Can someone translate this for me.

JimBRICK

I found a set of speakers online I cant hear before buying. For my now small listening room

these are the specs

Impedance: 8Ω

Power: 15 W (RMS) per channel

Frequency Response: 70 Hz - 20 kHz ±3 dB

Sensitivity: 84dB

Drive unit: 3" Full Range, long throw, super light and fast, thick die-cast basket

Harmonic Distortion: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th order (200Hz - 20kHz) less than 1%

Dimensions(one speaker): 11" H x 6.0" W x 6.0" D

Net weight: 6.6 lb
....

tonyb

Basically what those numbers mean is it won't play any low bass notes and that efficiency rating means they need some power though I don't get how they are rated for 15 watts. Sounds more like an outdoor speaker judging by those numbers. Actually, I've seen many outdoor speakers with better numbers than those.....including Polks.

nooshinjohn

I would walk away based on specs, but I have heard some great gear that looks like complete garbage on a spec sheet, and visa-versa.

zingo

What are they? Specs aren't everything...

mhardy6647

The most troubling thing I see is the low sensitivity - these are rated for 84 dB SPL at a distance of 1 meter from the speaker with an input of 1 watt. This is low, even by modern standards(my Altec Duplexes, by comparison, are ca. 104 dB/watt @ 1 meter). It also seems like an odd design choice for a small fullrange driver. The specified frequency response +/- 3 dB is actually quite impressive for such a driver, if it has any bearing in reality (there are no real recognized, much less legally binding, requirements).

Face

A 3" full range driver will only be limited to 15w due to it's small xmax.

Aside from lacking bass, unless they're aimed almost directly at you, don't expect much HF or a large sweet spot.

I would check out the KEF Q100, and IIRC, there's a pair on the classifieds now.

JimBRICK

http://www.sereneaudio.com/
http://www.sereneaudio.com/talismanpassive

Face

You can get a nice pair of used Q100's for less than that...plus they'll sound much better.

zingo

Face wrote: »

You can get a nice pair of used Q100's for less than that...plus they'll sound much better.

Yup, pass...

teekay0007

JimBRICK wrote: »

http://www.sereneaudio.com/
http://www.sereneaudio.com/talismanpassive

From above link: Attention is paid to all the minute details of both aesthetic and acoustic qualities of our speakers. Each design goes though myriad cycles of scientific measurement, fine tuning by ear, and aesthetic refinement to achieve perfection.

If they were really sweatin' the details, don't you think they could have proofread their own copy first? :redface:

Anyhoo....back to the speakers. Upside: They look kind of neat and definitely unique. There is a free (other than return shipping) 30-day trial period. Downside: They're tiny at only 8" tall and 5" wide with pretty underwhelming spec's. They'd likely need a sub even to be enjoyable for stereo music listening. They suggest using them as home theater speakers...Wow! 15 Watts isn't gonna get you far down that road. They'd also look pretty silly (IMHO) sitting next to any screen bigger than maybe 19". At nearly $400, they're far from cheap.

I'd say pass.

Face

Concerning the low wattage rating, they're obviously made for nearfield listening. 15 watts through a pair of 84db speakers can reach 100db @ 1 meter, which is plenty loud. But due to their limited LF response, it would be loud without much as far as dynamics go.

JimBRICK

alright alright got it. I'm probably going to go with the Totems 1's I saw on canuckaudiomart

tonyb

Face wrote: »

Concerning the low wattage rating, they're obviously made for nearfield listening. 15 watts through a pair of 84db speakers can reach 100db @ 1 meter, which is plenty loud. But due to their limited LF response, it would be loud without much as far as dynamics go.

True, which is why they are pretty much just nice looking computer speakers. Which is fine if thats the goal but I have a feeling ol' Jim wants better.:cheesygrin:

Jim...you never really said what these would be used for....or the Totems for that matter. The Totems, at least the ones I've heard, need some power behind them to wake them up. Just saying is all. A tad more detail and associated gear would go a long way in helping us throw out advice.

Dawgfish

Quick translation: look for another speaker! ;-)

JimBRICK

I have a new listening room that is 10x12. Rather small with the couch in there. So even angled the speakers have alot of work to do. Using my Onix SP3 amp and a rega turntable. Pretty much only a vinyl listening room. The Heresy II's I had were jsut too bright for that size room

disneyjoe7

With a room like that 10x12 you need a bigger speaker for sure.

organ

JimBRICK wrote: »

I have a new listening room that is 10x12. Rather small with the couch in there. So even angled the speakers have alot of work to do. Using my Onix SP3 amp and a rega turntable. Pretty much only a vinyl listening room. The Heresy II's I had were jsut too bright for that size room

You really shouldn't run into any problems running a pair of Heresy II's in a room that size. Corner load them. Cornwall or La Scala, and you'll need a bigger room. Maybe you have a "bright" room. Have you done any treatment? 10x12 will benefit a lot from some sort of absorption from early reflections and rear wall. In that size room you pretty much don't have a choice but to sit against the wall. Treating this wall alone will make a huge difference. You don't have to go fancy. Bed foam works very well for me. I use a thick one with the egg carton type design.
Just a thought. Definitely cheaper than new speakers.