[FreddyW]

Hi Guys,


It's been some time since I've kicked around the forums. 3 kids has put the old AV hobby on financial "ice," as it were. With that said, my gear is getting a bit older. Here's the rub: I have an EPson projector that is about 3 years old, and a 100" Elite drop-down screen. I would lke to replace the projector with a 3D projector, and maybe get a better screen.


I have Paradigm Studio 100's, circa 2001 or so. I have the 350 ADP as surrounds, and Studio 20's as rear surround (6 speakers). This was from my old house, where the room was bigger, and I had a pre-amp/amp setup. And no kids!


Now, I have Denon AVR, and a smaller room. The speakers require some juice/volume ot "hit their sweet spot". Furthermore, my 100" screen is electric and drops down in front of a plasma TV I wall mounted.


So my desire is two-fold:


1) Smaller, more efficent speakers with clarity at lower volume levels


2) I want to get a bigger/better screen, BUT, the large CC300 center channel speaker is TOO BIG to allow the extra few inches. I have it fit in perfectly. So, a smaller center channel that could be on its edge would be great.


Please see attached pictures. Hopefully that shows the challenge. The surrounds are dipoles ont he side walls, and the rears are on shelves in the back. That is also pictured, but the door is now a solid wood pocket door, and the walls have sound insulation inside now. Also, the pictures are older, there was a bit of a hodgepodge of furniture/fixtures that have since been nicely streamlined.


Any feedback to get me started would be great. I'm looking for 6 efficient speakers (brands with dipoles for sides available), smaller foot print everywhere. I do not need a subwoofer, the Hsu sub fits perfectly in the space, and works fine (see comments about volume- I turn it down much of the time as it is!).


Thanks,


Fred

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[psgcdn]

Honestly, I would keep all the speakers... they are fine!

I would swap the screen for a bigger acoustically transparent screen that could drop in front of the center speaker. You could drop it lower to be closer to eye level. The money saved on speakers goes partly toward the more expensive screen.

 

[commsysman]

I suggest that you look at the Gallo Acoustics CL-3 speakers, which are 31" -tall floorstanding speakers that play with the power of speakers more than twice as large and have the most incredible definition of any speaker I have heard for under $4000. I have had them for 2 months now, and they are wonderful for music and have the most incredible clarity for movies and voices; no more hard-to-understand soundtracks with these!


They are an incredible bargain at $1595, and they are offered with a 60-day free trial period (free shipping both ways). I considered buying KEF, Paradigm, PSB, and Monitor Audio speakers costing up to $4000, and these ARE better than all of them!


They have the unique advantage of using NO crossover network; they use ultra-fast carbon-fiber drivers from 36 Hz to 3000 Hz, and a unique wide-dispersion tweeter that rolls off naturally below 3000 Hz.


The bass and power they have seem to defy the laws of physics; a speaker this size can't do that!...lol. Their output is equal to the normal speaker 3 times their size.


Oh; check out the current issue of The Absolute Sound magazine for an in-depth review of them.

 

[ack_bk]



Quote:
Originally Posted by psgcdn  /t/1417618/upgrading-speakers-but-for-smaller-physical-size#post_22169020


Honestly, I would keep all the speakers... they are fine!

I would swap the screen for a bigger acoustically transparent screen that could drop in front of the center speaker. You could drop it lower to be closer to eye level. The money saved on speakers goes partly toward the more expensive screen.

This is good advice. I have a 125" AT screen and love it. It allows for ideal speaker placement and would allow you to keep your current speakers, unless you want something different.


What is your budget, and are the speakers strictly for home theater?

 

[psgcdn]



Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman  /t/1417618/upgrading-speakers-but-for-smaller-physical-size#post_22169177


I suggest that you look at the Gallo Acoustics CL-3 speakers, which are 31" -tall floorstanding speakers that play with the power of speakers more than twice as large

The bass and power they have seem to defy the laws of physics; a speaker this size can't do that!...lol. Their output is equal to the normal speaker 3 times their size.

Specs say 88 dB sensitivity at 2.83V (85 dB at 1Wqtt), so I don't think that is a very accurate description. That's also lower than his current speakers. Sell their clarity if you wish, but credibility is hurt by claims of huge output. These won't play as loud as the Paradigm, if that matters to the OP.


Fred, if the speakers don't sound good unless they play loud, consider treating the room first.

 

[Bill Fitzmaurice]



Quote:
Originally Posted by FreddyW  /t/1417618/upgrading-speakers-but-for-smaller-physical-size#post_22168945


1) Smaller, more efficent speakers with clarity at lower volume levels

Smaller speakers are usually less efficient. As for quoted SPL, don't believe any SPL specs that don't have measured SPL charts to back them up.

 

[FreddyW]

HI Guys,


Thanks for the insight. I have treated the room. When we put an addition on the other side of the wall, we treated inside and over the ceiling. If you look at the picture, you may be able to see a couple of the bass traps I built. I am thinking of adding some ASC tube traps, but there really is limited space. I need to update photos!


Interesting call on acousticaly transparent screen. I did not think of that at all! I think I will look into that. It would let me go even bigger than I anticipated with a smaller speaker.


I wonder if anyone makes a drop-down tensioned electric screen, acoustically trasnparent, that is off-the shelf?

 

[FreddyW]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ack_bk  /t/1417618/upgrading-speakers-but-for-smaller-physical-size#post_22169313


This is good advice. I have a 125" AT screen and love it. It allows for ideal speaker placement and would allow you to keep your current speakers, unless you want something different.

What is your budget, and are the speakers strictly for home theater?

They are strictly for home theater. Budget is flexible, within reason and taking new speakers out of the equation certainly helps. Figure $5000-6000, but that's going to include the new projector ($2500-3000? Maybe?).

 

[psgcdn]



Quote:
Originally Posted by FreddyW  /t/1417618/upgrading-speakers-but-for-smaller-physical-size#post_22172045


I wonder if anyone makes a drop-down tensioned electric screen, acoustically trasnparent, that is off-the shelf?

I use this:
http://www.elunevision.com/audioweave-tab-tensioned.html


Read my quick review here:

http://www.avsforum.com/t/648951/elunevision-screens/900#post_21981554