What to understand before floorstanding speakers purchase?

[BenWatts]

Dear WhatHifi team,

I am definitely a beginner and roughly upset by spending wrong my money.
Today I am about to swap my speakers and I have selected two handmade brands which sale directly to consumers with no intermediate.
Feedbacks are super positive even with independent purchasers with several brands to compare.
Whatever the brand, the work is renown and I have selected two of them.

What do I have to learn to make a decision?

Manufacturer 1​	Manufacturer 2​	Manufacturer 3​
4 Ω	8Ω (1kHz) _ 4Ω (IEC 60268-5)	?? guess 8Ω
Sensibility : 94,5 dB	89dB/2.83V	91db
bandwidth (±1 dB) : 40 Hz – 22 kHz	30 Hz – 25 kHz (-3dB)	38 hz - 20 kzh at -3db (sometimes 30 hz to 22 khz is indicated) Filtering: at 2100 hz @ 12db
Power : 125 W up to 250 W	160W	70w
Best recommended amp: from 6 to 200 W	The one you have	Tuned on tube amp but will work with yours
Tweeter : Compression Driver 1 inch	Tweeter: 26mm	Tweeter Audax 34 mm
Woofer : 13 cm Eighteen Sound x 2	mid woofer: Long throw, emissive area : 104cm² Woofer: Long throw, emissive area : 104cm²	Rear bass reflex Woofer: 21cm
(H x P x L) : 81 x 19 and 24 x 29 mm	119x16,4x33mm	107x25x32
Weight: 19 Kg	25,5Kg	22Kg

When you read these features, what do I have to understand?
I have absolutely no chance to listen to one of them.
I would like to avoid names and pictures, just to see technical data and no brand nor pic.
These 3 are hand made by very small but passionate manufacturers.

The amp is the following: http://heedaudio.com/obelisk-line/

Specifications & Downloads

Heed Audio design and manufacture truly engaging hand crafted high-end audio equipments.

heedaudio.com

Obelisk SI3 + X2 power supply

Inputs:	5x analogue / 1x S/PDIF digital
Outputs:	1x stereo speaker / 1x Tape out
Frequency response:	5 Hz – 60 kHz
Input impedance:	10 kΩ
Input sensitivity:	250 mV
Power (8Ω):	50 W / channel
SNR:	96 dB
Supported upgrade cards:	MM phono / DAC 1.3 / DAC 2.3
Power supply options:	internal / Obelisk X2
Max. consumption:	200 W
Weight:	6 kg
Dimensions (WxHxD):	22 x 8.5 x 36 cm

thank you in advance for your help

All the best

 

[RJW232]

These specs don't say much. Other than that with 1 and to lesser extend 3 you don't need much power to make a lot of noise.
The only way to select the right speaker is to listen to them, preferably in your own listening room.

 

[BenWatts]

Thank you for such a quick reply.
I am questioning if with the modest heed 2x50w I have to pay attention to :
94 db or 89db or 91db?
If the bandwidth can be heard in my room : 40 Hz – 22 kHz 30 Hz – 25 kHz (-3dB) 38 hz - 20 kzh at -3db

I have no possibility to listen to one of these.

What do I have to know between 2 voices or 2,5 voices?

 

[Friesiansam]

I am questioning if with the modest heed 2x50w I have to pay attention to :
94 db or 89db or 91db?

The higher db figure, means greater speaker efficiency so, more volume for the same power or, the same volume for less power.

 

[BenWatts]

Thanks for that.
do human hears can feel the difference from 89db to 91db
Same question for 40Hz : are we able to hear the difference with a 35hz? Same with the opposite : 30 or 38khz?

 

[SenseiKofi]

Dear WhatHifi team,

I am definitely a beginner and roughly upset by spending wrong my money.
Today I am about to swap my speakers and I have selected two handmade brands which sale directly to consumers with no intermediate.
Feedbacks are super positive even with independent purchasers with several brands to compare.
Whatever the brand, the work is renown and I have selected two of them.

What do I have to learn to make a decision?

Manufacturer 1​	Manufacturer 2​	Manufacturer 3​
4 Ω	8Ω (1kHz) _ 4Ω (IEC 60268-5)	?? guess 8Ω
Sensibility : 94,5 dB	89dB/2.83V	91db
bandwidth (±1 dB) : 40 Hz – 22 kHz	30 Hz – 25 kHz (-3dB)	38 hz - 20 kzh at -3db (sometimes 30 hz to 22 khz is indicated) Filtering: at 2100 hz @ 12db
Power : 125 W up to 250 W	160W	70w
Best recommended amp: from 6 to 200 W	The one you have	Tuned on tube amp but will work with yours
Tweeter : Compression Driver 1 inch	Tweeter: 26mm	Tweeter Audax 34 mm
Woofer : 13 cm Eighteen Sound x 2	mid woofer: Long throw, emissive area : 104cm² Woofer: Long throw, emissive area : 104cm²	Rear bass reflex Woofer: 21cm
(H x P x L) : 81 x 19 and 24 x 29 mm	119x16,4x33mm	107x25x32
Weight: 19 Kg	25,5Kg	22Kg

When you read these features, what do I have to understand?
I have absolutely no chance to listen to one of them.
I would like to avoid names and pictures, just to see technical data and no brand nor pic.
These 3 are hand made by very small but passionate manufacturers.

The amp is the following: http://heedaudio.com/obelisk-line/

Specifications & Downloads

Heed Audio design and manufacture truly engaging hand crafted high-end audio equipments.

heedaudio.com

Obelisk SI3 + X2 power supply

Inputs:	5x analogue / 1x S/PDIF digital
Outputs:	1x stereo speaker / 1x Tape out
Frequency response:	5 Hz – 60 kHz
Input impedance:	10 kΩ
Input sensitivity:	250 mV
Power (8Ω):	50 W / channel
SNR:	96 dB
Supported upgrade cards:	MM phono / DAC 1.3 / DAC 2.3
Power supply options:	internal / Obelisk X2
Max. consumption:	200 W
Weight:	6 kg
Dimensions (WxHxD):	22 x 8.5 x 36 cm

thank you in advance for your help

All the best

I take most manufacturer spec listing with Everest levels of salt.

 

[BenWatts]

I take most manufacturer spec listing with Everest levels of salt.

To me this is old Persian langage.
Maybe I should go back to huge series instead of purchasing one oh these.
Several users on forum compare these 2,5k€ columns to 6 to 15k€.
I am lost and I feel stupid not being able to understand data sheets.

 

[Din5]

You are relying far too much on data sheets, instead you need to hear some different speakers. Some speakers with a great spec on paper may sound poor to your ears, whereas some with a different spec may sound great to your ears. You can't tell how a speaker will sound to you just by reading a spec sheet.
I wouldn't buy without hearing first.

 

[nopiano]

To me this is old Persian langage.
Maybe I should go back to huge series instead of purchasing one oh these.
Several users on forum compare these 2,5k€ columns to 6 to 15k€.
I am lost and I feel stupid not being able to understand data sheets.

Ben, it all means something, really, but you are some way off at the moment. Sorry if that sounds rude, as it’s meant kindly. I’ll try to explain some parts without too much detail.

…do human hears can feel the difference from 89db to 91dbSame question for 40Hz : are we able to hear the difference with a 35hz? Same with the opposite : 30 or 38khz?

Human ears can tell differences of 1dB but that is irrelevant here. You adjust the volume to suit the recording, and your preferences. The more sensitive/efficient speakers - the one with the larger number - will just need a bit less effort from the amplifier. But, and it’s a big but, the greater sensitivity means less extended bass in any given design. It’s a trade off that the designer makes.

For that reason I’d reject Number 1, because it’ll be needlessly loud, yet lack truly deep bass. And the requirement for 125watts is bonkers for the same reason - only 15 is needed.

Number 3 was designed on a tube amp which means it’ll be wildly unpredictable, so forget that too. Chalk or cheese, probably, depending on taste, but I want a speaker to reflect what was recorded, not add its own flavour.

Number 2 may be ok, however, and I like the humorous mention of whatever amplifier you have. Looks like the 2.5 way with two bass units carrying different duties. The heaviest too, which is usually a good sign.

Are they all similar prices in your country?

 

[SenseiKofi]

also what you have given is not workable data imo. We can do better with if they had some CTA-2034 Data but alas that isn't the case as you've not listed the speakers in question. Going by the crude data given, the middle speaker has some semblance of standardized terminology being used in their specs

To me this is old Persian langage.
Maybe I should go back to huge series instead of purchasing one oh these.
Several users on forum compare these 2,5k€ columns to 6 to 15k€.
I am lost and I feel stupid not being able to understand data sheets.