Cool $150 speakers for one of those cheap Sharp system on AG

jackman · « **on:** 3 Dec 2003, 03:12 am »

I found these on Audiogon and they look pretty cool. They are made with real wood veneer, new in-box, have cool looking clear woofers with phase plug, and a Vifa tweeter. I haven't heard them, but lots of people are big Usher fans on the Mad board. These remind me of the little ProAc monitors in their appearance. Plus they have ports on the front so they are ideal for near wall placement. And they have a year warrantee.

I don't know if I have ever seen cooler looking speakers for this cheap. Might be worth a shot as a combo for the Sharp player. It deserves some "sharp" lookin' speakers!

Link: http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?spkrmoni&1070941962&auc&3&4&

Please note, I don't know how they sound, and have no connection with the buyer. I'm posting here because it's more of a PSA, however, if the moderators want to move it to the Non-commercial section, please do. I do know the seller is a guy who participates on the Mad board from time to time. Looks like he's getting out of the speaker distribution business.

J

PhilNYC · « **Reply #1 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 03:19 am »

These things are 86db and 8ohms, so they might not be a good match for the Sharp, which is rated at 25wpc into 4ohms...

jackman · « **Reply #2 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 03:30 am »

Good point, however the Sharp drives my Ellis 1801 speakers pretty well (way more enjoyable than a "100 wpc" receiver I tried as a lark) and they are very inefficient (I'm guessing the B version is 84dB). The Ellis are also not the easiest load, however I don't remember the ohms. I wouldn't recommend anyone pairing the Sharp with speakers like the Ellis (or any expensive speaker), however, these Ushers may be an inexpensive option. They also have cast woofer baskets and Vifa tweets. For $150 (if that's what the final bid is), it's a low risk proposition. Heck, I bet there are people out there with those cheap Panasonic digital receivers that might be a good match for these babies.

J

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #3 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 04:16 am »

An unusually low crossover point of 2.0 Khz for a 5" driver...wonder if it's a misprint.

jackman · « **Reply #4 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 04:26 am »

I think the 2khz crossover point is for the new one inch tweeter. I don't think the woofer would have any problems being crossed over at that point, it's the tweeter I'd be concerned about. This pair uses a .75 inch Vifa tweet while the newer generation uses a 1 inch Usher driver, made in-house. I would probably like Vifa tweeter more than the Usher. Plus, I like the dispersion of a .75 tweeter (at least I like the OW1's dispersion) more than most of the one inchers I have heard.

I wonder how these would sound versus comparably priced Paradigm or Axiom speakers? They are priced in line with the bottom of both Paradigm's and Axiom's line and these are made of real wood. I may just have to buy them for my office/computer system.

J

PhilNYC · « **Reply #5 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 04:45 am »

Does anyone know what relatively inexpensive high sensitivity speakers are out there? I'm using 89db speakers on my Sharp and definitely notice some graininess if I push the volume a bit...would love to try something a little easier to drive...

jackman · « **Reply #6 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 04:49 am »

Those little Triangle speakers are pretty efficient, however they have metal domes. The Sharp is pretty smooth and might be able to play them well. Also, the Triangle domes are not bright (weren't when I tried them) and they turn up from time to time on the used market. Still a bit expensive for the Sharp based system at about $300-450 used. Maybe a pair of those single driver Fostex speakers from Omega would be a good choice. They are very efficient, however they may be a better match for tubes. I think Omega has a liberal trial period.

J

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #7 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 05:58 am »

Jack,

It's all semantics if the thing sounds good, but 5" drivers matched to any dome tweeter are usually crossed over at 3-3.5KHz. 2.0Khz crossover point is almost always for 8 or so inch drivers with dome tweeters.

I'm not a speaker designer or anything of an expert, but I run my speakers with active crossovers so I'm aware where they cross over at, typically.

Rule of thumb: 5" drivers at 3 to 3.5, 6.5" at 2.5, 8" at 2 KHz. If ypu check crossover points of any 2 ways (with cones and domes), you'll see this pretty much spot on.

I think your Ellis' have an 8" (SEAS Magnesium?) with Hiquophon tweeter...crossover is probaby at 2-2.2KHz area.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #8 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 06:10 am »

Actually I just went to the Ellis website, no crossover point listed that I could see, but driver is 18cm or about 7", not 8".

Crossover point should correspond to about 2.2 - 2.5KHz then.

doug s. · « **Reply #9 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 01:18 pm »

i hooked my step-brother up w/one of those sharp receivers, & my swan m1.2's. i tink this combination will be great - the swans are 90db-efficient, and i tink the tightness of a digital amp will work nicely w/the swans, which are a bit on the warm side...

the ribbon tweet on the swan is absolutely killer - some of the best treble i've ever heard. wery directional in the wertical plane, tho - ya definitely notice a treble drop when ya stand up. these would make a great line-source project, imo, but ya would have to get a nice quantity discount; even from parts express, these run ~$100 each...

doug s.

jackman · « **Reply #10 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 01:45 pm »

Doug, very cool. Let us know how he likes them. It's hard to find small efficient speakers. I think the Triangle Titus would be a nice match for the Sharp also, except they are too expensive. Since the Sharp will be used in offices and bedrooms (where people are probably less likely to move around while listening) a ribbon may be a great option. Hmmm, move around, better make that just the office!

Adios,
J

Thump553 · « **Reply #11 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 02:04 pm »

Any idea how the Omage AV21's would sound? They are 6 ohm and very good sounding, especially for $90-100 per pair shipped. I bought a pair for my daughter and was impressed for the two or three days I heard them.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=4162&highlight=omage

doug s. · « **Reply #12 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 02:12 pm »

j-man - well, the m1.2's aren't exactly what i'd call cheap - yust a speaker that i tink will be a good match w/digital amplification. they retailed for $1499; i got 'em on close-out from the distributor for <$500, & passed on the savings to my step-brother...

but, the swan speakers *are* nice - i tink a crossover re-do by the distributor, or someone like dan wright of modwright, would make these world-class contenders w/most *any* amplification. in my rig, they actually sounded better w/my wave-8's than my beloved mesa baron, as the wave's are a tad lean in the low end...

i, too, am anxious for a report from my step-brother. he's not an audiophile, & i tink he's gonna be blown away by the sonics, for the relatively paltry sum he's invested.

now, if anyone has suggestions for a *CHEAP* 20' pair of speaker cables, i'd be most interested!

doug s.

JoshK · « **Reply #13 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 02:28 pm »

I am using the Omage AV21s which cost me $97 USD shipped. They sound OK, not great, but I think they need to break in more as they sound better now than they did when I first got them. I haven't pushed them too much yet but they play more than loud enough for bedroom listening.

I like the little MD gadget, might come in handy for making 'sex mixes'.

Brad · « **Reply #14 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 03:45 pm »

Does it have a built-in microphone, Josh?

JoshK · « **Reply #15 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 04:54 pm »

I don't think so...

audiojerry · « **Reply #16 on:** 4 Dec 2003, 04:19 am »

just bought a pair for $200 including shipping.
They do resemble the $2100 ProAc 1SC, one of my fav's.
If I like them, they will replace my ProAc Tablette Ref 8's, which are going under-appreciated by my wife.

Thanks for the heads-up Jman!

viggen · « **Reply #17 on:** 4 Dec 2003, 07:29 am »

I was using it to drive a pair of Carolina JTMs and now using NHT Super1s. I think the NHT/Sharp sounds better than JTM/Sharp. 6ohms vs 4 ohms?

nature boy · « **Reply #18 on:** 4 Dec 2003, 11:26 pm »

Jman and audiojerry,

I will be picking up a pair of the Usher's too, as opposed to Paradigm Atoms I was considering. If the Sharp can't drive them, I'll swap them out for more efficient Mission bookshelf speakers in my HT set up.

Goodness knows, my son won't care and he is the one getting the Sharp-Usher combo for his first real system. Not too shabby for an 11 year old.

Anyone know how long these speakers take to break in?

NB

cjr888 · « **Reply #19 on:** 6 Dec 2003, 09:43 pm »

To those with any of the Sharp units, a comment and a question..

Comment: First, for those searching for cheap speakers, here's a possibility -- not super sensitive (89db), and rated impedance is 6ohm, but would be cheap at $140. Emailed the seller, and the matching stands would be $49.95 w/purchase of the speakers. Not bad and good looking regardless of copy cat looks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3061954910&category=14991&rd=1

It does sound like the rated impedance, and where the graph peaks and dips affects actual sound, and that these units also really need some sensitivity if you want to play loud with them -- at least based on some folks comments, and some other mention at the bottom of this thread. I know little in the way of the truth though, as I don't know the technicals, and also have barely used the unit.

http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?s=41fe5c21d97202712dd0136c992d8c97&threadid=36202&perpage=20&highlight=sharp&pagenumber=2

Another speaker set that might be an interesting match with the unit for many reasons (though costly to do new in comparison to the amplifier) would be a pair of the Gallo Micro's, and the Gallo sub. Outside of the stands and the sub, you could literally have a HT or Stereo setup that you could fit in a large backpack! Take about WAF -- a CD/DVD Player, Tuner, HT Processor, and all Speakers in a tiny space...

Also, I wanted to do some quiet listening last night, and it dawned on me that the little Sharp unit had a headphone out on the front. So layed down, plugged in a super cheapo pair of Sony MDR-W08 in ear headphones I had in a drawer that had been used with a discman previously, and listened away for a couple hours..

I've never heard a full out dedicated headphone setup, so have nothing to compare to. Only somewhat 'real' headphone related purchase I had was a pair of the Etymotic earbuds, but I couldn't get comfortable with them, and only used them a time or two, and sold them again..

Regardless of comparisons, I had a rather relaxing time with the barely used unit with no break-in, and the cheapo phones.

I checked out Head-Fi, and there's been a couple folks that have tried them out in the headphone world, before and after break in, and with different cans -- apparently they can be very impedance sensitive, and the ideal was 32ohm I believe.

Here were some of the references:

http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?s=41fe5c21d97202712dd0136c992d8c97&threadid=42863&highlight=sharp

http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?s=41fe5c21d97202712dd0136c992d8c97&threadid=42538&highlight=sharp

So outside of suggested 'speakers' has anyone here experimented with headphones and a fully broken in unit? Curious to hear impressions.

I'm tempted to grab a pair of half decent wireless headphones -- would be interesting to lay down, or wander anywhere in the house listening to CDs, DVDs, AM/FM Tuner, Television, or anything else included or hooked up to this unit, with the little unit that could actually fit in my CD shelf tucked away somewhere....

Just a thought...

I have no plans to do any comparisons to anything 'high end' -- no time, and wasn't my intent in buying. But this unit will certain provide to be very economical and useful, whether its in the bedroom, with a TV, with the computer, or used between all of them due to its portability. Kind of wished I'd picked up one or two more -- maybe one in the kitchen, the bedroom, the computer....