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Sensitive speakers continually surprise


Grizzog

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I'm always surprised by my speakers ever since I switched to highly sensitive systems. They are so much cleaner and more "live" than anything else I've heard or owned.

I almost never listen loud, but tonight I decided to really see what my Altec 19s could do.

I've got a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II powering them at 100wpc. This is as far as I could go before I couldn't be in the room anymore:

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This would most likely be the top for my Heresies and RF-7ii as well. The Altecs stayed clean and clear, but were just beyond what my ears can take. It was fun to experience the room fully pressurized.

Just had to share. I'm astounded by the quality of all my systems at low and high volumes.

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Remember that the position of the volume control tells you nothing about how much power the amp is putting out.  At the loud levels you described, I'd bet it wasn't more than a couple of watts.  It's easy to take a measurement to get an approximation if you're interested..........

 

Maynard

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Remember that the position of the volume control tells you nothing about how much power the amp is putting out. At the loud levels you described, I'd bet it wasn't more than a couple of watts. It's easy to take a measurement to get an approximation if you're interested..........

Maynard

I would be interested in that, I'm curious as to what it was actually doing. I got a kick out of it because on the speakers I initially tested the amp on in the showroom, it was turned halfway up and still nowhere near as loud as it was when I took the pic.

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It is fun to see what the speakers and amp can really do but, like Bill, I enjoy lower levels and like listening to details. Grizzog, you have a nice selection of speakers to listen to!

Thank you! I prefer low listening levels and the details as well. Right now, I just have some acoustic guitar and piano on.

Just had to see what kind of power was available and now I know the speakers will go many times what I would ever care to experience.

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I'm always surprised by my speakers ever since I switched to highly sensitive systems.

 

This is not for normal listening it was just a test for fun.

 

Out in the yard I have 2 single mwm bins with split LaScala tops(copies). 

\

I was playing around connecting to play an I-phone 4 for streaming music, but before I finished i used an adapter to connect to the speakers just using the phone NO amp to see if it would even make a sound. It played, I was shocked, it was really low but it did play.

 

I was surprised because it's an i phone powering  2 15" drivers two K55/k400 mids and two tweeters through a AA crossover, instead of a tiny in phone speaker.

 

High sensitivity is a great thing, especially how it cuts down on distortion from drivers and amps not working very hard.

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An Onkyo Integra A-9711 pushing 80 watts per channel in to a pair of Heresys will piss of the neighbors AND get you a visit from the local sheriff office.

 

Ask me how I know that.  :D

Haha,,,,I think we know.

The test is to not have it happen again.

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Remember that the position of the volume control tells you nothing about how much power the amp is putting out. At the loud levels you described, I'd bet it wasn't more than a couple of watts. It's easy to take a measurement to get an approximation if you're interested..........

Maynard

I would be interested in that, I'm curious as to what it was actually doing. I got a kick out of it because on the speakers I initially tested the amp on in the showroom, it was turned halfway up and still nowhere near as loud as it was when I took the pic.

 

The process is very simple and only requires a multimeter set to a low (maybe 10-20 volt, unless it is auto--ranging) AC range.  Put on a recording with very little dynamic range (basically any modern rock/pop recording!) and turn up the volume to the ear shattering level that you described.  Then, place the meter probes either across the speaker terminals of one channel, or the amp's output terminals of one channel.  Observe the maximum voltage measured (if, by chance, the meter has a peak-hold feature that can be extremely useful) for a minute or so.  Write that down, then turn down the volume control to the level at which you normally listen, measure again, and write that down.  We will assume that the speaker's minimum impedance is 4 ohms somewhere in the audio band.  Using your calculator, square the measured voltage and divide by 4.  That will give you the approximation of the power being fed to the speaker.  For example, let's say you measure a maximum of 2V.  That would equate to 1 watt.  Please post the results for both listening levels!!!  It will be enlightening for us all.  I can't speak for your 19s but, with K-horns, LSs, and the smaller Reference Series speakers, it is usually so low that few believe it!

Maynard

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An Onkyo Integra A-9711 pushing 80 watts per channel in to a pair of Heresys will piss of the neighbors AND get you a visit from the local sheriff office.

 

Ask me how I know that.  :D

Was it the distortion police that came?

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