Sensitivity in speakers


Just my luck I took woodshop instead of electrical engineering. Maybe if I undestood the difference between a volt vs. a watt, I might know how to pick my next speakers.

Here's the problem - as much as I like cranking it when the missus isn't around (perhaps I should reword that?), I want speakers that I don't have to blast to get a full bodied sound. Upgraditis has lead me to Manley Neoclassic 250's driven by a Manley Steelhead with a Sota Cosmos/Shelter901 and Wavelength DAC as sources (the sources courtesy of Jay Kaufman at Audio Revolutions - a truly great guy to work with). All of this runs into Von Schweikert VR-2's. A nice speaker from my POV but not quite up to the rest of the system.

Recommendations please - what speakers would fit into this system that would sound great at all volume levels? Of course like many of us I want soaring extended highs, warm, life-like mids' and bass from the bowels of the earth.

I don't have unlimited resources but I'd rather measure the distance between me and great speakers in time rather than current cashflow.

Sugestions?
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Showing 1 response by uppermidfi

John I just want to point out a couple of things. Speaker sensetivity has a lot to do with how much, or little power is needed to obtain a certain spl (sound pressure level) but in my limited experience does not have much to do with a full bodied sound.

Your front end, and electronics are SOTA! I know I will get ripped for this (if AudiogoN even posts it) but I have heard a lot of VS speakers and the only one I thought sounded good was the top-of-the-line model, I think the VR 9 or something like that.

You need to answer some questions before anyone can make a valid speaker suggestion though! In what size room will they be used? A simple way to determine speaker size was posted here in the last year, I forget who said it but, a small room needs smal speakers, a medium sized room needs medium sized speakers, and a big room needs big speakers, if you're wondering if your room is big enough for big speakers, it's not!

Lots of people will recommend their favorite speakers, but until they know about your room the recommendations are of little use. Written at 9:42 cst