AVS Forum banner

Help on choosing a speaker

522 views 12 replies 10 participants last post by  kirky27 
#1 ·
My wife and I are purchasing a new home which is currently being built. After some discussion I can get a nice set of L/R speakers but the rest of the surround sound setup has to be in ceiling (including center) as the TV is going above the fireplace. Also she wants the speaker to be rosso corsa gloss as she dislikes wood veneered towers and she wants them to be a stand out in the decor. We don't watch many movies but she listens to music a lot through spotify. As for electronics I have settled on the emotiva XPA-2 and marantz SR6009. Budget is ~$2500 give or take. Only thing I have found with custom colors that fits this criteria is the Philharmonic Slims.
 
#7 ·
Do as you may but, I'd urge you to reconsider any of the ceiling speakers to be moved to at least the wall (which I know is difficult for the center)

My neighbors have a nice house. Something like 12,000 sq/ft and probably 14' ceilings.

I was over there one day, the wife (his) pulled me into their living room saying "come and hear our surround system"

Well... they had it ceiling mounted. TV was on the wall and as I recall the news was on. Voice was coming from above which might have been exaggerated because of the 14' ceilings but, it sounded like God himself was telling us we had 30% chance of rain the following day.

It was really a bit distracting to have the sound coming from above with the visual in front.

Had they been able to do in wall, they could have mated the sound/vision a bit better although it would have still been difficult.....they have a large fireplace.

Still... perhaps in walls to the side of it might have been better than a "center" in the ceiling.

I don't know. Just reporting my thoughts on the experience.
 
#8 ·
The most important speaker for HT is the center channel because 80% of the sound comes from there according to Dolby. It needs to be above or below the screen so the sound appears to emanate from there. Ceiling placement would NOT be a good choice. You would be better off not getting any center channel and using a phantom center if needed

As for custom colors and decor friendly Gallo is supposed to be excellent:http://www.roundsound.com/satellite-speakers/nucleus-micro-loudspeaker.html#

 
#9 ·
The most important speaker for HT is the center channel because 80% of the sound comes from there according to Dolby. It needs to be above or below the screen so the sound appears to emanate from there. Ceiling placement would NOT be a good choice. You would be better off not getting any center channel and using a phantom center if needed

As for custom colors and decor friendly Gallo is supposed to be excellent:http://www.roundsound.com/satellite-speakers/nucleus-micro-loudspeaker.html#

https://youtu.be/EKAbBiN7WeY
Thanks for the tip. I guess we will just go phantom center. As for people complaining about the choices it is what it is. If it's going to be apparently horrible then I'll just go 2ch only which is no big deal. The builder just asked about home theater prewire so I told him why not. We care more about music anyway.
 
#10 ·
^ I think using two speakers is a wise choice if you can’t mount the center channel in its proper location. I also think a ceiling center channel would be far too distracting. But you could always have it wired, buy a ceiling speaker and try it out. If it works for you, then great. If not, go with the two speakers' capability of giving you a phantom center.
 
#11 · (Edited)
This is rosso corsa gloss, right? Nice! :D




Hi Vector. I don't wish to come across as harsh or alarmist, but you should be aware that you're heading down the path of making several common mistakes that combined will lead to compromised surround performance for your outlay. These include:


  • Selecting components in the wrong order. Decide on appropriate electronics after selecting your speakers, in the context of your total budget.
  • Spending a disproportionate amount on one component. Related to the above. The proposed $2100 Marantz/Emotiva combo is overspending considerably in comparison to $2500/pair for speakers. As a guide, look at spending about 20 - 25% of your total budget on electronics. Unless you plan on listening at sustained very high levels, or have an unusually long listening distance, a separate amp is almost certainly unnecessary.
  • Ceiling speaker surround system. In-ceiling speakers firing straight down, especially any of the front channels, simply do not work. The best sound will be reserved for the cat/dog lying in front of the TV. As already mentioned, you would be better served running a "phantom" centre than running a down firing in-ceiling centre speaker. If you must run an in-ceiling centre, at least consider one with an angled baffle that attempts to aim the sound towards the listening seats. (See the Triad below.) When first starting out, I had in-ceiling surrounds installed thinking I didn't have any viable options. It's now a decision I regret and will never do again.
  • Video display too high. That is, above a fireplace as alluded to by others. (Unless the gas-fired one is a lower profile style.) Additionally, placing main speakers in close proximity to a fireplace, with it's hard, acoustically reflective surroundings (brick, ceramic, glass etc.) is less than optimal for a backdrop.
  • Not running a sub. (Possibly; you haven't mentioned one either way.) The benefits of running a sub in the system are numerous; if at all possible, please run one. (Yes, even for 2 channel music.) The $800+ intended for the XPA-2 would yield considerably more sonic benefits if spent on a compact (higher WAF), high performance sealed sub like the SVS SB-2000 or Rythmik F12.

A speaker recommendation? If you're determined to run a centre, take a look at the offerings from Triad Speakers. Triad are unique in that they have a large range of in-ceiling and in-wall speakers and offer custom-matched finishes, so you can achieve a timbre matched LCR. (I can't think of any other manufacturers who offer this combination.)

This post contains a link to the Triad range with retail prices: http://www.avsforum.com/forum/89-speakers/921427-triad-owner-s-thread-213.html#post26931713. For your centre, look at say the InCeiling Silver/8 Omni SE (below) with the InRoom Silver/6 LCR's as mains.



If going without a centre channel, I'd see if the helpful people at Ascend Acoustics can arrange a custom finish on a pair of their excellent Sierra Towers.

Good luck! :)
 
#12 ·
If you must have a fireplace, then do not make it the Center of focus in the room. Fireplaces are the BANE of Audio and Video system placement.

If fact, get a fake electric fireplace, that way you can move it around, or if you must, simply buy a DVD of a fireplace burning and play it on your TV.

Relative to Audio and Video having a fireplace is going to give you nothing but headaches. You will spend WAY more time watching the TV than you will watching the Fireplace.

There are very modern fireplaces that can be blended very nicely ...if you must. Don't fall for the very large mantel fireplaces. They may look cool, but they are huge air leaks, and space hogs.

http://www.houzz.com/photos/1929700...idescreen-Fireplace-modern-living-room-denver

http://www.furnituredecor.net/modern-fireplaces/

http://www.houzz.com/photos/1357408...rts-contemporary-indoor-fireplaces-sacramento

http://www.houzz.com/photos/1672500/Xtreme-Fireplace-modern-indoor-fireplaces-other-metro

http://www.houzz.com/photos/1898178/Modern-Fireplaces-modern-indoor-fireplaces-toronto

http://www.houzz.com/photos/774369/Spark-Modern-Fires-contemporary-indoor-fireplaces-other-metro


Still if you insist, consider a Drop Down TV Mount -







Equally, I question the use of a Ceiling Mounted Center speaker. Though keep in mind it is possible to have a system without a Center speaker. This is referred to as a Phantom Center.

A very low, not mantle fireplace would lend itself a lot better to the placement of the TV and the Placement of a Center speaker on or in the wall.

Still ...if you must ... you must.

Steve/bluewizard
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top