Yet another speaker thread - Which room, Floorstanders or Bookshelf - Pls advise.

srinivas ananth Bronze Member Username: Srinivos DFW Post Number: 16 Registered: Dec-06	Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 00:33 GMT I have been doing extensive research on speakers in the last few weeks. I would like some input on my situation regarding the placement & type of speakers. I am attaching a layout of my living room & den with possible seating positions. Ideally, I would like to have them integrated with my HT setup in the living room unless there is some strong advise to the contrary(due to tv position or room reflections etc). I had a failed experience with Triangle Speakers which were too bright for my taste. In a HT setup, usage will be about 50% music, 40% TV(network, sports) & 10% movies. http://picasaweb.google.com/srinivos/Floorplan/photo?authkey=1z7aT2xVwbA#5024051 765963272562 I am worried about disturbing the neighbors if I decide on either B or C. I think the walls are pretty thin, I could even hear their cheering when Peyton won the game last Sunday Other than 'A', another possible placement for the speakers would be along the right long wall of the living room. Again I don't know much about placement & consequences of having a 50" RPTV reflecting part of the sound. Helpful members here have advised me regarding the speakers I should be auditioning & I would like to build on that. My music tastes lean towards rock(70%) - classic, alternative, modern & classical - instrumental, indian fusion, vocal(30%). To give an idea, my compilation disc for demos has Pink Floyd , Zeppelin, REM, Nirvana, AC/DC, The Byrds, Coldplay, Police, Gorillaz & a few string quartets. I prefer a warm sound, with a good, tight bass, nice mids and smooth highs. My budget for the speakers alone is up to $1500 & around $1000 for electronics(receiver/pre/pro). I assume it will limit me to used in case of separates. A matching center channel is a plus for future upgrade. Current equipment: Energy Take 5.1 (will go) Energy ESL-10 subwoofer Yamaha RXV496 (will go) Homebuilt music server Roku Soundbridge Kimber Kables 4PR speaker wire (upgrade if needed) Audio Research interconnects
srinivas ananth Bronze Member Username: Srinivos DFW Post Number: 17 Registered: Dec-06	Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 00:57 GMT I found these names from the local dealers homepages. Obviously, I can't listen to all of them so I would like to narrow it down to about 8-10. I auditioned a few so far, I have mentioned the models in (). Audio Physic Anthony Gallo (Reference 3) Atlantic Technologies Atlantic Technology Aerial Acoustics Boston Acoustics B&W (602, 603, 604) Cabasse Definitive Technology Dynaudio DCM Loud Speakers Earthquake Epos Earthquake Sound Eminent Technology Era Golden Sound Hansen Audio Innersound James Loudspeaker Jamo Kef Linn Magnepan Martin-Logan(Vista) Meridian Matrix Audio Monitor Audio Nola Paradigm (Monitor 7, Reference 60) ProAc Quad (12L, 22L) Revox Rega (R5) Soliloquy Snell Sunfire Spendor Sonance Sonus Faber Stereostones Tannoy Totem (Arro, Rainmaker) Triad Usher Velodyne Von Schweikert Vandersteen (2Ce) Wilson Audio Wilson Benesch
Nuck Gold Member Username: Nuck Post Number: 5552 Registered: Dec-04	Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 02:40 GMT Yup, that one there.
david pannell Silver Member Username: Davidpa Portland, Oregon US Post Number: 333 Registered: Nov-05	Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 02:52 GMT Audio Nirvana huh? Looks like you've got your work cut out for you.
david pannell Silver Member Username: Davidpa Portland, Oregon US Post Number: 334 Registered: Nov-05	Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 02:54 GMT BTW, with your budget for speakers, you can eliminate quite a few of those mentioned, do a quick google on some and you'll get the idea.
srinivas ananth Bronze Member Username: Srinivos DFW Post Number: 18 Registered: Dec-06	Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 05:45 GMT Hmm...OK. I can list the ones I have read about. Basically they are the speakers in the <$2K price range used. What I don't know is how many of them would are worth auditioning. Here goes: Audio Physic - Yara, Tempo 3i, Spark (Used) Aerial Acoustics Model 8 (Used) Boston Acoustics VR3 B&W 603, 604 Definitive Technology Dynaudio Audience 62,72 Epos M15.2 Eminent Technology LFT-VIII Era Design 5 Jamo E855, E875 Kef iQ9 Linn Komponent 110, AV 5140 (Used) Magnepan MMG, 1.6 Monitor Audio RS-6 Nola Viper, Esprit (Used) Paradigm (Monitor 7, Reference 60) ProAc 2.5, studio 110/200 Quad 12L, 22L Rega R5 Soliloquy 5.3 Snell Type B,D,E Spendor S5e, S6e(used) Sonus Faber Concertino Tannoy Sensys DC-2 Totem Arro, Rainmaker Usher S-520, X-series Von Schweikert VR-1, VR-2 Vandersteen 2Ce
Stu Pitt Gold Member Username: Stu_pitt Irvington, New York USA Post Number: 1571 Registered: May-05	Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 14:49 GMT I'm under a little bit of a time constraint, so I'll give a quick opinion. Rock is mainly about Pace, Rythym, and Timing - PRaT - in my experience anyway. I listen to a lot of the stuff you mentioned. A couple of the listed brands you may want to look into that are known for their PRaT qualities (no in preference order) - Rega Epos Linn Quad Spendor Totem Magnepan's are a very quick speaker, but are missing something when trying to reproduce rock IMO. I haven't heard all of these, or all of their models, but these are the ones I'd look into personally. Your room, amplification, and just as importantly - your source will all play a crucial role as to what works best. Some of the others may work better than what I listed though. Everyone listens for different things.
Bruce New member Username: Bhd Post Number: 1 Registered: Dec-06	Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 14:54 GMT One observation is that you've got a mix of different kinds of speakers (bookshelf, floorstanding, panel), with different kinds of trade-offs. It might make sense to narrow down a few examples of each class. I recently bought some Era Design 5s, and really like them. So I'd recommend demoing those and maybe the Totem Rainmakers as examples of good bookshelf speakers (the Paradigm Studio 20s are also good in that class, but I don't see them on your list).
srinivas ananth Bronze Member Username: Srinivos DFW Post Number: 19 Registered: Dec-06	Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 17:09 GMT Stu: Those are the same names I have come across repeatedly mentioned in various discussions. I have auditioned a few so far & I would like to listen to some more before I narrow down my choices. Of the ones you mentioned, I've auditioned Quad, Rega & Totem so far. I found most of these brands among 2 audio stores here in Dallas, Rega/Linn/Spendor/Paradigm/Proac at one & Audio Physic/Quad/Dynaudio/Era/Totem at another. The first dealer suggested that the Spendor S5e will not be a good match & next model up(s6e/s8e) is beyond my range. I liked Paradigm Monitor 7 followed by Rega R5. At the 2nd one, I heard Quad 12L, 22L & Totem Arro, Rainmaker. I really liked the 22L. I've asked if he could arrange a demo of Dynaudio 62 & Era(he says they are coming out with floorstanders). Bruce: I think I should take out the Magnepans from the mix. I am okay with BS or FS since I want to integrate into HT system & if a bookshelf w/sub is sounds good, then why not?
srinivas ananth Bronze Member Username: Srinivos DFW Post Number: 20 Registered: Dec-06	Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 22:16 GMT Speakers I auditioned listed in the order I liked most to least: Quad 22L Paradigm Monitor 7 (great bass but slightly forward & muddier mid-range compared to quad) Rega R5 (very neutral, good soundstage, ok low-end) Totem Rainmaker(amazing soundstage for the size, mids & high very smooth, bass as expected for the size, price/performance is a little high) B&W 603, 604 (slightly bright esp. 604) Vandersteen 2Ce (I listened to the Vandys for about an hr but I just didn't feel it. Maybe it was the material or the room, I don't know but it was definitely a letdown. Plus, it is quite an eye sore in a HT setup). Anthony Gallo Ref 3.1 ( blah!) Is it worth auditioning Dynaudio 62s with the Quad 22L? Are they similar in performance for the price? Also, what about Audio Physic? The Quads had the best combination of warm sound, mid-range & a tight bass response. The glossy lacquer finish is very tempting, so far it has been my favorite but new one is around $1600. I would like to compare it with something similar in performance & looks before I take the plunge. Thanks

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