@khangphudatadio- English please.....
Speakers for a very large room?
Reader of posts for a few years but have not posted a serious question until now. Currently have McIntosh integrated tube amp with some old KEF speakers. While I enjoy it in my current setting, I am moving to a house where my listening room will be 30' x 40' x 10'. It has polished concrete floors. Sounds like a grocery store but it is not. I suspect I will need to change speakers but really have no clue where to start. I listen mostly to progressive rock but also anything in the same general area. I don't know where to start with such a room? I am at least 3 hours from any major city. I did experience Treo CTs once and to bright for my ears and Wilsons but did not care for the visual appearance though liked the sound better. It was a few years ago so can't better define what I liked. Not a great resume of listening experience but it is what it is at this point. For some reason, which may be completely wrong, I am thinking electrostatic may work well in this setting. I could easily move them 5 feet out from the back wall but then again I really don't know what I am talking about. Any kind comments would be appreciated.
Rich
Rich
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Tôi nghĩ bạn nên tham khảo phạm vi loa JBL. Và có lẽ đây là những gì bạn đang tìm kiếm: http://thietbiamthanh24h.com/phuong-an-mau/dan-loa-dam-cuoi. |
Ironic that I’m looking for an MA2275 and have ATC SCM40 V2’s to trade. Prety much pairity other than shipping. Depending on how far far away you want to sit, they could work. If you want concert levels you’d need the SCM100 or SCM150. If they don’t sell, I’m looking at either a Pass INT-250 or Marantz PM10 to drive them. Certainly the best I’ve owned. |
For progressive rock my first choice would be ATC. The sheer force, power, and thrust they can belt out cleanly and without distortion makes them a great match for this type of music IMO. The downside is they do require some power to shine, so I doubt your Mac would be a good match. But if it were me in your situation, I'd get a Lyngdorf integrated for its room correction. In a room like that and if you don't have the ability to use a good amount of acoustical treatments, I think the benefits of room correction will far outweigh whatever other compromises there may be and you'll be thrilled with the results. I also agree with others that incorporating a couple good subs at some point is a must. Planar and electrostats are incredible at what they do, but IME they can't do the power, thrust, and oomph thing like good dynamic drivers such as those in ATC. Here's an example of a pair available here now just FYI... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis96f5j-atc-scm-40-gen-2-passive-satin-black-full-range?refsource... Anyway, hope this is somewhat helpful, and best of luck in your quest. |
1) Ascend Acoustics Sierra Tower with RAAL: <$3000 shipped, more for custom finish. 2) Add a subwoofer(s): If you can do bass management and have RCA output for the sub, get a Rythmik (their subs have less distortion than Velodyne chats costing 3x as much). If you need to have speaker wire in/out, look to SVS. You want >12” for that space. |
I am in the same boat- new home being built will have a great room 42' x 25' with 14' ceilings and polished concrete. But it gets worse-one long wall is all glass. I have a pair of GE Triton 1's from my prior home that were amazing in a smaller room with full GIK treatments using REW. My plan is to use the Triton's on the short wall with a sofa/chair about 10' away in the sweet spot. The issue isn't to fill the room as much as to fill the listening area well enough. I plan on 2 additional subs to help achieve that. I will use large area rugs but I also expect that I'll need Dirac too with so many reflective surfaces. If my concern was to fill the space, I'd go with big constant directivity horns. The frequency response stays the same off axis, and if they are big enough, you get good sound without being in the typical sweet spot. The prior JBL synthesis suggestion is a good one though I still think you'll need additional sub's. I also second the Tektons. |
I have a similar sized listening area. A bit shorter and smaller at 36'x24'x8 with concrete floor. I am using Canto Ergo 1002DCs. No sub. The front ported speakers are 20" off the wall and 108 " apart and I sit 96" back from the line connecting their faces. I've done absolutely no acoustic treatment other than moving furniture. All of the surfaces in the area except the floor are broken up by furniture, cabinets, etc. The Ceiling is irregular, too. I've tried with and without carpet and I prefer without. I did take a lot of time adjusting the position of the speakers with the aid of a CD created for that purpose. I really like the sound of my system, so I suggest you set up yours and play with it before you decide what to do next. It's a little weird sitting in the middle of the room, but I pretty much have the space to myself, so who cares how it looks. Happy listening |
Ok. I have to admit that I am one of those loyal McIntosh customers but would be willing to eventually upgrade in-brand. They have treated me well over the years and I love the warmth with the kind of music I like. Might be short sighted but it is what it is. Anyways, I am hearing room treatments and klipshorns with subs over and over. Much appreciated. I will start there. The one thing I love about this hobby/addiction is the ability to not do things hastily. Sit back and reassess. If you think you missed a good deal, it will eventually come around again. Thanks to everyone for your insight! |
@ricmci for room correction I strongly recommend Dirac Live products. Their software corrects phase (timing) and frequency response of your speakers and the room. It can make a significant difference. While many acoustic treatments don't exactly look like works of art, you can find (or create) acoustic treatments that look good and fit into your decor. |
Hey, I too have a large room above my Garage 48x18x7.5' that I'm finishing. Both ends of the room are pre-dedicted to other functions, an audio workshop at one end, and live music area at the other, and in the middle on the long 48' wall I plan to have a listening area. Any obvious issues with this setup? The side walls would be literally be 24' away in either direction. Also running the full length of that wall is a knee-wall angle starting at 6' to 7.5' about a 2' angled wall, which would be the back wall behind speakers. |
Excellent suggestion on the room treatment An empty room with hard sides will slap echo like a bastard without treatment. Carpets on the floor, drapes on any windows etc. tame things considerably. While one could probably be pretty happy with some small monitors in the middle of the room, I understand the urge to experience speakers that wouldn't have sounded very good in your previous smaller room. Personally, I'd be looking to the second hand planar speakers and the suggestions of Martin Logan, Magnepan, SoundLab Apogee, are all good, and you can get used for decent dollars. You can also look to conventional speakers that would have been a bit compromised by small rooms. You may well be looking at an amplifier upgrade at some point, depending on what sort of load the speaker you choose presents. |
Install your current system in the room. Listen. If you don't feel the experience is equal to your current room sound, see if you can figure out why. Re-position the speakers a few times. If you still don't feel the sound is what you want, determine WHY--too much bass, too strident, etc. Equipment--even millions of dollars worth of equipment--isn't going to change your ROOM at all. Once you figure out how to make your current system sound like YOU want it to sound, go shopping for speakers within your price range and try a few out. All the suggestions here are simply that--suggestions. Only YOU know what you want and any dealer worth their name will permit you to audition speakers in your room. Good luck and good listening! |
Just kidding, Rich. roberjerman1’s suggestion (if you’re interested in omni’s) for Walsh’s is good; better would be to go to: http://www.hhr-exoticspeakers.com/HHRhome.htm ...and return to the ’originals’, brought into the 21st century. *S* If you could ’do’ 4 with a nice ’quick’ sub for the 'bottom', the result would be nearly transcendent....IMHO. Happy listening....*5’s* |
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-JBL-SET-UP-COMPLETE/112595934272 You’re welcome....(You didn’t want that new car, did you? *G* ;) Choice of amps and source material shouldn’t make much of a difference, but I would ensure the neighbors are Very *ah* 'tolerant'....) |
I recently moved to a house with no clear path to fine audio due to open plan, multi room flow, 10’ ceilings. My speakers are MG 3.6 powered by Sim Audio Moon Pre/Amps, and have always sounded amazing throughout the house. I intentionally made no audio decisions until after we moved in and got the furniture, etc. dialed in ... then start audio testing the space by moving a pair of whatever youre using now and moderate volume. Listen for audible distortion odd reflections. My MGs, being line sources seem to make a stage in front, but create the sense that you are walking through adjacent rooms at a concert, like the classical opera house in Buenos Aires suggests. ... more later ... please, first test your stuff in your new place before buying anything! |
I was not familiar with JBL Studio Monitors until you gave your strong recommendation for them. I am sure they sound just fantastic in your set up. OP: I think there is a misunderstanding. 1 - It was not a "strong recommendation." It was a suggestion for you to see if you liked the sound and it fit your budget. 2 - I don't own JBL, I make my own. The recommendation was based on your room size and music preference, which is not my own. :) I think you should see if you can find used in your price range. I only wish I could upgrade to that level of listening that you endorse. Maybe one day I will be so lucky. Thanks for your insight. We all should be so greatful to receive such well thought out replies. I think it would be a good idea to have asked about your budget first. Used studio monitors in the size I am thinking of are probably in the $2k range. Perfectly reasonable to rock out in a large room. Of course, you could spend a lot more with JBL than that. :) Best, E |
McIntosh Tube Integrated + Big Room = Klipsch. The amp would seem to suit the horn loaded speakers inherent high sensitivity. Plus you got the big room to put in the K-horns, and many of us are jealous of that and want you to make it happen for us! I have Maggies in a room half the size of yours, and my MA-6200 (Mac SS integrated, so not totally equivalent) had a hard time rolling “London Calling” uphill this morning before work. Sounds great, but not authoritative. Wolf Garcia makes a great point about your listening area being more important than having great sound everywhere. My loft experience in the 90s had people listening in a specific area of the raw space. I would try the KEFs out first before making a move. My experience with some legacy 103.2s on stands and 100+ wpc makes me think you might have a starting point already in hand. |
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Thanks you all for the responses. I will definitely look into the Tannoys. Never thought about horns but will research. I am not sure I have very many options other than to make the large room work. System certainly not going in the master bedroom. Other smaller room will be a bedroom and the other will be a gym. Smaller detached carriage house would be perfect but then not ideal for entertaining guests or having my family enjoy it. I am going to get it set up and see what needs improving. I suspect first thing will be consideration of some room treatments as suggested by many of you. Thanks, Rich |
I'm glad Stanley (Stringreen), mentioned Tannoy. In my room (16.5' W X 34' L w/cathedral ceilings), my custom built Tannoy 12" HPD's (they also come in 15"), work great in my large room, with no room treatments, though my carpeted wood floors play a significant part in taming room issues. I couldn't afford anything new, so I bought vintage ca 1975 drivers and had massive 150 liter bass-reflex enclosures made for them. 2009 prices, it was around $5000. I don't know that I would trade them for anything. Horn speakers are an attractive alternative, though the upper mids and treble frequencies in the HPD's are handled with concentric horn tweeters. Ebay UK is the best place to find them, I've found. Hope you find the exact right thing for you, and your SO. Regards, Dan |
I too have a large room. The best thing I did was to get rugs. You'll be amazed how that large space will just eat up the sound and be disappointing. It took me a long time to get it even approaching right. Take your time. If it were me, I'd put in large Tannoys, but that may be out of your budget for now. |
I don't get the "large room" speaker thing unless dancing is involved. Where are you planning to position your listening spot? Back near the door to the Butler pantry? Large Magnapans also make great screens for quick costume changes, so there's that, but determine the listening spot and ask yourself, "Am I into party guests shouting at each other?" I think a well focused spot for serious listening using hjgh quality gear is what one should have, and use some ceiling speakers to fill the room once the wheels come off the party...a disco ball with led spotlights is also recommended. |
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I would say that working with your SO is going to be critical here. I'm not an experienced audiophile but a room that large with concrete floors is bound to be a sonic challenge. Working with your SO to make the acoustic treatments things that she likes or will tolerate would be the way to go IMHO. I'm talking about rugs, heavy curtains, even decorative rugs hung on the walls. Also, is there an option for creating a room within the room? Possibly using acoustic panels, furniture, etc to create a smaller more focused listening space? Or is the goal to fill the entire room with sound? |
Sound Lab also makes great speakers for larger rooms but you'd need to look in the used market to find one within your budget. Eminent Technology is another great option for Electrostatic speakers. I think they sound much (much) better than other comparably priced magnetic planar or electrostatics. Magnepans are another obvious option but they may need more power depending on which model McIntosh integrated you have. |
I’d consider these: https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis96g35-jbl-synthesis-1400-array-full-range These speakers are designed for far-field listening. I’d wager their imaging is nothing impressive <8’, but give them >11’.... https://youtu.be/H2qLQ47HWYU Go ahead and start shopping for a massive rug as well, you’re gonna need one. |
Thank you eric_squires. I was not familiar with JBL Studio Monitors until you gave your strong recommendation for them. I am sure they sound just fantastic in your set up. I only wish I could upgrade to that level of listening that you endorse. Maybe one day I will be so lucky. Thanks for your insight. We all should be so greatful to receive such well thought out replies. |
Thank you Larry. I have considered that but I am not sure my SO will allow such a thing hung in the corners of the room. I think I can probably get away with some throw rugs. That is always the push-pull of this situation. If I can't do room treatments then I will have to upgrade speakers and/or consider room correction device. Maybe I will enjoy my current KEFs in my new home but thinking otherwise right now. |
I also suggest taking the time to address the acoustics first. A move is a great time to do that, because there isn't anything there yet to get in the way. You can also run additional power to the room while it is convenient. Planar magnetic and electrostatic speakers are definitely options given you have the ability to place them away from the walls. But you should also keep in mind your listening spot, to make sure you don't end up with a setup that you will need to be pushed too hard in order to reach the volumes you want at your seat. |
