What can go wrong with 87dB sensitivity speakers?

StormNinjaPenguin · 1545

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Offline StormNinjaPenguin

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on: June 28, 2022, 05:34:50 PM
I'm planning to build the CSS Criton 1TD-X Kit (87 dB @ 2.83 V) and I would love to build the Stereomour II with it but I keep seeing the warning to only to use this amp with high sensitivity speakers. I would use them in a small room in a near-field setup and (over-) estimating the power with an online calculator, I should need about 0.5 watts to drive the speakers on normal listening levels.

Are there other considerations than volume for why is this pairing not a good idea, or should it be okay?


Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #1 on: June 28, 2022, 06:56:49 PM
We have had a ton of customers use small 87dB speakers with the Stereomour happily.  The Criton looks like it has a broad range in the impedance curve at 6 ohms, but with the Stereomour specifically I think I would leave the amp setup for 8 ohms and not worry about it.  If you're not in a very large room, you'll likely be pleasantly surprised by what's available from this combo.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man

Offline StormNinjaPenguin

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Reply #2 on: June 29, 2022, 02:05:56 AM
Great, thanks for the answer!


Offline Doc B.

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Reply #3 on: June 29, 2022, 10:08:40 AM
FWIW we use a Stereomour 2 with Blumenstein Orcas in our dining/kitchen at home. The FE83s in the Orcas are rated for around 87dB (seems optimistic but I have not measured them to say otherwise). The system plays plenty loud for our needs at modest level settings.

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
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Bottlehead Corp.

Offline DustDoggy

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Reply #4 on: June 29, 2022, 02:31:54 PM
Im using the Criton 1TDX with the stereomour in a small apartment and the combination sounds amazing. Had to use some foam port plugs though to tame the bass due to one speaker being too close to a corner (these speakers really do go very low). Also just installed the shunt regulator and would 100% recommend it. No issues at all with lack of volume but in a much bigger room I could understand needing more power.


Offline StormNinjaPenguin

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Reply #5 on: June 30, 2022, 03:59:18 AM
@DustDoggy - that’s my dream setup! I hope the world is not gonna collapse again before I save up for it.


Offline IndyNate

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Reply #6 on: June 30, 2022, 09:42:03 AM
My experience in the real world has been TRY the speaker out and listen before you read anything. Impedence/sensitivity are rarely indicative of what your experience will be.


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