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What speakers can the Dared MP-5 drive?

post #1 of 16
4/16/08 at 3:38pm
Thread Starter 
I have the Dared MP-5, using it mainly as a headphone amp.

I want to buy a set of loudspeakers to use with the Dared, but am having a hard time choosing. Am new to speakers, after all, so I don't know what to listen for.

I tried my amp with Mordaunt Short Avant 902i speakers in a store, and they sounded fine, I guess. But how do i know if they're really being driven properly?

The amp has 13W per channel (whatever that means) and the 902i's have a 96db sensitivity. How do I test them to make sure they really have the "headroom" that I've read is necessary?

Also, based solely on reviews and availability, I've been choosing between the Mordaunt Short 902i and the Usher S-520, which has even lower sensitivity at 86db. I don't mind bringing my amp to the different stores again, but I'm getting confused as to what I should be listening for.

I'll probably get a better amp one day, but I want to make sure that I get good enough speakers that when I do upgrade the amp, I don't have to replace my speakers as well.

A little help, please?
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post #2 of 16
4/16/08 at 3:52pm
With 13W, you should consider efficient horns and singledrivers. You probably won't find a whole lot of those in stores, but there are smaller online retailers and singledrivers are relatively simple DIY projects. How much are you looking to spend and what kind of music do you listen to?
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post #3 of 16
4/16/08 at 4:14pm
Thread Starter 
I failed shop, so I don't know about doing DIY work.

Also, I live in the Philippines, so even parts are difficult to find here. Tried finding parts for a Cmoy once. The only decent component I could find was the tin of Altoids.

Purely on availability (which again, in my country, is fairly poor), I found a few bookshelf speakers, which is all I want considering the size of my room (roughly 2m X 7m). I'm really choosing between these.

Usher S-520, which I auditioned but not with my amp.

Mordaunt Short 902i which I auditioned with my amp.

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 and 9.2, which I also heard with my amp, but didn't like as much as the Ushers or 902i.

Some small Kef speakers, which I wasn't into at all.

So far, the Ushers sounded the best. But they were being driven by a beautiful monster of an amp.

I mainly listen to Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Elvis Costello kinda stuff. A lot of classic rock, Dylan and the Who. Paul Simon.

Some jazz. Occasional classical.

My budget is roughly in the range of the speakers I've mentioned. In US retail prices around 300-400$ (but for some reason much cheaper here).

My research all says that I should audition, audition, audition. That's apparently the only thing that I can rely on. But being a newb, especially with speakers, I don't even know if I can rely on that. How do I know if they're being properly driven, vs. merely having enough gain to be loud?

What should I listen for, and how should I test?

Thanks for the quick reply, Uncle Erik.
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post #4 of 16
4/17/08 at 12:50am
Thread Starter 
Anyone?
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post #5 of 16
4/17/08 at 9:00am
Thread Starter 
Bump.
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post #6 of 16
4/17/08 at 4:54pm
Budget?
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post #7 of 16
4/18/08 at 2:33am
Thread Starter 
Like I said, budget is somewhere in the 300$-400$ US range.



I don't mind auditioning, but I want to know what to listen for, how to know if the speakers are being properly driven aside from gain.
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post #8 of 16
2/6/09 at 2:52am
I own a pair of Klipsch RB-51 with my Dared MP-5, and I am more than pleased with them. I get that feeling of almost being able to touch the instruments in front of me with this set. I am new to hi-end audio so I can't really compare.
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post #9 of 16
2/6/09 at 11:50am
Hey, you want the best budget speakers going?

Bookshelf, floorstanding, whatever, for new speakers, there isn't an equivalent to these atm. These guys are the new av123 but they actually deliver on time lol.

TST1 3-Way High Performance Tower Speakers

Their bigger brothers hit 30hz strongly btw. A bit out of your price range though.

30 day money back and they mean it. Good customer service.
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post #10 of 16
2/17/09 at 1:02am
Go single driver for bang for buck and efficiency if you like the sound

tekton designs are in that price new or on audiogon - or order drivers and have someone build cabinets to spec (fostex plans, etc) - just make sure to build the BSC
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post #11 of 16
2/17/09 at 2:31am
See if you can import a pair of Jordan JX92S singledrivers. They run around $300-$350 in the United States, so they're in your budget.

Yes, you will have to have cabinets made, but they're not bad. Thete are a few versions to choose from and the simplest is just a box. You can have your local cabinetmaker cut them oub of MDF in 15-20 minutes. They're that simple. No crossover, either. You just run a wire from the + terminal on the speaker to the + jack. You do the same between the - terminal and the - jack. Then you hook your amp to the jacks. That's all there is to it. If you hit a snag, post here and we'll walk you through.

The quality you'll get from the Jordan drivers will be high. Much better than any commercial offering in that price range. Just trust yourself with the build - you only need some confidence to see it through.
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post #12 of 16
2/18/09 at 1:46am
Here is the key for you and it's simple. At 13W, you want to be at around 92 DB sensitivity or above. A used pair of the low end Omega hemp speakers will work well. If you are not listening to heavy rock or orchestra, you could get by with 90+ sensitivity.

I ran JM LAB Mini Utopias (92 db) with an 18W Dared and they were lush ...but I also had a good sub.

Seriously, if you can find some
http: //www.omegaloudspeakers.com/products/ they will sound wonderful (they are good speaker and made for low power tubes). They are a little out of your price range, but used they do pop up for around $500 or so.
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post #13 of 16
3/4/10 at 12:46am

Blumenstein ultra-fi

take a look at Blumenstein Ultra-Fi. They offer some very nice single-driver monitors

blumenstein-ultra-fi.com

they also run a webstore on etsy: Blumenstein Ultra Fi by BlumensteinUltraFi on Etsy

you won't be disappointed with any of their models
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post #14 of 16
3/4/10 at 1:24am
I used mine to dive Martin logan Preface, before I got my Melody KT88 Mono block. No problem!!

Preface:

35–20,000 Hz ±3dB

High Frequency Transducer
1.5" × 2.25" (3.8 × 5.7 cm) ATF™ Transducer

Low Frequency Transducer
Three 6.5" (16.5cm) cast basket, paper-cone, non-resonant asymmetrical chamber format; bass reflex

Sensitivity
92 dB/2.83 volts/meter

Impedance
4 ohms nominal

Crossover Frequency
2200 Hz
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post #15 of 16
1/16/11 at 8:17am

Hello Members, sorry to butt-in, just had to thank Lionel72 for posting, he answered some concerns i had regarding two recent purchases, a 'Fatman Itube Valve Dock' and Klipsch RB-51

 

Quote:
I own a pair of Klipsch RB-51 with my Dared MP-5, and I am more than pleased with them. I get that feeling of almost being able to touch the instruments in front of me with this set. I am new to hi-end audio so I can't really compare.

 ...i noticed the Fatman Itube valve dock is virtually the same product as the 'Dared MP-5', the post put any doubts in my mind at ease.

 

regards

Livio

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