Cheapest speaker options for BIG sound

[walpurgis]

Was reading something about the evolution of the KEF company a while back and there was something about the engineers trying to get more air movement from smaller drivers with bigger magnets, more coil and better materials which they did successfully.

I think somebody may have been generalising or oversimplifying there.

Makers have used magnets of varying powers for varying purposes since moving coils speakers evolved.

Talking of KEF, look at the B200 bass/mid driver from the seventies. The smaller sealed cabinet speaker models (Chorale/Corelli) employing the B200 used versions with small magnets and relied on the 'airspring' effect to return the cone to its starting position. A bigger magnet would have overdamped the system reducing bass.

However, in the larger B200 equipped speakers (Cadenza/Calinda), the B200 had a large, heavy magnet. This was to provide a better damping of the larger volume system and proper control over the ABR's. A small magnet would have given too loose and slow a bass response.

[alcarmichael]

I'm extremely happy with my speakers, or, I was until I read this thread. It's now making me wonder what I'm missing out on.

Now, are these big Tannoys any good at more modest volumes (I don't live in a detached house) or is that defeating the purpose?

[montesquieu]

You aren’t far away from me Alan ... you are welcome to drop in and hear what properly sorted Tannoys can do. And yes they still do room filling scale at modest volumes. As has been suggested, something to do with driver area I suspect. That’s with (currently) 35w of Radford STA25.

[alcarmichael]

I think I'll have to take you up on that offer some time in the future, thank you very much Tom.

Alex

[hifinutt]

I'm extremely happy with my speakers, or, I was until I read this thread. It's now making me wonder what I'm missing out on.

Now, are these big Tannoys any good at more modest volumes (I don't live in a detached house) or is that defeating the purpose?

one reason i bought my smaller tannoys is that i can listen in great detail at low volumes which is sometimes preferred by my wife when she is present . the 10 inch drivers can really fill the room though when they want

[WESTLOWER]

I'm extremely happy with my speakers, or, I was until I read this thread. It's now making me wonder what I'm missing out on.

Now, are these big Tannoys any good at more modest volumes (I don't live in a detached house) or is that defeating the purpose?

I rarely listen overly loud, most of my music time is late in the evening, when the family sleep and I live in a terrace.
The sound fills the room even at modest levels.

[Beobloke]

Hmmm, £500 you say. You might just squeak a pair of Leak 2075s for that with a bit of luck.