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Ugh so confused on speaker choice for pretty large room

post #1 of 27
1/7/12 at 8:52pm
Thread Starter 
I've done lots of research but still cannot pick something out for my new house.

I currently have a 65 inch samsung plasma flush against a wall in a fairly large room.

The room side is 14.5'w x 21'd x 10'h. The seating position is 18' away from where tv is positioned. Wood flooring. Cut out for kitchen is 10'd x 5'h for the most part.

My biggest problem is the size of my built in shelf for my center speaker. The dimensions are 18"w x 8"h x 2ft deep for center speaker which causes some problems for bang for buck speakers that are usually recommended like Polk Monitors and Energy towers.

I currently have Klipsch rw-12d and Pioneer vsx-1121-k. My viewing breakdown is 45tv/45movies/10music. The room is a living room and not a home theater so it doesn't have to be 100% optimal. One day ill renovate my basement and hopefully have a dedicated home theater room, but this might have to do for 3-5yrs.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. My center space is becoming a real problem in deciding on what to buy. My current budget is $800-1000 for the 5 speakers since I already have a sub. If there is a great option in the $800-1000 range for just left center and right, I may go that route so I can spend a bit more on the 3 speakers and Ill get some surrounds afterwards (Ill keep some crappy HTIB speakers for surrounds.

Again, looking to pull the trigger in the next 2 wks or so on speakers so I am looking for serious help. Thanks. If you need any more info let me know. All suggestions are appreciated.
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post #2 of 27
1/7/12 at 9:04pm
I dont' think it will be a problem. Get a real good set of front L/R 2 channel speakers and a great sub..Your room, while accommodating, is not too large for most towers to make great sound. A decent tower set up for fronts will take you very far (and depending on choice, may or may not need sub from the get go, but you'll likely add it later for movies. Music should be fine, maybe even preferred, on 2 channels. You may also want a decent receiver to power it all up (avoid the lowest cost options)

I am in similar situation with a similar size room. After having listened to 15+ speakers, my top 4 are PSB Synchrony Two, Dynaudio X32, Dynaudio Focus 220 and Totem Hawk. Also of interest are the Ascend Sierra Towers and Salk Song Towers. In addition to these, there are plenty other great options, but neither of these should disappoint, even in the space you are considering.

Good luck.
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post #3 of 27
1/7/12 at 9:12pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the info, but I'm not sure you read my whole post. I have a Klipsch rw-12d (subwoofer) and a Pioneer 1121-k (receiver).

I assume I want a center speaker if I can swing it w/ size rather than just going L & R towers or bookshelfs (since I have a sub).
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post #4 of 27
1/7/12 at 9:22pm
Check out (listen) to the PSB range, possibly Image T6 for fronts to start and run 4.0 with your HTIB as rears. If music is not at all important, a set of 5.0 PSB smaller bookshelves will do well. I had not heard of this brand a few months back and have been very impressed auditioning them. Seem one of the better quality/value options out there today.
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post #5 of 27
1/7/12 at 9:38pm
Can you squeeze another .5" out of the height?

If yes, check out the Elemental Designs edc6
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post #6 of 27
1/7/12 at 9:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ifor View Post

Can you squeeze another .5" out of the height?

If yes, check out the Elemental Designs edc6

Ed6 is 25 wide. Won't fit even if I can change height, which I probably can.
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post #7 of 27
1/8/12 at 1:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBock727 View Post


Ed6 is 25 wide. Won't fit even if I can change height, which I probably can.

Edc6center is 25" wide, edc6 is 15" wide if you lay it on it's side.
You can lay it on it's side with little depreciation. And rotate the horn 90°.
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post #8 of 27
1/8/12 at 3:08pm
Thread Starter 
Nothing else? Was gonna go 2x polk monitor 60s; 2x monitor 30s; cs1 but everyone is telling me I shouldn't because of the cs1 is mediocre vs cs2 ( which I cannot fit.)
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post #9 of 27
1/8/12 at 3:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBock727 View Post

Nothing else? Was gonna go 2x polk monitor 60s; 2x monitor 30s; cs1 but everyone is telling me I shouldn't because of the cs1 is mediocre vs cs2 ( which I cannot fit.)

The Infinity Primus is just a bit over 18" wide:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108PC25...?search=primus

Getting front and rears in the Primus series would certainly fit your budget.

If that doesn't work, the Cambridge S50.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_779S50B...l?tp=189&avf=N

The Cambridge S30 & S70 are matching speakers.

http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-S30-.../dp/B004DAN3GQ

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_779S70B...ck.html?tp=185

The Cambridge also fit your budget.
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post #10 of 27
1/9/12 at 6:13pm
Thread Starter 
No other ideas for me? Are the Primus and Cambridge better than the Polk setup?
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post #11 of 27
1/9/12 at 6:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBock727 View Post

No other ideas for me? Are the Primus and Cambridge better than the Polk setup?

Not by much in my personal opinion

I find that my Polk CSi3 to be superior to my CS1 in every way with a better sound overall. The CSi3 can be gotten for $130 shipped on Crutchfield

Polk RTi8's are $400 shipped on Polks ebay store.

The Polk RTi line is a decent improvement over the Monitor line I have found going frmo my Monitor 30's to RTi4's and CS1 to CSi3
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post #12 of 27
1/9/12 at 8:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBock727 View Post

Nothing else?

Not a whole lot to reccomend with your budget - Take a look at
the HTD Level Two - they are good for the money.
The Level Two Towers, Center and Surrounds.
http://www.htd.com/Products/level-tw...Tower-Speakers
http://www.htd.com/Products/level-tw...hannel-Speaker
http://www.htd.com/Products/level-tw...l-TWO-Surround
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post #13 of 27
1/10/12 at 7:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zieglj01 View Post



http://www.htd.com/Products/level-tw...Tower-Speakers
http://www.htd.com/Products/level-tw...hannel-Speaker
http://www.htd.com/Products/level-tw...l-TWO-Surround

That center would fit, anyone know anything about these speakers and whether they'd be better than Polk monitor 60/70s and a cs1 center ?
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post #14 of 27
1/10/12 at 7:45am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyrob425 View Post

Not by much in my personal opinion

I find that my Polk CSi3 to be superior to my CS1 in every way with a better sound overall. The CSi3 can be gotten for $130 shipped on Crutchfield

Polk RTi8's are $400 shipped on Polks ebay store.

The Polk RTi line is a decent improvement over the Monitor line I have found going frmo my Monitor 30's to RTi4's and CS1 to CSi3

Csi3 won't fit. Needs to be 18" wide
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post #15 of 27
1/10/12 at 8:14am
Originally Posted by zieglj01
http://www.htd.com/Products/level-tw...Tower-Speakers
http://www.htd.com/Products/level-tw...hannel-Speaker
http://www.htd.com/Products/level-tw...l-TWO-Surround

Quote:
Originally Posted by BBock727 View Post

That center would fit, anyone know anything about these speakers and whether they'd be better than Polk monitor 60/70s and a cs1 center ?

All I am going to tell you is, that I prefer the overall balanced sound
of the HTD - and I prefer the HTD treble and midrange detail. You are
the only one who can make the decision, and they both have a return
policy. Also a front ported center, will work well for your set up.
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post #16 of 27
1/11/12 at 1:00pm
Thread Starter 
Any other opinions ? I'd greatly appreciate it. Please take into account the size of the room and the restriction in size for the center channel.
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post #17 of 27
1/12/12 at 12:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBock727 View Post

Any other opinions ? I'd greatly appreciate it. Please take into account the size of the room and the restriction in size for the center channel.

Bump
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post #18 of 27
1/15/12 at 10:37pm
The width does limit your options, unfortunately.

I found two to consider:

Ascend Sierra 1C. It fits and the Sierra 1s have a great rep. It defintely plays lower than some of the other options, which allows a lower crossover to the sub. The 2 issues I see are price and sensitivity. 3 Sierras across the front would be $1400 or so. You might match a Sierra 1C with CMT-340s for L/R. That would be about $1000. You can call Sierra to see if they would recommend that. Also, sensitivity of those is a bit low for a big room.

Another option is Paradigm Monitor series Center 1. It fits and lists for $380. You could pair it with a set of Mini monitors which list for $560 for a pair.

Take a look into those.
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post #19 of 27
1/20/12 at 4:41pm
Thread Starter 
So after all that I ended up gong with Polk monitor 70s and a cs1. They were all on their sale and at 400$ I didn't want to pass up. I'll demo them and I'll return if disappointed. Hopefully they are good enough for the room size.
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post #20 of 27
1/20/12 at 4:49pm
I hate rooms with premade shelves for TV, etc. 18' seating position is toooo far for any sense of immersion during movies. I'd rather look at setting it up some other way than using the premade areas.
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post #21 of 27
1/20/12 at 4:58pm
Whatever you decide, always check your local craigslist. There are some great deals to be had...depending on where you live I guess.
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post #22 of 27
1/26/12 at 12:49pm
Thread Starter 
I ended up going with cs1 and m70s for front. (even though i thinl the m70s are too big in size) After having my pioneer 1121-k do the adjustment, it set the m70s to large and the crossover to 100, even though I have the klipsch sub. Does that make sense?
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post #23 of 27
1/26/12 at 1:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBock727 View Post

I ended up going with cs1 and m70s for front. (even though i thinl the m70s are too big in size) After having my pioneer 1121-k do the adjustment, it set the m70s to large and the crossover to 100, even though I have the klipsch sub. Does that make sense?

So all you have hooked up to the receiver is the CS1 and Monitor 70's?

Is the Center set to small(when set to small the crossover applies to them)? I would change the crossover to 80hz too.

You can set the 70's to large or small with the 80hz crossover if that sounds good to you. Crossover isn't necessary with the Monitor 70's as they are full range towers but you can try them as small if you like
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post #24 of 27
1/26/12 at 1:08pm
Thread Starter 
No I have my subwoofer and rear surrounds set up also. I just assume I wanted a lower crossover than 100 bc of my klipsch sub.
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post #25 of 27
1/26/12 at 1:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBock727 View Post

No I have my subwoofer and rear surrounds set up also. I just assume I wanted a lower crossover than 100 bc of my klipsch sub.

What Surround speakers do you have?

Your Subwoofer only is being set the low frequencies from the speakers that are labeled 'small'

The CS1 is best with a crossover of 80hz

Sometimes and most likely the receiver screws up when calibrating speakers thats why you need to go and check EVERY settings to double check
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post #26 of 27
1/26/12 at 2:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBock727 View Post

No I have my subwoofer and rear surrounds set up also. I just assume I wanted a lower crossover than 100 bc of my klipsch sub.

It could be because Pioneer and Yamaha use a global crossover, all for one and one for all Which is not a problem when you run all the same or similar speakers.

So what it appears to be doing is setting the crossover based on the weakest of the speakers so as not to fry them with the same full range signal your towers would be getting.

I wouldn't lower it unless your center is good to 80hz.
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post #27 of 27
1/27/12 at 5:37am
I think you made a pretty good choice with the 70's and the CS1. I had that combination running in my living room about your size and I had no issues with it. Sound was just fine crossed at 80Hz with a good sub. The Klipsch sub you have is pretty good. I have 2 of them in my den. I had the same space constraints as you which is why I went with the CS1 at the time. I had Montir 40's for surrounds at the time...
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