Aerial Acoustic Model 7Bs vs. Model 9s?

Thanks for all of your remarks: I will arrange to audition the 8s and do some more research on them. They might be just the fill-in between the 7Bs and the 9s. Maybe a second mortgage the the 20Ts would be a better thing?

Anyone out there using the 7Bs with tube amps?

Thanks for your comments on the Model 8. Frankly I looked at those, but have not yet listened to them because of two reasons: 1) the dealer said they are primarily designed for theater systems, and 2) they are not offered in a maple finish to match the rest of my furniture in that room.

I know, reason 2 is pretty weak; and I would probably be fine with a pair of 8s in black for example. Let me take that back - strike reason 2: it's silly.

The 8s are side-firing woofers, right? They are also physically larger than the 7bs or even the 9s if I recall. Another question, what's the difference between the 8 and 8B model designation?

Thanks,

Thanks for the midnight reply - the room is roughly 16 x 14 with an 8 foot ceiling. The system is setup centered on the long wall and the seating position is floated in the room allowing for a wall of floor to ceiling bookcases and a walkway behind the couch. Currently the bass reinforcement loudspeaker is on the left wall about 4' from the corner.

The equipment chain is: Krell SACD standard --> Krell KAV280p --> ASL Hurricane DT --> Linn Ninka. Power is conditioned by a Audio Power Power Pack 5. Speaker cables and amplifier interconnects are Sonic Euphoria Supremes, and Krell interconnects are balanced Transparant Audio Musiclink Plus. Power cords are also from Transparant Audio.

This is one of my primary critical listening systems, where I often spend a couple of hours at a time enjoying music fairly loud. Rock, Jazz, Country, Folk/Blue-Grass, Blues - I'm all over the map. The only shortcoming of this system in my opinion now is the bass reproduction. The Ninkas don't dig very deep, though what they do cover, they seem to cover really well. The subwoofer on the side gives me the low bass energy in the room - but I can definitely tell when the subwoofer kicks in, and I feel the energy in my feet through the floor and furniture instead of in my chest. I'm looking for a more cohesive presentation of full range - that will still fit in the room and closer to 5k than 10k. When I say fit in the room - I mean that the speakers shouldn't be too much more than about 40" tall, nor more than about a foot wide or two feet deep.

Thanks.