Help me pick speakers for my big room!

[mcdn]

Actually the Ascend Sierra LX could be a very good fit: https://www.ascendacoustics.com/col...roducts/sierra-lx-pair?variant=40080757260342

Wide dispersion both horizontal and vertical, more compact than the BMR monitor. Plenty of power handling, stunning measurements.

 

[Mort]

Actually the Ascend Sierra LX could be a very good fit: https://www.ascendacoustics.com/col...roducts/sierra-lx-pair?variant=40080757260342

Wide dispersion both horizontal and vertical, more compact than the BMR monitor. Plenty of power handling, stunning measurements.

We established above that wide directivity is likely to get muddy over that distance.

But Philharmonic audio makes something comparable to that called the HT.

The Philharmonic audios are much more beautiful than the ascend acoustics and I think we'll make a difference in looks in that space if that's the way the op goes.

 

[Hear Here]

This is awesome! Thanks for that advice. yes, I have listened with 1 sonos speaker (the big old one, #5 I think) in the corner, and it's really only just good enough for background sound. I then used my Paradigm Signature 1 bookshelves with the REL T0 sub, and about halfway across the room, the volume was actually pretty good, but the overall sound was a little thin. It wasn't "filling the room". I did the very basic amount of EQ using the WiiM Ultra Amp's system.

I think the 2 sub idea is going to be key. What do you think about me getting 4 Neumann KH150's and 2 Power Sound Audio S2411M subs (or maybe I'd step up in the PSA line if I can source the KH's at a decent price used. Plus, I won't need amps!). The Neumanns can be 'hidden' amongst the book shelves. The specs on the KH's look good: - 39 hz @-3db with good SPL numbers as well. I Like the forward facing bass reflex cabinet. That would work well in the bookshelves. And from their website:

Recommended Listening Distance	1.0 … 2.5 m; (3'… 8')
Feasible Listening Distance	0.75 … 6.0 m; (2'6"… 18')

The the 2 reviews on here lead me to believe these could really work. What am I missing?

If you were to go for speakers such as the ones I mentioned in my post #85 above, you certainly won't needs subs to reinforce the bass. Avantgarde speakers use twin 10" in their smaller speakers, or twin 12" drivers in their bigger ones as in the photo of my room. Subs are invariably ugly (as are most main speakers as illustrated in this thread) with low WAF.

 

[Mr. Widget]

Wow, I'm impressed with the breadth and depth of the responses! Thank you all (even the guy with the $40,000+ piece of speaker advice ... Yeah, that's not happening. That has exactly zero chance at WAF - and that would be even if they were invisible ). I KNOW this is a big lift, and as i said: that is my dilemma and the compromise I need to make to keep marital harmony. Or else I will just have to live with the sono(s) and / or a few bookshelf speakers scattered around (Hmm, here's an idea: how about 4 KH 150's spaced around the room? or 2 Genelec 8351's? Yes would be above budget, but I don't need an amp, then )

Here are a few more pieces of data that people have asked for: I tested myself with Decibel X and my normal listening volume is 65-70 db - with maybe some peaks at 75. The most I would go is 70-75 with some 80 peaks. So speakers don't have to put out THAT much volume. And I have included a couple of pictures of my
space: the idea would be to put the speakers either on the inside or outside of the two vertical wooden beams that frame the big window on the left side. I could put them up to 2' away from the wall. The red couch against the wall and under the painting (on the right side) would be the listening area. So tweeter to ear distance = 19-20 feet. As you can see, there are a lot of reflective surfaces, hence the need for DPS / EQ. In terms of volume, I don't know if that makes it easier or harder.

View attachment 509852View attachment 509853

Both the room's architecture and the fact that you have a lot of books in the room will both potentially help you get a good sound in this space. That said, a large amount of glass and exposed hardwood floors will be potentially problematic. More carpeting and drapes would be beneficial.

As for speaker choices, do you plan on sitting in one spot and creating the equilateral triangle needed for proper stereo imaging, or do you want to fill the space with great sound? If you want music throughout the space I would work on a distributed audio plan. If you will be in a single location then bringing in the speakers to shrink the triangle to a more manageable size would be helpful.

It really isn't possible to give you good advice without knowing how you plan on using the space and what your goals and expectations are.

 

[mcdn]

We established above that wide directivity is likely to get muddy over that distance.

Did we? If they were aimed down the length of the room I'd agree, but OP wants them either side of the wide picture window, probably aimed straight ahead on the bookshelves.

 

[Defi]

I think just about every price range, every size, every design, and every configuration has been proposed in this thread.

 

[Mort]

Did we? If they were aimed down the length of the room I'd agree, but OP wants them either side of the wide picture window, probably aimed straight ahead on the bookshelves.

The report was 20 feet.

 

[Mr. Widget]

I think just about every price range, every size, every design, and every configuration has been proposed in this thread.

I think we have a lot of folks simply expressing their own experiences or their own dreams and not really looking at the OP's needs.

 

[mcdn]

The report was 20 feet.

All these things are true. It's about 20ft from the main LP to the speakers based on the posted pic. And the speakers are at least 20ft apart. And the scenario OP is homing in on seems to be putting them in the bookshelves for visual harmony, which implies they'd be facing forward. @Goran-P can you confirm or correct that?

 

[Buckchester]

That’s a very large room. You need fairly big speakers and subs. I feel like you won’t have any bass in a room that big without subs.

 

[Chromatischism]

Cat 1 - smaller size / higher WAF
KEF R7 Meta - 41.8" × 7.9" × 15.1"
Audio First Cadentia 3 - 23.2" × 11.8" × 17.0"
Wharfedale Super Linton - 23.8" × 11.8" × 13.0"
Revel Performa3 F206 (or the 226be) - 41.4" × 9.8" × 13.6"
Paradigm Founder 80F - 38.2" × 11.7" × 14"
Acoustic Energy AE320 - 41.3" × 7.9" × 13.7"
Ascend ELX Tower - 43.0" × 7.5" × 10.5"

Neutral, good soundstage, good bass without subs, spousal acceptance:

I have bolded my choice.

Runners up would be the BMR Tower and Revel F208.

But I agree with the others that subs will add to the experience—it's just extra money, parts, and setup time. So it's your call.

 

[kemmler3D]

I think we have a lot of folks simply expressing their own experiences or their own dreams and not really looking at the OP's needs.

It happens on almost every thread, people start offering suggestions without reading all the info OP provides, often even in the first post. If I had nickel for every time someone asked for OP's budget or room size, when they were provided in the second half of a moderate-length post...

Anyway, since I don't think it's come up yet, and DIY is now on the table, a highly (aesthetically) customized JBL M2 clone would definitely fit the bill:

JBL M2 Clone

I recently measured a JBL D2430K compression driver and M2 lens. My goal is to build an M2 clone. The speakers are going to go into individual boxes allowing me to stack the woofer and D2 into an M2, or even include a midrange. I got a pair of B&C 5NDL38 for cheap, and if they don't work I...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Probably doable in-budget and certainly no lack of output to worry about.

 

[Mart68]

It happens on almost every thread, people start offering suggestions without reading all the info OP provides, often even in the first post. If I had nickel for every time someone asked for OP's budget or room size, when they were provided in the second half of a moderate-length post...

Anyway, since I don't think it's come up yet, and DIY is now on the table, a highly (aesthetically) customized JBL M2 clone would definitely fit the bill:

JBL M2 Clone

I recently measured a JBL D2430K compression driver and M2 lens. My goal is to build an M2 clone. The speakers are going to go into individual boxes allowing me to stack the woofer and D2 into an M2, or even include a midrange. I got a pair of B&C 5NDL38 for cheap, and if they don't work I...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Probably doable in-budget and certainly no lack of output to worry about.

I agree - the skills and equipment for DIY are available, it's absolutely the way to go. Finished in a veneer that matches the wood in the room and a neutral coloured grille cloth they would blend in, in a room that size they would be practically camouflaged.

 

[DanielT]

Here, these can play quite loud. Could be a suitable first cheap DIY project. Cheap but that speaker seems good. Needs to be completed with a subwoofer, but one or a few such subs can also be DIY projects.
Or complement that speaker with two DIY bass boxes with a pair of 15 or 18 inch bass woofers that play up to around 300 Hz.

That they can play fairly loud with clean sound is indicated by this:
The harmonic distortion through the midrange is among the lowest of the speakers I have measured, THD ~0.2% @ 100dB 800Hz - 2kHz!

Did I mention it costs less then $100 each* to build! *Drivers & Crossover.

MTG Designs - VBS-6.2

The Design: A value oriented compact 6" 2-way with a horn loaded compression driver and excellent sound quality and output above 100hz. Best used as surrounds or compact mains in a home theater or where a small high output speaker is needed when subwoofers will be used to fill in the bottom end.

www.mtg-designs.com

 

[Ellebob]

This is awesome! Thanks for that advice. yes, I have listened with 1 sonos speaker (the big old one, #5 I think) in the corner, and it's really only just good enough for background sound. I then used my Paradigm Signature 1 bookshelves with the REL T0 sub, and about halfway across the room, the volume was actually pretty good, but the overall sound was a little thin. It wasn't "filling the room". I did the very basic amount of EQ using the WiiM Ultra Amp's system.

I think the 2 sub idea is going to be key. What do you think about me getting 4 Neumann KH150's and 2 Power Sound Audio S2411M subs (or maybe I'd step up in the PSA line if I can source the KH's at a decent price used. Plus, I won't need amps!). The Neumanns can be 'hidden' amongst the book shelves. The specs on the KH's look good: - 39 hz @-3db with good SPL numbers as well. I Like the forward facing bass reflex cabinet. That would work well in the bookshelves. And from their website:

Recommended Listening Distance	1.0 … 2.5 m; (3'… 8')
Feasible Listening Distance	0.75 … 6.0 m; (2'6"… 18')

The the 2 reviews on here lead me to believe these could really work. plan.

This is awesome! Thanks for that advice. yes, I have listened with 1 sonos speaker (the big old one, #5 I think) in the corner, and it's really only just good enough for background sound. I then used my Paradigm Signature 1 bookshelves with the REL T0 sub, and about halfway across the room, the volume was actually pretty good, but the overall sound was a little thin. It wasn't "filling the room". I did the very basic amount of EQ using the WiiM Ultra Amp's system.

I think the 2 sub idea is going to be key. What do you think about me getting 4 Neumann KH150's and 2 Power Sound Audio S2411M subs (or maybe I'd step up in the PSA line if I can source the KH's at a decent price used. Plus, I won't need amps!). The Neumanns can be 'hidden' amongst the book shelves. The specs on the KH's look good: - 39 hz @-3db with good SPL numbers as well. I Like the forward facing bass reflex cabinet. That would work well in the bookshelves. And from their website:

Recommended Listening Distance	1.0 … 2.5 m; (3'… 8')
Feasible Listening Distance	0.75 … 6.0 m; (2'6"… 18')

The the 2 reviews on here lead me to believe these could really work. What am I missing?

Using four speakers to get better coverage I think is a better solution than trying to use only two speakers and try to get that ideal sound stage and imaging in this situation which would be very difficult to achieve.

We carry those speakers at work and they are excellent. I think that they would be a good choice and they would play loud enough with four of them.

 

[Flaesh]

If I had nickel for every time someone asked for OP's budget or room size, when they were provided in the second half of a moderate-length post...

Anyway, since I don't think it's come up yet, and DIY is now on the table, a highly (aesthetically) customized JBL M2 clone

I can almost feel the 5 cents in my account!
I think I offered any combination of a 15" driver (or 2) and a waveguide with a large or medium-sized driver. With or w\o sub(s) And painting the waveguide to match the sofa (optional).
But there's hope that the OP will simply buy small speakers and tuck them into dark corners on shelves, perhaps paired with a mass-market subwoofer.

One can do without 15, for example, like this Audiofirstdesigns Type 1425:

aesthetically) customized JBL M2

Here it is, here it is!!

 

[Goran-P]

Ok, DIY is off the table (for lots of reasons - realistically, I already have a full dancecard of projects, and i couldn’t get to this for 1 yr+).

 

[Flaesh]

1 yr+

Enough time to understand how it works, what exactly you want\need, etc., etc.
In the meantime, you can buy something not too expensive, maybe used, and then sell it or put it in another room. Also, a microphone for a hundred bucks; it's small, so I don't think it will bother your wife.

 

[EERecordist]

What a great project.

I would start by reading reviews of each of your alternatives on ASR, Erin's Audio Corner, or looking them up in Spinorama.org. Then I would look at your room and see if you can have bookshelves to the side and back of the room and your speakers in front of a hard wall. This mimics the live-end (speaker side) dead-end (everything else design philosophy of classic concert halls and Tom Hidley rooms. Then I would look at carpets with jute, not foam, padding. Area rugs are fine. It is also possible to hide acoustic conditioning panels behind tapestries. Is there a video screen or projector involved? At your investment and the room, it would be a good idea to EQ the room, and that may be in the DAC or the AVR for video.

You did not ask, but is there a way to draw your wife more into your hobby? What seating works for her? Would she invite her friends to listen? There have been many women recording engineers and Sylvia Massy has videos of her studio and talks about recording. There are many movies with female musicians and conductors, you can get subscriptions to opera telecasts, and there may be movies / streams of performers she is interested in.

Report back on your solution. Of course the more books, library ladders are a feature, the more sound conditioning on the walls.

 

[ZolaIII]

At 6m you lose about 12 dB (not 15 free field).
Still problem are tweeters, simply HiFi ain't build with something like that in mind.
For less than half of the budget you can get Polk R700 and for rest get two really big sub's or four still big ones. They will pass calibration point 85 dB to 6m mono but barely with significant compression in highs (will do for 80 dB stereo) so tow them in a little bit closer and do 2.2 with sub's crossed high as high as 120 Hz. I don't think anyone got trough before with Polk's.

Polk Audio Reserve R700 Tower Speaker Review

Polk Audio Reserve R700 Tower Speaker

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

If it whose last year or perhaps if you still can find them with discontinued price reduction Revel Performa3 F208 would be worth chasing.