HooStat
Addicted to Fun and Learning
I would like to get some input on ways to maximize the sound quality, and dialog intelligibility in particular, in our family room. This is really a speaker question because we can't move the listening position (against the wall) or use anything on the walls. So, room treatment, to the extent it might help, is just out of the question. Hence, I am asking for input on the type of speakers we should get. This is primarily for movies and TV.
Room is about 20' x 30' and is completely open on one end (it becomes the kitchen which is similarly sized). It is very open. Vaulted ceiling is painted wood, and varies from 8' to 11'. Walls are either glass or drywall. So, the sound needs to be loud because the space is big, which exacerbates the reflections. We don't actually like it loud, but the louder it is, the easier it is to hear the dialog clearly. See picture attached. Couch is against the wall (and can't be moved).
Currently, using Anthem ARC, the frequency response seems respectable to me (see attached). This is with 1 sub and 2 KEF Q300 speakers, and a KEF Q100 speaker as a center channel (not shown in photo). These are holdovers and will be sold or used elsewhere. The center was a way to test to see if a dedicated center might be an improvement. It was, but not by much. A few thoughts on approaches that we could consider:
1. Cardiod speakers like Dutch and Dutch 8C and go 2-channel with phantom center. The thinking here is minimizing the room reflections with more focused sound.
2. Wide dispersion stereo speakers like Revel 328Be (or similarly wide dispersion speakers). The thinking is that if the reflections are uniform, it will be easier to hear.
3. Focus on a high quality center channel (e.g., Revel 428Be) and some relatively less expensive Revel towers plus a sub (or two). The thinking here is that a single, excellent center channel will focus the direct sound on the listening position and we will have less to worry about in terms of reflections.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Room is about 20' x 30' and is completely open on one end (it becomes the kitchen which is similarly sized). It is very open. Vaulted ceiling is painted wood, and varies from 8' to 11'. Walls are either glass or drywall. So, the sound needs to be loud because the space is big, which exacerbates the reflections. We don't actually like it loud, but the louder it is, the easier it is to hear the dialog clearly. See picture attached. Couch is against the wall (and can't be moved).
Currently, using Anthem ARC, the frequency response seems respectable to me (see attached). This is with 1 sub and 2 KEF Q300 speakers, and a KEF Q100 speaker as a center channel (not shown in photo). These are holdovers and will be sold or used elsewhere. The center was a way to test to see if a dedicated center might be an improvement. It was, but not by much. A few thoughts on approaches that we could consider:
1. Cardiod speakers like Dutch and Dutch 8C and go 2-channel with phantom center. The thinking here is minimizing the room reflections with more focused sound.
2. Wide dispersion stereo speakers like Revel 328Be (or similarly wide dispersion speakers). The thinking is that if the reflections are uniform, it will be easier to hear.
3. Focus on a high quality center channel (e.g., Revel 428Be) and some relatively less expensive Revel towers plus a sub (or two). The thinking here is that a single, excellent center channel will focus the direct sound on the listening position and we will have less to worry about in terms of reflections.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.