewantsmoore

[bhobba]

I dont know about LS50, but surely this speakers will struggle to handles low freq @100db peaks, im not talking about 50hz, but 80-150hz.

 

Of course they will - whether it will be audible at sane listening levels is another matter.

 

Actually taking a level meter along auditioning stuff is often very illuminating.  We hear this you need speakers to handle huge power and go really loud etc etc.  Put a SPL meter at your litening position and you will be surprised, even when playing LOUD what level it is - probably 80db or below.  Try it.

 

I doubt there would be any issues with a LS 50 as fronts.

 

Thanks

Bill 

Edited August 28, 2013 by bhobba

[Newman]

LOUD is less than 80 dB? Bill, you're such a wimp!  :nana       I have done that measurement, and I sure didn't get less than 80 dB! 

 

KEF LS50: a 5" driver (radiating area reduced by its coaxial tweeter), in a speaker of 85 dB/W sensitivity, rated for max 100W amp, that rolls off at 79 Hz. Now, that is a total mismatch for the stated application IMHO!  

[DoggieHowser]

I drive my 300W rated speakers with 1200W amps. Love the reserves and how well the speaker is controlled I find the LS50s love good power and loads of it.

[davewantsmoore]

I drive my 300W rated speakers with 1200W amps. Love the reserves and how well the speaker is controlled I find the LS50s love good power and loads of it.

 

I would almost guarantee you're not using (ever) the top 900w of your amp ... and "control" is not related to power.

 

There is some other reason why you like it so.

[davewantsmoore]

Thanks for the repplies, Im looking at 5k for just front speakers, ill worry about the rest later. I understand that doubling wattage only creates a 1 or 2 db gain, but i have found in the past that that 1 db is really noticable at higher db levels.

 

cheers for the repplies, definately some useful info here.

 

Wow, just wow at those adelaide speakers, they look fabulous, They seem to be very well priced, are they a half decent speaker?

 

They are great for the price.   Especially if you want a custom speaker.  Edward at AS is one man company, so he has the flexibility to do what you want.

 

However for $5k, you have a lot more options to explore....  but first you need to answer my questions.   They will make a huge difference as to what is a suitable recommendation for you.     Your comment in the other thread about "so many options" is very valid.   We need a lot of information to help narrow it down.     They're a few posts up, but let me rehash.

 

Size.   How big can these speakers be?

Price.    Do you really want to spend $5k on two speakers.... or should we realistically try and hit the "half that" mark.

Room.   How big is the room?   Construction?

Distance.    How far away will the listeners be?  Normally?   Maximum?

Location.    Will all the listeners be in-front of the speakers like in a normal hifi setup? .... or will there be people listening right off to the side, in an adjoining open plan room?.... out on a deck/balcony, etc?   (Many speakers are not well suited for off-axis listening)

Program material.   Are you more a jazz / slippers ... or dealth-metal / realistic-battlefield ... type of person?   (really a good system would be the same for both ... but this might help split hairs)

[davewantsmoore]

LOUD is less than 80 dB? Bill, you're such a wimp!

 

With up to 30dB of DR on top of that it actually IS.... it's all about how we measure, so it's hard to know.

 

Of course they will - whether it will be audible at sane listening levels is another matter

 

If you're reading 80dB on your meter in the listening position (3m?) .... and listening to highly dynamic music (+30dB) .... then it could very well be an issue.

 

 

If you meter was capturing very short peaks  (and you were still listening to very dynamic recordings) ... then Newman is right, you do listen quiet quietly.

 

 

 

Heh.  I'm always going write Newman in italics now.   I can hear Jerry everytime, LOL.

Edited August 28, 2013 by davewantsmoore

[hochopeper]

Weighting applied in the meter is important too.