[Dustin Windsor]

Hey Guys,


How important is the size of the speaker for Front Heights?



I'm either going to get PSB Alpha P5 or the PSB Imagine XB.


The Alpha P5 are much smaller than the Imagine XB's. Would the bigger more expensive Imagine XB give better Atmos sound than the small Alpha P5's?


Alpha P5: https://hifitrends.com/2019/05/02/psb-alpha-p5-review-one-of-the-best-speakers-under-500/
Imagine XB: https://www.cnet.com/news/adventures-in-hi-fi-the-psb-imagine-xb-speakers/


I can get the more expensive XB's at almost the same price as the Alpha P5's because of a same.


Thanks everyone! The small local speaker store sales guy actually told me to get the smaller/cheaper Alpha P5's if im using them as front heights.


Edit - im sorry i meant the Alpha P3, not P5:
The P3's are much small than the XB's - should i get the much bigger XB or the small PB for front Height? The smaller P3 will look nicer i imagine as they;re smaller!

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/inde...ms-for-high-sound-quality-at-a-very-low-price

 

[afrogt]

The XB dimensions are 6.75 x 12 x 10.75 inches

Alpha P5 dimensions are 6-3/4"W x 11-3/8"H x 9-1/2"D

Same width and the XB is 5/8" taller and 1.25" deeper. Not a huge difference. Both have 5.25 driver and similar frequency response.

For Atmos/Front Height you probably wont notice a difference in performance.

 

[Dustin Windsor]

The XB dimensions are 6.75 x 12 x 10.75 inches

Alpha P5 dimensions are 6-3/4"W x 11-3/8"H x 9-1/2"D

Same width and the XB is 5/8" taller and 1.25" deeper. Not a huge difference. Both have 5.25 driver and similar frequency response.

For Atmos/Front Height you probably wont notice a difference in performance.

Wow i'm tired, i meant the Alpha P3, not P5 which are much smaller:
https://www.soundstagehifi.com/inde...ms-for-high-sound-quality-at-a-very-low-price


P3:

5 1/8” x 8 5/8” x 6 7/8

4” (102mm) Driver

 

[afrogt]

For Front Heights you should be fine with the P3. You've got a good subwoofer to handle the bass anyway.

If you're in USA, Amazon has the P3 for a good price. Seriously doubt you can get the Imagine XB that inexpensively.

 

[Dustin Windsor]

For Front Heights you should be fine with the P3. You've got a good subwoofer to handle the bass anyway.

If you're in USA, Amazon has the P3 for a good price. Seriously doubt you can get the Imagine XB that inexpensively.

I really apprcaite the advice. My wife is dreading the thought of adding any speakers on the wall, the P3's are pretty small.


Would the bigger XB actually sound a lot better as front heights though? I would hate to get the P'3 and in a few months regret not spending a little bit more. Again any advice is really apprecited.


I'm even skeptical about going front height that it won't do very much. I actually had my Imagine 1B (currently using them as my surrounds) up high for a year and a half and i can barely hear anything from them. That being said they weren't really angled downwards and towards us.

 

[WOKNROX]

Not to switch gears on you but I just move to the Sony Core5's from the Definitive technology studiomonitor 450's and really like them. The Core's are a 3 way design and are on sale this weekend for $75 a pair. That's 50%off. You might want to give them a look even tho they are off sale they are still worth it and are getting rave reviews.

 

[afrogt]

Sony core is too big for front heights. He's looking for something smaller. Good speakers though.

 

[afrogt]

I really apprcaite the advice. My wife is dreading the thought of adding any speakers on the wall, the P3's are pretty small.


Would the bigger XB actually sound a lot better as front heights though? I would hate to get the P'3 and in a few months regret not spending a little bit more. Again any advice is really apprecited.


I'm even skeptical about going front height that it won't do very much. I actually had my Imagine 1B (currently using them as my surrounds) up high for a year and a half and i can barely hear anything from them. That being said they weren't really angled downwards and towards us.

If you had Image 1B as heights for a year and a half then you know how much content you get from heights. I think you can answer your own questions.

 

[WOKNROX]

Sony core is too big for front heights. He's looking for something smaller. Good speakers though.

How so..?
The Core 5's are roughly the same size as the speakers he looking at.

To bright? Have you heard them?
Maybe you can explain....

Thanks

 

[Dustin Windsor]

If you had Image 1B as heights for a year and a half then you know how much content you get from heights. I think you can answer your own questions.

They really didn't do all that much. That being said the last few days i've read to turn up the DB +6 which i never did, and they weren't pointing down...

 

[niterida]

Match your height speakers to your base level speakers for a seamless integration and you won't regret it.
In other words get the Imagine since you have them as base level already.
And move them on to the ceiling in the recommended 45deg position if you can.
Definitely point them at the listening positions too.


I have all 11 of my speakers (7.1.4 Atmos) pretty much identical and the cohesion and integration is awesome.


The amount of material sent to an Atmos height speaker is totally dependent on the person who mixes the soundtrack. Some movies have lots some don't have much and some have lots but only in a small amount of scenes etc.


But when there is a lot of information being sent and it is low frequency - say a helicopter hovering overhead - you will be glad if your speakers can handle it. Yes the subs will handle most of it but you still want to be able to localize the low frequency of the blades overhead otherwise it won't sound quite right.
You want your heights to reproduce 80hz so get the best you can afford and/or fit.

 

[Dustin Windsor]

Match your height speakers to your base level speakers for a seamless integration and you won't regret it.
In other words get the Imagine since you have them as base level already.
And move them on to the ceiling in the recommended 45deg position if you can.
Definitely point them at the listening positions too.


I have all 11 of my speakers (7.1.4 Atmos) pretty much identical and the cohesion and integration is awesome.


The amount of material sent to an Atmos height speaker is totally dependent on the person who mixes the soundtrack. Some movies have lots some don't have much and some have lots but only in a small amount of scenes etc.


But when there is a lot of information being sent and it is low frequency - say a helicopter hovering overhead - you will be glad if your speakers can handle it. Yes the subs will handle most of it but you still want to be able to localize the low frequency of the blades overhead otherwise it won't sound quite right.
You want your heights to reproduce 80hz so get the best you can afford and/or fit.

Thanks for all this, it sounds like Front Heights will be beneficial. I will spend a few dollars more and get the bigger Imagines instead of the Alphas.


Can i put the Heights directly above my towers or do they need to be slightly wider than the towers? I don't have a lot of room to play with...
Up high, 45 degree angle down and pointing at the middle of the couch. I need to get a mount that points in all the directions.

 

[niterida]

Directly above Fronts is generally recommended

 

[afrogt]

How so..?
The Core 5's are roughly the same size as the speakers he looking at.

To bright? Have you heard them?
Maybe you can explain....

Thanks

Sony Core is 13" tall, he's looking at the Alpha P3 which is under 9" tall.

and YES, I have heard the Sony Core bookshelf and I own a pair. I never said they were too bright, just not the size he was looking for. Of course, he keeps changing his mind.

 

[afrogt]

They really didn't do all that much. That being said the last few days i've read to turn up the DB +6 which i never did, and they weren't pointing down...

I don't think you need to turn anything specifically to +6. Everyone's room is different. Plug in the mic and run the YPAO calibration to get your levels set properly.

 

[Dustin Windsor]

Of course, he keeps changing his mind.

You have no idea lol

 

[bobknavs]

Match your height speakers to your base level speakers for a seamless integration and you won't regret it.
In other words get the Imagine since you have them as base level already.
And move them on to the ceiling in the recommended 45deg position if you can.
Definitely point them at the listening positions too.


I have all 11 of my speakers (7.1.4 Atmos) pretty much identical and the cohesion and integration is awesome.


The amount of material sent to an Atmos height speaker is totally dependent on the person who mixes the soundtrack. Some movies have lots some don't have much and some have lots but only in a small amount of scenes etc.


But when there is a lot of information being sent and it is low frequency - say a helicopter hovering overhead - you will be glad if your speakers can handle it. Yes the subs will handle most of it but you still want to be able to localize the low frequency of the blades overhead otherwise it won't sound quite right.
You want your heights to reproduce 80hz so get the best you can afford and/or fit.

Somewhat unusual advice.

I presume that you're not hanging 45kg (100 lbs) speakers overhead, although it would be possible.

 

[WOKNROX]

Sony Core is 13" tall, he's looking at the Alpha P3 which is under 9" tall.

and YES, I have heard the Sony Core bookshelf and I own a pair. I never said they were too bright, just not the size he was looking for. Of course, he keeps changing his mind.

My apologies..I miss-read...

I used to feel differently and felt that you should stay with the same manufacturer of speakers... but now I really feel you should just get the best sounding speakers for the job no matter what manufacturer make it...

Your room correction will take care of the rest.

 

[niterida]

Somewhat unusual advice.

I presume that you're not hanging 45kg (100 lbs) speakers overhead, although it would be possible.

No - I have bookshelf speakers for all my base level and smaller versions of the same speakers (smaller enclosures but same driver and tweeter) for my heights.
I had towers and large bookshelfs (similar but not identical to the towers) but the sound from my smaller identical bookshelfs is way better, especially the immersion in 3d sound.

 

[sigpig]

I have two generation of PSB Alpha speakers for my height channels: Alpha A1 for FH, and Alpha P3 for RH. So far, they match pretty well with my Paradigm Prestige 5.0 speakers...