I’m setting up a new listening “zone” in a room (20‘ wide x 15’ deep with 10’ ceilings) for semi-casual (not super critical) listening (typically not going over 82db’s but most of the time staying in the 75db range) and for playback when I work on my music workstation. Managing my local music libraries, ripping CD’s and SACD’s, up converting FLAC’s to DSD files, building out play lists and other stuff. I’d run this “zone” off of the B-Speaker channel of my reference system. The A and B speaker channels will not be on at the same time.
The front wall of the “new” zone is directly behind the wall of my reference system - so just punch a hole in the wall and run a pair of good quality15’ speaker cables.
My reference system consists of an Accuphase E-4000 integrated amp, various mid to higher-end digital and analogue sources and T+A Criterion TCD 110 S Loudspeakers. (Maybe someday I’ll be able to upgrade to FR-30’s or 20’s).
Long story - short. Is a pair of FR-5’s a good fit for my use case? or should I be looking at a speaker with a higher sensitivity such as a B&W 705 S3. I really want to support PSAudio (I watch Paul everyday) but I’m a little concern with a few comments about needing to get the volume levels up on the FR-5’s before the speaker comes alive and the dynamic range blossoms.
I do not have the same scenario as you, but having enjoyed the FR10s for a year now I can say that they perform great at low levels. I know that may not be at your price point right now, but I thought I’d plant that seed in your brain bucket.
It would be very cool to get a pair of FR10’s. At $10k a bit out of my range, right now. I did see that PSAudio has up to a $4K trade up allowance but I really don’t have anything to trade. Maybe a black Friday sales soon???
I figured the MSRP price is out of the question given your current intentions. There have been some refurb units in the past for 7.5K or so. Keep an eye out for sales. I bet there’ll be something related to a HiFi show or something. It doesn’t hurt to reach out to sales to inquire.
You can easily drive a pair of FR5 with your accuphase amp. at 75-82 dB nominally at the listening position, you’re only using about 10 watts maximum plus dynamic peaks and the speaker is very linear in this range. This would be a great sounding setup.
The biggest challenge you have with low level listening is the equal loudness curve - where the system may need loudness EQ to sound balanced and will otherwise sound thin, forward (in the 3-4 Khz range where you’re the most sensitive) and lacking impact. Higher speaker sensitivity doesn’t help this (unless the speaker is voiced different with more bass or a dip in the 3-4 kHz range).
That is to say that there is no correlation between speaker sensitivity and low level listening performance. The only correlation (and not cause) is that higher sensitivity speakers tend to have larger drivers and higher maximum output so their distortion is low at low level. A lot of the distortion in the midrange in speakers is current based (inductance modulation etc.) and so maybe this is what people are commenting on but there can also be lower sensitivity with good inductance performance and low midrange distortion.
You have probably convinced me to order the black FR5s. It sounds like they will work well powered by M700s, Pass Labs XP-12, PS DS MK 1 dac, Innuos Zen MK3 server/streamer and a pair of REl T9-I subs. I have a medium sized room.
Cliche aside, I think this will be a very musical combination – especially with what the RELs can add.
One word of advice (which might be incorrect as well as unsolicited, depending on your room and main speaker placement):
Don’t be afraid to ignore the standard subwoofer placement advice for two subwoofers proffered by REL. I have never eked out the best performance of one or two subwoofers by placing them in the front corners of my room.