Wayne Parham Messages: 18786 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
It's good to talk through stuff like this. That's what these forums are for.
I've designed some speakers that are price-no-object statement speakers, and I've gone to great lengths to reduce distortion to best-of-class levels. I've made some others that are good value speakers, providing good sound at a moderate price. And I have some models that are in between too.
The Alpha drivers used in the one π and two π models are value speakers that I think offer good bang for the buck. They are clear and delicate but not fragile, by any means. The one π and two π speakers are able to play a whole lot louder than most studio monitors and single driver speakers while offering superior clarity and detail. They're great for bedroom systems and surrounds. And you can push them pretty hard without making them sound strained. So for my way of thinking, they're perfect for that sort of offering.
If you're looking for less than 1% distortion at several hundred watts (and well over 100dB), I can provide that for you. Even at bass frequencies. But that kind of performance naturally costs more. For a hundred dollar kit, I don't think there's a better product out there than the little one π and two π speakers. They offer detail and accuracy, and enough dynamic range to make plenty of sound. Don't need a lot of power to do it either.