o/t home theatre ?
- Thread starter Gravesj1s
- Start date
>I was thinking about what the poster oldimpala stated above. Move the B& W >'s to the fronts and keep the cubes only as fill ,for now anyway and spend the >money on a good sub.Then I'd be able to replace the cubes later on.
Steve-
One of the other posters recommends a frequency/timbre matched Center and Mains. They're spot on. My home theater is from the JBL series I mentioned above with the sub; all their "Studio L" series speaker line (L880s, LC2, 4xL820s, and the L-8400P Sub). It does make a difference.
Now, my higher end 2-channel is all older American, Canadian, and British stuff; including a set of wait for it... B&W 684s. That's why I commend you on your choice of speakers; they're arguably one of my favorite choices, bar none.
If you want to stick with the B&Ws, Bowers and Wilkins still makes timbre matched 600-series speakers. I can ask my buddy at Speaker Shop if he's got a recommendation in their current lineup. Then you can call a friend in the black market, and see what the going rate for a kidney is. :headwally: If you want to sell them and move on, let me know. I can always find room for B&W bookshelf speakers in my home, if they're well maintained. And I'll come to pick them up, promise.
As far as Klipsch goes; they make a great speaker with a very distinctive high-end signature; because they use horn tweeters in 99.99% of their applications. It's a love/hate thing for the tone quality, but there's no taking away that they're great pieces.
PSB/Energy are good choices. Nice, bright speakers. Usually image well.
Tell me more about the space, though. How big is the room. Are you seated directly across from the speakers, or are you perpendicular, and at what distance. Are they at ear level, below, or on the ground, when you're watching a movie. All that's going to play into imaging and dispersion angle; as well as the size and type of speaker you're looking for.
I usually hold back on letting my feelings known on Bose stuff. Some of their designs have been great (Like the 901 DRs with the crossover box) have been really great; some have been middling. Some live off the reputation built from earlier products, like the 901. I feel they made some innovative engineering products in the past, and continue to make some decent stuff (Wave radio, and it's further iterations, for example) where the packaging is challenging, and true audio signature isn't as important as "good enough" sound in a convenient space. And I recommend those products when the need fits those categories.
I can get into the engineering of how to make inexpensive paper speakers sound good through DSPs and cabinet design (Bose's approach); it's not terrible, it's just their way to "get there." The problem is physics, though. The 3" driver in an Acoustimass cube, and the 6" driver in the woofer is physically incapable of producing certain notes. Period. (I can cite unbiased, echo-chamber based sources, btw, on Bose frequency response and internals.)
Some people like their signature sound; and that's cool for them. Really. That's why there *are* 4-billion options in home audio; to have something that fits everyone's tastes and budget. Some may not like my 2-channel, tube based, highly analog rig; or my Home Theater. It's all good.
Recently, I think they're more of a marketing company than an audio company (Their marketing budget exceeds their R&D and product cost, annually.) When the original Acoustimass speakers came out, they were a packaging marvel. Many people overlooked the "Audio" for the convenience (I used to work at a place that sold them, grudgingly, in Binghamton.)
They do still make some killer stuff outside home audio; I own one of their noise-cancelling aviation headsets (A-20), and love it. |
If I had any recommendations, I'd say either use short term, or sell the Acoustimass speakers; people will buy them. Purchase quality (new or used) equipment; some of the stuff people have recommended on here, or have for sale are great choices. Get a good Blu-Ray. Open beer. Pop popcorn. Enjoy.
Feel free to PM me, if you want some more in-depth recommendations; I know I can delve off topic pretty quick. Sorry if anyone thinks I have...
Let's just say audio has always been a passion; along with cars and recently salt aquariums. So, I can tend to get, well.. Involved in the discussion...
-Andy
Steve-
One of the other posters recommends a frequency/timbre matched Center and Mains. They're spot on. My home theater is from the JBL series I mentioned above with the sub; all their "Studio L" series speaker line (L880s, LC2, 4xL820s, and the L-8400P Sub). It does make a difference.
Now, my higher end 2-channel is all older American, Canadian, and British stuff; including a set of wait for it... B&W 684s. That's why I commend you on your choice of speakers; they're arguably one of my favorite choices, bar none.
If you want to stick with the B&Ws, Bowers and Wilkins still makes timbre matched 600-series speakers. I can ask my buddy at Speaker Shop if he's got a recommendation in their current lineup. Then you can call a friend in the black market, and see what the going rate for a kidney is. :headwally: If you want to sell them and move on, let me know. I can always find room for B&W bookshelf speakers in my home, if they're well maintained. And I'll come to pick them up, promise.
As far as Klipsch goes; they make a great speaker with a very distinctive high-end signature; because they use horn tweeters in 99.99% of their applications. It's a love/hate thing for the tone quality, but there's no taking away that they're great pieces.
PSB/Energy are good choices. Nice, bright speakers. Usually image well.
Tell me more about the space, though. How big is the room. Are you seated directly across from the speakers, or are you perpendicular, and at what distance. Are they at ear level, below, or on the ground, when you're watching a movie. All that's going to play into imaging and dispersion angle; as well as the size and type of speaker you're looking for.
I usually hold back on letting my feelings known on Bose stuff. Some of their designs have been great (Like the 901 DRs with the crossover box) have been really great; some have been middling. Some live off the reputation built from earlier products, like the 901. I feel they made some innovative engineering products in the past, and continue to make some decent stuff (Wave radio, and it's further iterations, for example) where the packaging is challenging, and true audio signature isn't as important as "good enough" sound in a convenient space. And I recommend those products when the need fits those categories.
I can get into the engineering of how to make inexpensive paper speakers sound good through DSPs and cabinet design (Bose's approach); it's not terrible, it's just their way to "get there." The problem is physics, though. The 3" driver in an Acoustimass cube, and the 6" driver in the woofer is physically incapable of producing certain notes. Period. (I can cite unbiased, echo-chamber based sources, btw, on Bose frequency response and internals.)
Some people like their signature sound; and that's cool for them. Really. That's why there *are* 4-billion options in home audio; to have something that fits everyone's tastes and budget. Some may not like my 2-channel, tube based, highly analog rig; or my Home Theater. It's all good.
Recently, I think they're more of a marketing company than an audio company (Their marketing budget exceeds their R&D and product cost, annually.) When the original Acoustimass speakers came out, they were a packaging marvel. Many people overlooked the "Audio" for the convenience (I used to work at a place that sold them, grudgingly, in Binghamton.)
They do still make some killer stuff outside home audio; I own one of their noise-cancelling aviation headsets (A-20), and love it. |
If I had any recommendations, I'd say either use short term, or sell the Acoustimass speakers; people will buy them. Purchase quality (new or used) equipment; some of the stuff people have recommended on here, or have for sale are great choices. Get a good Blu-Ray. Open beer. Pop popcorn. Enjoy.
Feel free to PM me, if you want some more in-depth recommendations; I know I can delve off topic pretty quick. Sorry if anyone thinks I have...
Let's just say audio has always been a passion; along with cars and recently salt aquariums. So, I can tend to get, well.. Involved in the discussion...
-Andy
naprestsleep
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I have the Image series by PSB, got the B6 and C5 in the front and S5 in the rears. I have Denon AVR and Polk sub. Overall I am pleased, thought not an audiophile enough to know if the price was worth it. All I know is it sounds good to me.
Sounds like a really nice lineup you've got.Iv'e been doing some reading ,and see what you guys mean by timbre /frequency match up.Both movies and music here are listened in multi channel mode ,so it is definately something I've recently had to reconsider.
If you want to stick with the B&Ws, Bowers and Wilkins still makes timbre matched 600-series speakers. I can ask my buddy at Speaker Shop if he's got a recommendation in their current lineup. Then you can call a friend in the black market, and see what the going rate for a kidney is. :headwally: If you want to sell them and move on, let me know. I can always find room for B&W bookshelf speakers in my home, if they're well maintained. And I'll come to pick them up, promise.
Ha!Well, I don't want to give up a kidney.Though,over the course of the past several days of online searching,talking to the wife ,re-visting this thread, tossing the idea around to some audio friends ,gauging prices and weighing out the pros & cons ,I've decided to stick with B&W and build off of what I have.Thank you though for the offer,schooling, and run down on this topic.
Tell me more about the space, though. How big is the room. Are you seated directly across from the speakers, or are you perpendicular, and at what distance. Are they at ear level, below, or on the ground, when you're watching a movie. All that's going to play into maging and dispersion angle; as well as the size and type of speaker you're looking for.
I'll try to be as descreptive as I can here. The space is 25'x25'cathedral ceiling and hardwood floors. It used to be a garage but I renovated it into a family rm years ago.I have my reef tank there,a small bar,1 pub/1poker tables and a small sofa.
Other than the (C) the speakers are all mounted up around 6ft high and positioned in the 4 corners.It maynot be right but I prefer speakers in the bookshelf size placed around this height because of space ,and I think it fills the room with sound much more evenly verses a standing speaker whitch can be very loud when your close to it.
As far as seating goes we sit in the middle of the room while watching the screen.Listening to music is pretty much everywhere.The room is not really dedicated to a home theatre ,it just sorta doubles as such when the times arise I think would best describe it.
Feel free to PM me, if you want some more in-depth recommendations; I know I can delve off topic pretty quick. Sorry if anyone thinks I have...
Let's just say audio has always been a passion; along with cars and recently salt aquariums. So, I can tend to get, well.. Involved in the discussion...
-Andy
I didn't take anything you stated as rambling,actually a benefit & felt priveledged to have gotten an indepth response.Thanks for taking the time to type it.
-Steve
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions , reply's and offers that were above & beyond helpful.
So heres where I'm at.
My wife found an identical set of the BW's we already have (602 dm S3)whitch will make for (F) &(R) . I have enough to add the matched (C) Lcr60 s3 also used from an ebay seller.
I dont have enough to add a sub at the moment but that's ok. I can save for that.
-Steve
So heres where I'm at.
My wife found an identical set of the BW's we already have (602 dm S3)whitch will make for (F) &(R) . I have enough to add the matched (C) Lcr60 s3 also used from an ebay seller.
I dont have enough to add a sub at the moment but that's ok. I can save for that.
-Steve
