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Re: Speaker selection help - RTS-3, Paradox 1, other?

Posted by MAS (A) on August 16, 2002 at 19:46:23

In Reply to: Speaker selection help - RTS-3, Paradox 1, other? posted by danjf on August 16, 2002 at 08:54:40:

Oh man, I've actually listened to all those speakers in my own system. Oops, I've heard the Axiom M3Ti, not the M2.

I had the Polk rt35, Axiom M3T1, and Sound Dynamics rts3 in my house at the same time. I wanted to like the Polk, but it sounded too grainy and never really came alive for me. It had a nice balance top to bottom, however. The Axiom's have a very lively mid-range. Very, very nice, natural sound, as good as any I have heard, in the mid-range. However the bass lacks the clarity of the midrange. After awhile, I didn't hear the natural mid-range, all I could hear is the muddy, congested bass.

I only listened to the Michaura's a little bit before setting them up in my kids' systems. It is a decent speaker with good clarity. I was hoping for better imaging, but maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance.

I believe the Sound Dynamics, especially with tubes, could be the best bet of the Sound Dynamics, Polk, Axiom and Michaura. I liked the clarity of the RTS-3, but didn't like the ocasionally spitty high frequencies. Also, in my solid state system it could be a little ruthless.

Initial listening may favor the Axiom, but I think that the Sound Dynamics would give greater long term pleasure, since it makes fewer sins of commission.

I now have the Gr-Research P1's. They are in another league all together. They are also more expensive than the others on your list. SStill, I haven't heard of anyone giving up on P1's for less expensive speakers. I remeber an inmate that prefered reynaud speakers. Major improvements in clarity, transparency and imaging. I would strongly recommend stepping up to the GR-Research. Very easy to listen to, and I never feel like I am listening through faults.

There is one inmate, Saurav, who is running his P1's with the ASL Waves, which are 7 watts I believe. Still, I would be concered about 14 watts with any of the speakers you have listed, including the P1's. All the speakers on your list are about the same efficiency, in spite of Axioms claims about 93 db efficiency.

I listen at moderate levels in my 15 x 15 room (I can carry on a conversation with someone in the same room as the stereo when my system is playing), and the Rega Mira drives it OK at that level and higher, with 60 watts/channel. I've been considering SET, but I don't think it is a great match with an 89 db speaker, even though the P1 has a tube friendly impedance.

Depending on how loud you like to listen, a pair of higher efficiency speakers might be better suited. I haven't heard a lot of candidates. The adire HE 10.1 seems a promising candidate. Another interesting idea to me would be a pair of vintage JBL l00's.

What kind of speakers are you using now? How loud do you listen?

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