Harmonic distortion at 96db

[gasolin75]

Most speakers can do 86db down to 60-80hz (if you have a subwoofer and high pass filter) without to much harmonic distortion

But the 96db used spl makes a challenge for just about anything than big floorstand or pa speakers

Is there any small,medium sized bookshelf speaker (under 8"), that can do 96db peak down to 60-80hz with no noticeable harmonic distortion and doesn't cost several 1000 euros,pounds,dollars for a pair ?

 

[staticV3]

Focal Alpha Twin Evo, Neumann KH120 II, or Adam T7V/T8V are likely your best bets for clean bass w/o sub.

 

[gasolin75]

Focal Alpha Twin Evo, Neumann KH120 II, or Adam T7V/T8V are likely your best bets for clean bass w/o sub.

NO I wrote 96db is a challenge

 

[staticV3]

NO I wrote 96db is a challenge

?

My point stands. Those three are likely your best bet for clean bass at 96dB w/o sub at <$2k.

 

[Mort]

I agree

NO I wrote 96db is a challenge

Read the room.

 

[gasolin75]

I still think they are not good enough

I wasn't mentioning studio monitors only it was more general speakers , hifi studio monitors, even some max 8" pa speakers might not play 96 db (avarage) good enough, even when they are rated at 110db or higher

 

[staticV3]

I still think they are not good enough

Based on what?

THD becomes significantly less audible at low frequencies anyway.
E.g. 5% at 50Hz is generally not a problem.

 

[Doenerkunde]

Us germans have a word for what you are looking for: "Eierlegende Wollmilchsau" (egg laying wool milk pig)

"The "egg-laying wool-milk pig" is a humorous German idiom for a mythical, perfect creature that combines all desirable traits: laying eggs (chicken), giving milk (cow), producing wool (sheep), and providing meat (pig). It symbolizes an unrealistic, all-in-one solution or product that offers only benefits and no drawbacks, often used in technology or business to describe impossible demands for a single tool or system."

The Neumann KH 150 comes close, but at 3000$/pr doesn't meet your demand for a low price:

 

[olieb]

that can do 96db peak down to 60-80hz with no noticeable harmonic distortion and doesn't cost several 1000 euros

Is it 60Hz or 80Hz? The difference is close to doubling the excursion for the same spl.
What is "noticeable" in your book?

So you want high level, low bass, small volume, small diaphragm, low distortion, low price and you want it now?
I guess you need to think about accepting compromises.
KH150 can do most of this (and more), has amps and is <3k€

@Doenerkunde just beat me.

 

[JeffGB]

The lowest distortion in a small speaker that is REALLY affordable is the JBL Stage A130. It was super cheap and has outperformed all my other speakers in my small room, with a bit of EQ.
Most impressive was the low amount of distortion:

If those resonances were not there around 1 kHz and at 15 kHz, this would look even cleaner.

I keep going back to them after using my other speakers. The mid frequency distortion drops when EQ'd as does the high frequency distortion peak.

 

[voodooless]

Try some of the Purifi powered bookshelves. At least they should have the potential of low distortion bass.

Genelec 8030/40/50 or 8330/40/50 should also do it. Second hand these may be an interesting option.

 

[gasolin75]

Im not gonna buy expensive new speakers that might be able to do 96db with looow harmonic distortion

I just noticed even fairly expensive speaker can't do 96db with low distortion in the bass, even when many speakers can do around 110db (monitor audio bronze 100 can do 110db)

Low harmonic distortion would be the 86db figures,measurements,data just at 96db

Down to 60/80hz is just between 60 and 80 hz where most have there crossover

 

[EngineerNate]

Gotta pay to play. Driver tech to do high excursion at without distortion drives up unit cost.

Small/bass extension/low distortion/cheap. Pick three.

 

[kharan]

Kali IN-8, but also LP6 and LP8 are pretty good at their price points.

 

[Mort]

This reminds me of posts by amplifier perfectionists who want to see perfect measurements for inaudible things and ultra rare corner cases.

Although they are usually willing to pay a high price for their precious amp.

Here, OP wants it cheap too!

 

[voodooless]

There are obviously more issues with only having measurements at 96 dB. Because what happens beyond? I bet that this will be very varied: some speakers will drop off a cliff very hard simpler because amps clip (notice those text Amir put on the graphs about that), or because the woofers reach maximum excursion. Some will be able to go on for a bit longer. In the end those will end up sounding the loudest and cleanest if you push them hard, regardless of distortion figures.

 

[gasolin75]

I never wrote i wanted to buy speakers that can do the 96db harmonic distortion perfectly

I wanted hear if there are any that can do it really good without paying a fortune

 

[kharan]

I never wrote i wanted to buy speakers that can do the 96db harmonic distortion perfectly

I wanted hear if there are any that can do it really good without paying a fortune

Kali LP6, LP8, IN-8, I don't think any of them cross 1.5% in the midrange and above, and bass distortion is very reasonable too.

 

[Mort]

there are any that can do it really good

But when given options you replied

NO I wrote 96db is a challenge

And

I still think they are not good enough

So you are kind of a perfectionist, and you want it cheap. I think you'll continue to be disappointed in the options.

 

[SlowJim]

Monitor Audio Bronze 100 might be a good candidate. I scored a used set of the 6g's a while back for $250 shipped on ebay, they just ended up being a bit too large for my room. The newer 7g model should be very similar.