Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo What is Loud?

Thanks all of you for weighing in. This whole speaker search has been a world of education for me.

I don't have unlimited power, so I suspect my SPL isn't exactly up to competition level (Outlaw 950/7100 combo).

But I do indeed have those in my smallish living room (they're the Santiago model, slightly smaller than the A7s of the same era).

The new A7s are outta my budget by a good margin!

In the meantime - when the m80s arrive in a week or two, and the dust settles, I'll post my unscientific comparison.

Let's mention that Dennis is driving those M80s with 400 WPC Parasond Halo amps (right?), and does listen upwards of 100 dB. In a rather large room. He found the Halos to be necessary with those dB levels in his room, considering that he also runs 5 M80s with 2 QS8s. It's really something to hear...

BR-are you getting a large sub to go with those 80s? If you're not... I'd consider it very strongly. You may be disappointed by the 80s alone, as far as bass is concerned.

He mentioned he has an SVS PC+20-39

Loud is pretty subjective to most people, but to me, my system plays very loudly and I certainly don't have a tenth the system that Tharkon has. My setup is a H/K 3480 (120 wpc), with m60ti's. I don't even have a sub and it cleanly plays louder than I can stand in my medium sized living room that's pretty open to other parts of the house. I can't imagine anyone not being impressed with how loud my current system is, let alone m80's with a big honking sub and 200+ watts of power like you're talking about. In fact, the first night that I really cranked it (while the family was out of the house) it was so loud that even with the windows closed, my wife said she heard the stereo playing from inside her car (and she had the radio on and the windows up) when she pulled in the driveway. Hey, I just wanted to make sure the new speakers could handle it! Oh and the sound was amazingly clean to my ears even at that volume.

As several have mentioned, I'm running five M80s, two QS8s, and two EP600s. The Halos are capable of 400 watts at 4 ohms, so all speakers have at least the 400 watts available, and have been told the Halos are capable of more than the rated 400. I do run the system at what most consider loud, usually the level is at 100 db with peaks at 105 -110 bd. I have maxed out the amps a few times by mistake, and did not do a SPL level, but the sound still remained clear.

From my expieraince with the Outlaw 950/770 you will have no problem running as many as five M80s and two QS8s with the volume level set at -15 on the 950, which in my enviroment produced a 90 - 95 db level. How ever, I had problems when I started to run above the -15 level for more than 20 minutes, those levels caused the 770 into a thermal protector level, and the imboard amp(s) would shut down, and would take 20 to 30 minutes to reset.

In my opinion and expierance with the M80s, you should not need speakers larger than them, just give the M80s the power, and you should have the sound level you desire, They do produce a lot of base, but in my opinion a sub(s) is still needed. I have found with the twin 600s and the BFD, I now have a higher db listneing area with the Halos running at a lower volume, still to soon to tell, but I may not be running the system at the 0 volume level on the processor from now on. lol

I only WISH I had the 770 - I have the 7100, 165Wper at 4ohms. On the other hand, I'm only running the front pair this way - for HT, I listen at more - ahem - "normal" levels. If I find the power lacking (or worse, overheating in some way or shutting down) I'll probably spring for two of the 200W/300W mono-blocks Outlaw has.

"Loud" is certainly subjective - and the M80s may not be the only way to get there. But - they seem to be a winner in so many ways, I have to give them a shot. I still can't shake the sensation - when I'm out "shopping" - that I need something BIG.

I too run the M80s with a Rotel RB 1080 300 watt @ 4 ohm.Believe me you wont think you need "big" once you get to hear them.BTW these speakers are not what you would call small.

Heh heh...yeah, "big" is relative too. When I think "big" I pretty much am thinking K-Horns, or similar. BIG. If it's smaller than my CD rack (HxW), I'm gonna view it as "small." Anyway, y'all have done a fine job of making me believe this will all work out for the best, and relieving my mind of what is probably a phobia based in myth - big is better.

Just for grins, I just pulled out my RS meter and cranked the 80’s up. At 20 feet away from them, they hit 115 db and still had more to go, and that was playing satellite music which comes through my system at a substantially lower sound level than my CD player does. There was absolutely no sign of clipping or derogation of sound quality. In fact, they seam to sound better the louder they play. I’m sure this is some kind of information transfer from the ear to the brain thing, but my brain sure likes them loud.
I typically have them cranked up around 100 db or more for several hours when I’m working in basement (finishing the basement for a HT and other rooms). In other words, don’t let them little drivers fool you into thinking they don’t play loud. They do, and they sound great. I used to have some old Pioneer speakers with 12” woofers (don’t recall the model, something like Zero 6 ???). These 80’s play louder and clearer without any comparison.
I’m only running around 100 watts at 8 ohm (no idea what the 4 ohm wattage is on the 7200). I can’t imagine how wonderful they sound on Denis’s Halo’s.

Mike, whenever you are saying satellite are you referring to XM or Sirius(sp?)? And if so, what is the method of transport to the reciever/amp?