mewsickbuff
I like big soundstages' and have had 1.6's for 18 years, since we moved into a house with a large finished basement. The room is approx. 30' x 60' x 8', irregular in shape with a wall at one end 45 degrees, where the speakers are placed, to the rest of the basement. Drive them with 2 Arcam 10P's at 175 W into 4 ohms. Spent a lot of time fussing with positioning to find the best available imaging to my ears. Ended up 50" (not 49, not 51 ;>)) from the back wall and 93" between centers which points them at the intersecting walls to the 45 degree wall. Listening couch is about 10.5' from the speakers. The speakers are towed in to shoot just outside my shoulders. Clarity and imaging (most of the "soundstage" was off the back wall behind the speakers) were very good at modest to loud levels, although there was a bit of bass boom around 80 to 120 hertz (guessing). I wanted to try cutting down on the reflections so put some fiberglass/foam panels up on one of the side walls furthest from the speakers. Damned if the bass boom didn't unexpectedly disappear. Made two more "major" changes in all these years, one good and one bad.
The good - Wanted to experiment to get the most out the system on the cheap. Gutted the stock passive crossovers, rewired a different set of binding posts to the panels, and added a used Bryston 10B electronic crossover. What I thought sounded pretty good got better in every aspect. Well worth the time and money and I'm cheap and lazy.
The bad - After adding the crossover I changed from a 24" crt on a stand between the speakers to a 50" plasma on the stand about 2.5' from the back wall. Really messed up the soundstage. Now instead of spread across the back wall with pretty specific vocals and instrument placing it's mostly outside the width of the plasma TV. Oh well, live and learn.
To sum up - I have a wall rack for the TV and hope, when installed, that will restore the nice imaging. I could use more power. If I crank the little Arcam's up to ear splitting (say I'm outside or upstairs) they will go into protection mode after awhile. 2 Pass Labs 150.?'s would be ideal, but at $13K delivered new, it is a bit pricey for me. 2 Parasound A21's used at $4 K +- would probably work. I really enjoy everything about the 1.6's (even with the messed up soundstage). Yes, they work better in a larger room, need power, and a little work on positioning but well worth it. Some day I might upgrade to a 3.? or 20.? if I could find them used. The only box speaker I might try would be some form of line array that would mimic the 1.6's big soundstage.
Hope that helps and good luck with your quest.
BTW - no problem with delamination after 18 years of pretty loud playing.
Jim S.
I like big soundstages' and have had 1.6's for 18 years, since we moved into a house with a large finished basement. The room is approx. 30' x 60' x 8', irregular in shape with a wall at one end 45 degrees, where the speakers are placed, to the rest of the basement. Drive them with 2 Arcam 10P's at 175 W into 4 ohms. Spent a lot of time fussing with positioning to find the best available imaging to my ears. Ended up 50" (not 49, not 51 ;>)) from the back wall and 93" between centers which points them at the intersecting walls to the 45 degree wall. Listening couch is about 10.5' from the speakers. The speakers are towed in to shoot just outside my shoulders. Clarity and imaging (most of the "soundstage" was off the back wall behind the speakers) were very good at modest to loud levels, although there was a bit of bass boom around 80 to 120 hertz (guessing). I wanted to try cutting down on the reflections so put some fiberglass/foam panels up on one of the side walls furthest from the speakers. Damned if the bass boom didn't unexpectedly disappear. Made two more "major" changes in all these years, one good and one bad.
The good - Wanted to experiment to get the most out the system on the cheap. Gutted the stock passive crossovers, rewired a different set of binding posts to the panels, and added a used Bryston 10B electronic crossover. What I thought sounded pretty good got better in every aspect. Well worth the time and money and I'm cheap and lazy.
The bad - After adding the crossover I changed from a 24" crt on a stand between the speakers to a 50" plasma on the stand about 2.5' from the back wall. Really messed up the soundstage. Now instead of spread across the back wall with pretty specific vocals and instrument placing it's mostly outside the width of the plasma TV. Oh well, live and learn.
To sum up - I have a wall rack for the TV and hope, when installed, that will restore the nice imaging. I could use more power. If I crank the little Arcam's up to ear splitting (say I'm outside or upstairs) they will go into protection mode after awhile. 2 Pass Labs 150.?'s would be ideal, but at $13K delivered new, it is a bit pricey for me. 2 Parasound A21's used at $4 K +- would probably work. I really enjoy everything about the 1.6's (even with the messed up soundstage). Yes, they work better in a larger room, need power, and a little work on positioning but well worth it. Some day I might upgrade to a 3.? or 20.? if I could find them used. The only box speaker I might try would be some form of line array that would mimic the 1.6's big soundstage.
Hope that helps and good luck with your quest.
BTW - no problem with delamination after 18 years of pretty loud playing.
Jim S.