Tower speakers if I have multiple subs?

[trenchtoaster]

I have two PB 17 Ultras and two PB 2000 Pros (not connected, might test them or sell them). I have the Umik 1 and miniDSP 2x4 HD to configure.

Assuming I do this well, is there any benefit at all in having my Wharfedale Evo 4.4 tower speakers?

I was thinking I could move those speakers to another room just for music (maybe with a PB 2000 pro) and purchase the Evo 5.2 or 5.1 bookshelf speakers as a replacement.

Would this make sense? I want speakers in the living room for when guests are over for music, but it is an open area connected to the kitchen etc. My “den” with the home theater is completely closed off with window plugs and acoustic panels and is only used for movies.

I have the Evo 4.c center speaker which I believe is better than the 5.c versions since it is 3 channels. So would a combination of 5.2 or 5.1s work for the LR, side, and rear speakers as a full bookshelf setup for movies?

(Sticking with wharfedale because only a few brands are readily available in the Philippines like Monitor Audio, Wharfedale, and Polk)

Attached some photos of the space. That wall partition is where the projector screen will be. This section of the room is about 6m x 6m and the total wall (entering the area with the computers) is 10m. My PB 17 ultras are not in the room yet and I haven’t done a sub crawl but I envision one behind the couch on the back wall and one under the windows on the side wall where the ottoman is.

Plan would be to move the Evo 4.4s to another room and purchase the 5.2 (or 5.1) to replace. Also buy two more pairs of 5.1s for the side/rear because the 4.2 speaker you see in the photo was dropped and damaged during our relocation to this house

 

[kyuu]

Yes there is absolutely still a benefit to tower speakers even if you are using subs. Generally speaking, you're going to get more SPL headroom and lower distortion in the lower octaves, above where they are crossing over to the subs. Also keep in mind that crossover filters are not a brick wall, so the speakers' ability at and below the crossover still makes a difference.

Now, if you want to use bookshelves for aesthetic or space reasons (I don't find bookshelves generally score better on either of those metrics, but ymmv), then sure you can still get a good result. But if I were you, I wouldnt give up the towers.

 

[Oddball]

As noted mostly SPL/distortion consideration. If you cross bookshelves high enough and integrate them well, Ultras could do really well in the low end.

There Could still be some other benefits if using other room correction system/s but for REW EQ the above is mostly what counts.

 

[trenchtoaster]

Yes there is absolutely still a benefit to tower speakers even if you are using subs. Generally speaking, you're going to get more SPL headroom and lower distortion in the lower octaves, above where they are crossing over to the subs. Also keep in mind that crossover filters are not a brick wall, so the speakers' ability at and below the crossover still makes a difference.

Now, if you want to use bookshelves for aesthetic or space reasons (I don't find bookshelves generally score better on either of those metrics, but ymmv), then sure you can still get a good result. But if I were you, I wouldnt give up the towers.

So I am pretty constrained about what speakers are available (Philippines). What if I moved my 4.4s to the side position and my 4.2s to the rear and purchases the new 5.4s as my front speakers?

Would that be an all around upgrade? I moved my 4.2s earlier and realized that they are 1) heavier than the 4.4s due to the stand/sand and 2) way less stable… held on with blue tack.

The official wharfedale stands are literally MORE expensive than the speakers. 42,000 PHP for the 5.2 stand and 38,675 PHP for the 5.2 speakers.

I haven’t see towers used as side speakers and it is exactly the opposite direction i thought i was going to head in (full bookshelf solution).

The speaker area of the room is 6x6 meters (the wall partition where the screen is separates the room) and full room is 10x6 meters.

 

[trenchtoaster]

Wow I really like the gray 5 series speakers. It is too bad all of my 4 series stuff is walnut. I basically need to get walnut to match…