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HD650-esque single driver speakers

post #1 of 7
8/28/07 at 9:55pm
Thread Starter 
For High efficiency speakers such as omega or hornshope, to be driven by a trends audio 10.1 amp. Any thoughts as to what would sound the most like headphones signature above? Think bedroom size room. I have been leaning towards hornshope but am on the fence.

I am not concerned about bass response per se, because I have a Zu mini method and special sub adapter for the trends amp.
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post #2 of 7
8/28/07 at 10:11pm
Seems to me that you're really asking a terribly difficult, if not impossible, question to answer.

It is not just the size of the room, it's the precise dimensions, speaker placement with respect to reflective/absorptive surfaces, ratio of those surfaces, and other factors that impact the perceived sound.

As several reviewers have noted, HD600/HD650's are capable of revealing that "gnat's fart in a cathedral" detail in music that isn't going to be there in virtually any reasonably affordable full-range speaker rig......and certainly not one driven by a trends 10.1.

I'm not familiar with all of the models in those lines, but do you think that any horn/single driver speaker sounds at all like an HD650? YMMV, but some otherwise favorable reviews that I skimmed for some of the hornshoppe models noted the typical midrange coloration attributed to full-range drivers, something that I never have heard in HD600/650's.

If you explain a bit more about what characterstics of the HD650 you like, someone might be able to give you some clearer guidance.
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post #3 of 7
8/29/07 at 12:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sejarzo View Post
As several reviewers have noted, HD600/HD650's are capable of revealing that "gnat's fart in a cathedral" detail...
Actually, that was the K701 that had that humorous quote in it (Stereophile review magazine).
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post #4 of 7
8/29/07 at 7:21am
Thread Starter 
Sejarzo: Sorry for the vagueness of my question.

As for my room, it is untreated, bare walled at the moment. Basic 4 wall shape, with a closet on the back wall next to the door entryway. Unfortunately I have yet to measure it precisely. However, my goal is to get a speaker that can sound great in multiple environments, as I am likely to move within a year. I do have some absorbing mats from Auralex that I can use to tame reflections and such.

While its true that I have not seen any comments referring to said speakers as “hd650 speakers” etc, I do remember several remarks made that this type of speaker (high sensitivity + single driver) can tend to have headphone qualities, more so than most other speaker types. I guess my though process was that I would like a speaker geared towards the Sennheiser sound rather than the Grado sound, etc. For example, I love the HD650s qualities of tonal balance, lack of sibilance, lack of compression/excellent dynamics, overall lushness and definition. Compared to other headphones I’ve heard, it sounds like the HD650 lets the full sound of the recording out, while keeping everything in control and balanced. It’s a difficult sensation to describe, but it sounds like everything is perfectly shaped and carved out just right, but never tweaked or eq’d, etc.

As for the Trends Audio 10.1 amp, I realize it is a budget item and that it is limited in scale, but it does sound quite fair. I don’t have a stock unit either, but a heavily modified unit from audiomagus.com, which replaces basically all connectors, pots, caps, wires, etc. Considering that the stock unit received a blue moon award from 6moons.com, my thinking is that I will upgrade my speakers and source first, then upgrade the amp, since my current speakers are a weaker link than the amp.

Also, a big reason I have narrowed my focus to high sensitivity single driver speakers is to capitalize on this amp, as it does not have gobs of watts to throw to multiple drivers, etc. Of the reviews I’ve seen, it seems these amps are made for this type of speaker.

Hopefully this clears things up a bit.
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post #5 of 7
8/29/07 at 11:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheMarchingMule View Post
Actually, that was the K701 that had that humorous quote in it (Stereophile review magazine).
And also a comment in an onhifi review of another component, in which the reviewer was specifying the associated gear he used (before the K701 came out, IIRC......)

I googled it and it seems it might be a common "British English Audiophile" slang term, perhaps.
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post #6 of 7
9/1/07 at 1:59pm
Perhaps the Bob Brines FT-1600 MKII might fit your bill. Reasonably efficient, reasonably well priced, but that 10 watts, hum.....Do not know.

The biggest issue with the legend of single driver speakers is that they are efficient....On the average they are, but, in most of the cases it is very difficult to get the high and the lows fully extended and be efficient at the same time.

The biggest disappointment that people have is that, to expect too much from a pair of single drivers and a low powered device. Keep all of this in mind.

There are wide band, single fullrange driver set ups that will get you what you are looking for, but for the most part they happen to be expensive.
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post #7 of 7
9/1/07 at 2:00pm
Also, beware of the infamous midrange "shout" that is extremely prevalent in many single driver set ups. That shout can sound exciting at first, but in the long term, make many set ups unlistenable.
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