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June 22, 2011 - 11:34am
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Looking for Budget Bookshelf Speakers
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is sublime. Enough to make up for their other minor shortcomings.
http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/1105wharfedale
The review on the Wharfedales sounds pretty impressive. The only thing that concerns me about those speakers is their sensitivity at 86dB. Since I would be driving these with a relatively low-powered amplifier, would it be better that I used a speaker that has a sensitivity rating of 89-91dB or better?
Also, does anyone else have suggestions?
Thanks!
the Wharfedales provide that, then it is a matter if you can achieve sufficient sound pressure levels to satisfy your expectations. With that amplifier and that pair of speakers in your small 10'x10' room, with room gain, you could expect at least 100dB at your listening position before that amplifier clips. And that amplifier is known for sounding good well into clipping.
I usually listen to most music at about 85dB which is getting loud. At least for my wife it is.
My opinion is the Wharfedales are the best of your listed bunch. Who cares if you get a little more volume if it doesn't sound as good?
I’d add the Castle Knight 1 to your list. They’re $50 more than what you were looking to spend but the midrange was pretty unbelievable. I think they’re made in the same factory as the wharfs.
You might give the Paradigm Atoms a listen. They have rather high sensitivity, which will match well with your amps, and imo they beat the pants off a lot of more expensive competitors in terms of accuracy, transparency, and detail. I had a pair of Atoms in my bedroom, and I found they worked quite well both for serious listening and for low-level nearfield background music. (They flanked my desk.) I would not have traded them for anything that went for twice the price.