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Hi-Eff Small Spkr for Near Field Listening

99.8.82.107
Posted on April 16, 2015 at 08:41:09
Charlie8521
Audiophile

Posts: 914
Location: South East Michigan
Joined: October 2, 2004
 On my desk top computer, MacMini, I feed the audio into a little Magnavox tube amp running a pair of EL84's. Maybe 8 watts per side. Listening distance is 3 ft. Have some ultra cheap $40 speaker currently, but the sound is surprising good. Any recommendation for a hi-eff small speaker for near field listening that is a good value for the money. Considering going back and picking up a new pair of NHT SuperZero 2.1's at $100/ea. Not the most efficient speaker though (87dB).

 

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RE: Hi-Eff Small Spkr for Near Field Listening, posted on April 16, 2015 at 09:21:59
hottattoo
Audiophile

Posts: 141
Location: New York
Joined: July 30, 2011
 Some of the small Fostex speakers may be an option. Check ebay.

 

RE: Hi-Eff Small Spkr for Near Field Listening, posted on April 16, 2015 at 10:50:59
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 Although these do not tick the high efficiency box, I am using a pair of Usher S520 with a 15wpc 6V6 integrated / headphone amp. They're an easy load on a tube amp and rated at 85-86db. That's plenty loud at 1-8 watts unless you listen at live venue levels which will start to compress. My listening db average at nearfield rarely exceeded 80-86db measured. They play very well with tubes and I like the fact that the lower efficiency gives me more volume knob range. I've used them in the two channel room and they're pretty amazing. Used them in my office set up 4' apart, slight toe-in, about 12" from the wall and roughly 3' or so from my head. That was absolutely mesmerizing which led to work not getting done like it should. They are now in my family room flanking a plasma tv and make it so much better than those quarter sized things flat panel TVs call speakers.

 

Here's a screen shot from the web. , posted on April 16, 2015 at 12:44:34
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009



Random image for size and appearance

 

RE: Hi-Eff Small Spkr for Near Field Listening, posted on April 16, 2015 at 20:08:41
ngng88
Audiophile

Posts: 54
Location: Los Angeles
Joined: July 13, 2004
 I had a similar set up, loved the kef coda 7 with my maggie
Pretty efficient too 90 or 91dB
Very reasonable on eBay when you can find them.

 

RE: Hi-Eff Small Spkr for Near Field Listening, posted on April 16, 2015 at 20:58:58
Alnicoman
Audiophile

Posts: 330
Location: Minnesota
Joined: August 1, 2003
 I would recommend you have a listen to a pair of the small Tannoys. I have a buddy who is a long time broadcast engineer over at the public TV station and he swears by them.
Their smallest offerings can be had for as little $100 per pair on ebay.

 

RE: Hi-Eff Small Spkr for Near Field Listening, posted on April 17, 2015 at 03:47:21
Rpower
Audiophile

Posts: 280
Location: Northeast Georgia
Joined: October 27, 2000



I had good luck with the Pioneer SP-BS22-LR small bookshelf speakers. Good price ($129) with great sound and reviews.

 

Been enjoying a pair of these., posted on April 17, 2015 at 10:08:51
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014



BIC FH-65B


6.5" woofer. Horn loaded tweeter, rear port. Rated at 96 dB/w/m at 8 Ohms. My 15 wpc Advent 300 receiver drives the bejeebers out of them. Surprising bass. Paid $95 each on Amazon.







Opus 33 1/3

 

RE: Hi-Eff Small Spkr for Near Field Listening, posted on April 17, 2015 at 16:19:48
krankkall
Audiophile

Posts: 296
Location: New Mexico
Joined: April 5, 2014
 I'm using a pair of early 70's ROR Speakers out of Flushing, NY.
Around 14" x 6" x 4 1/2"; they each house a 4" paper cone woofer, 4" paper cone passive radiator, and 1" Peerless textile soft dome tweeter.
Wood veneered on ALL sides including the back, they are easily driven by a low powered PCL86 SE tube amplifier.
They were a STEAL on flea-bay for $40!!
Well worth hunting for, IMHO.

Steve


 

HSU, posted on April 17, 2015 at 23:10:52
djk
Manufacturer

Posts: 6135
Joined: June 17, 2000

Dr. HSU designed the BIC speakers in the other post.

These are a step up.


"The HB-1 MK2's midrange is a real treat, for it is virtually without color and as close to neutral as I think I've heard at this price point and even several clicks above. The upper midrange is so organic and textural that it manages to put to shame a lot of other quality bookshelf speakers costing three and even five times as much. The HB-1 MK2's midrange performance, especially with well-recorded vocals and dialog tracks, is absolutely sublime. Speaking of sublime, the HB-1 MK2's soundstage is stunning and better in my room than even my reference Bowers & Wilkins. The air, detail, dynamics and three-dimensionality found in the HB-1 MK2's soundstage is simply amazing and one of the speaker's best attributes. Equally impressive is the level of detail and delineation that can be heard within the soundstage. While I've heard speakers with better focus, the HB-1 MK2 gets so much of the equation right that you'll come out of pocket a lot more before you begin to improve upon what the HSU's provides you out of the box."

 

RE: Hi-Eff Small Spkr for Near Field Listening, posted on April 18, 2015 at 08:16:16
Brian Levy
Audiophile

Posts: 2438
Location: Toronto
Joined: June 5, 2000
 These sound interesting. I am a fan of paper cone drivers. Seems on a weight to stiffness ratio the paper cone can be a winner and I notice a good one seems to be faster and have better transient response.
Don Brian Levy, J.D.
Toronto ON Canada

 

RE: Hi-Eff Small Spkr for Near Field Listening, posted on April 18, 2015 at 08:20:09
krankkall
Audiophile

Posts: 296
Location: New Mexico
Joined: April 5, 2014
 You see quite a number of ROR speakers, have made their way into recording studios as near-field monitors.
They must be doing something right?

Steve

 

RE: Hi-Eff Small Spkr for Near Field Listening, posted on April 20, 2015 at 08:46:14
merdy
Audiophile

Posts: 1625
Location: New paltz,ny
Joined: July 25, 2001



i myself still use a pair of the type e111 for computer audio unbelievable speaker ,while i have only heard the ones you have at a hifi store i am sure they are killer
Silence is golden duct tape is silver

 

RE: Hi-Eff Small Spkr for Near Field Listening, posted on April 20, 2015 at 10:44:13
krankkall
Audiophile

Posts: 296
Location: New Mexico
Joined: April 5, 2014
 Back in 2007, I took those old ROR speakers to the Mid-Atlantic Region Audiokarma meet-n'-greet in Northern Virginia.
They were very well received, despite hearing....."What's a ROR??" from one and all!
Mated with a GOOD sub-woofer, and you are correct....they certainly are little killers!!


Steve

 

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