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Seek advice: Front tower speaker recommendation budget USD 1600 max

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anothereeaudiofile

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Hi everyone,

I'd like to get your recommendations between Kef Q11 Meta, the Polk R700 and the Revel F35. I'm able to get the Revels from Crutchfield at 449, Q7's locally at 800 each and R700s at a similar price too. My setup is a Integra DRX3.4 with a Buckeye NC502 6 channel. My center is a THX-365C and I have the Klipsch Rp-600M IIs. I don't have a dedicated HT room. It's an open area on adjoining a stairs and a balcony that overlooks my door. Layout is included. I know it's not ideal but at least it's carpeted with 9ft ceiling. No room treatments possible. Can I please have your informed opinions.

Thanks!
 

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Try to find F36 now on clearance sale if you can. They are nice just don't play very nice with ceiling refractions.
 
digitalfrost said:

Measurements for speaker KEF Q11 Meta

www.spinorama.org www.spinorama.org

Measurements for speaker Polk Audio Reserve R700

www.spinorama.org www.spinorama.org

Measurements for speaker Revel F35

www.spinorama.org www.spinorama.org

Based on this, Q11 wins, R700 2nd, F35 worst.
Click to expand...
Thank you digitalfrost! One question though, based on directivity, shouldn't the F35 be better than the Polk R700? Also the F35 seems to have a better horizontal dispersion compared to the rest. Am I reading the graphs correctly? Can you please explain?
 
anothereeaudiofile said:
Thank you Zolalll. What would be the benefit of F36 vs F35? Can you please explain?
Click to expand...
3x1.25" bigger woofers (3x6.5 vs 3x5.25) same with better peek handling regarding extension. Simply they are now on clearance sale (discontinued) so you probably can catch them for a price of R700 Elac's and similar.
 
anothereeaudiofile said:
Thank you digitalfrost! One question though, based on directivity, shouldn't the F35 be better than the Polk R700? Also the F35 seems to have a better horizontal dispersion compared to the rest. Am I reading the graphs correctly? Can you please explain?
Click to expand...
I was just going by the preference score. Q11 is best followed by R700. The Q11s have narrow dispersion if you like wider the R700 might be the better choice, and while the F35 indeed have nice off axis response their tonality score is worst of all 3. These are all good speakers nonethenless. It seems the Polk go significantly deeper than the others though.
 
Agreed on the Revel F36's if you can find a pair. As I understand it, your Integra DRX-3.4 AVR comes with Dirac Live. Your three choices are good loudspeakers and Dirac Live can mitigate their deviations from 'perfection'. Consider the Revel F35 if you have a preferred use for the $ savings. Consider the Polk R700 or KEF Q11 Meta if you might wonder what you are 'missing' by not spending more. I perceive more distinct imaging from the Uni-Q driver in my pair of LS50 Meta loudspeakers. The Polk R700 will likely go the lowest of the three. I use a pair of Polk ES60 loudspeakers in a 2.0 configuration and am satisfied with the low end extension.
 
Thank you all for kindly replying to my questions. I do prefer better dispersion as my seating positions are far from ideal. Given that I'll be getting a sub soon, I will be going with the F35s that I'm getting for about 800. I tried finding the F36s online but couldn't. Given the PS is marginal with 0.5 difference in the scores and that the room is rather small, I think I'll be happy spending less on the Revels. I appreciate your help, @digitalfrost @ZolaIII @Power Pop 23
 
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