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What size woofer for height/presence speakers?

post #1 of 4
9/28/11 at 9:56am
Thread Starter 
I have a Yamaha receiver with the ability to use front Presence speakers. I'm wondering what size speakers I should be looking at for this application?

My front mains have 6.5" woofers; my surrounds are 5.25". Do I need to go with the same speakers as the surrounds?

The Boston line I have does offer a speaker one size smaller, with 3.5" drivers - these would be much easier to place, but are they too small? I've looked around a bit and can't seem to find any recommendations on this point.

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post #2 of 4
9/28/11 at 10:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AC2011 View Post

I have a Yamaha receiver with the ability to use front Presence speakers. I'm wondering what size speakers I should be looking at for this application? [. . .]

Both the frequency range and power handling requirements for Yamaha Front Presence speakers are 'significantly lower' than for the [other] surround speakers attached to your AVR, although Yamaha seems a little reticent to give us 'explicit' requirements. However, you might consider that your speaker choices 'today' will probably survive through several AVR|processor replacement cycles . . . and it does seem likely that some source material with discrete Front Height content might appear within the next decade or so. With that in mind, I built my most recent system with the same speakers [Polk R15 bookshelves] used for L|R (Side) Surround, L|R Rear Surround, and L|R Front Presence pairs . . . which also ensured I could continue to have four identical LS|LR|RR|RS surround speakers even if two (of the six Polk R15 bookshelves) are damaged irreparably.
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post #3 of 4
9/28/11 at 11:21am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoundChex View Post

However, you might consider that your speaker choices 'today' will probably survive through several AVR|processor replacement cycles . . . and it does seem likely that some source material with discrete Front Height content might appear within the next decade or so.


Very good points, which I didn't really consider. As this is my first setup, I went with an RX-A800, which is kind of middle range. As I begin to understand more about what I truly need and want, I imagine I will upgrade to something a little higher up the AVR food chain - and probably within the next 2 years.

I considered the smaller speakers for heights in large part due to current price, but your comments put a new light on the idea that I might need more from these speakers in the not too distant future, and might do well to go with the slightly larger ones which match my L/R surrounds.


Thanks.
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post #4 of 4
9/28/11 at 11:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AC2011 View Post

As this is my first setup, I went with an RX-A800, which is kind of middle range. As I begin to understand more about what I truly need and want, I imagine I will upgrade to something a little higher up the AVR food chain - and probably within the next 2 years.

Just remember that your current AVR will always cease to be 'state of the art' within a year or two . . . so 'stepping up' in price for your next one might not be your best bet. I run three surround systems 'based around' three 'recent' Yamaha RX-V6xx AVRs, and my strategy is to replace|upgrade the 'least capable' one every 4 or 5 years (or perhaps a little sooner)...?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by AC2011 View Post

I considered the smaller speakers for heights in large part due to current price, but your comments put a new light on the idea that I might need more from these speakers in the not too distant future, and might do well to go with the slightly larger ones which match my L/R surrounds.

A good Front Presence speaker can be 'a great investment': I built two surround systems 'around 1990' using Harman|EPi Wall Plane speakers (nominally 'about 80Hz-20kHz' performance). They are still playing 'perfectly', and I anticipate they will perform adequately with (correctly bass managed) discrete Front Height content from 14 channel (or whatever!) material in another decade!
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