speakers for a very big room
Posted by: davidf on 23 January 2003
Just wondering, I have a very large listening room ie 30` by 20` with 16`cathedral ceiling in a room that spills over into 2 other rooms. Currently using cds2,52,135`s through linn 5140s. System sounds good and fills the room fairly well. Just curious, if I were to one day upgrade my speakers what would the forum members recommend that could fill a very big room. Of note, keep the asking price less than $6000 US dollars. So for now, no NBLs, DBLs etc. So, what should I listen to... david
Posted on: 23 January 2003 by NB
David,
if it was my system I would look at pair of SL2's. Surely its about quality of sound rather than quantity of sound. The SL2's will more than fill your room.
Other speakers I would consider are Ruark loudspeakers. I am currently using a pair of Equinox's. They work very well with my Naim gear and more than capable of filling my listening room which is 25 foot square.
Regards
NB
if it was my system I would look at pair of SL2's. Surely its about quality of sound rather than quantity of sound. The SL2's will more than fill your room.
Other speakers I would consider are Ruark loudspeakers. I am currently using a pair of Equinox's. They work very well with my Naim gear and more than capable of filling my listening room which is 25 foot square.
Regards
NB
Posted on: 23 January 2003 by Matt worlock
Hello Dave F,
In that sort of enviro I would strongly recommend a pair of Quad 989 electroststics at approx. £4800 UK.
These babys need plenty of room to breath, you have that room so indulge, I no I would but in my 12" * 19" lounge with 7 /12" ceiling I'm looking at extending if i want to hear the 989's properly!
Cheers
Mad Boy Matt
In that sort of enviro I would strongly recommend a pair of Quad 989 electroststics at approx. £4800 UK.
These babys need plenty of room to breath, you have that room so indulge, I no I would but in my 12" * 19" lounge with 7 /12" ceiling I'm looking at extending if i want to hear the 989's properly!
Cheers
Mad Boy Matt
Posted on: 23 January 2003 by davidf
what about Shahinian Obelisks? And, even though they are more than I want to spend, has anyone heard Shahinian Hawks? david
Posted on: 23 January 2003 by Uwe Supper
David,
for what it's worth: my system as well as my listening room bear a striking ressemblance to yours, except that I have Obelisks - and they fill the room without any problems. Shahinians are a love-or-hate-affair, but it might be worth investigating into that route (even Hawks?).
Regards
Uwe
for what it's worth: my system as well as my listening room bear a striking ressemblance to yours, except that I have Obelisks - and they fill the room without any problems. Shahinians are a love-or-hate-affair, but it might be worth investigating into that route (even Hawks?).
Regards
Uwe
Posted on: 23 January 2003 by Emil F
David,
Take a look at the new LMLab Electra 946.
These speakers need 40qm. They cost abt.
USD 6000.
Take a look at the new LMLab Electra 946.
These speakers need 40qm. They cost abt.
USD 6000.
Posted on: 23 January 2003 by Keith Mattox
Posted on: 26 January 2003 by greger
I have a similar room--I've been really impressed with my NeatElites!
Posted on: 27 January 2003 by DAVOhorn
Keith got it in one.
Klipschorns.
They sit in the corner and thus take up little floor space.
But here is the good part they are incredibly efficient so very high sound levels are a breeze and best of all they sound best in a large room.
I have a pair of ACR Eckhorn Klipsch copies and believe me you have not heard dynamics until you have heard a good horn system.
I just wish i had a room your size as i would be able to achieve 115db off a 15 w valave amp.
This i did when i bought them. I took round my amp to try on the speakers before i bought them and in a room of 30fx18fx12f i was able to have 115 db.
Unfortunately you cant do this in a room the size of my lounge so i have to make do with a max of 105db. Shucks.
regards David
Klipschorns.
They sit in the corner and thus take up little floor space.
But here is the good part they are incredibly efficient so very high sound levels are a breeze and best of all they sound best in a large room.
I have a pair of ACR Eckhorn Klipsch copies and believe me you have not heard dynamics until you have heard a good horn system.
I just wish i had a room your size as i would be able to achieve 115db off a 15 w valave amp.
This i did when i bought them. I took round my amp to try on the speakers before i bought them and in a room of 30fx18fx12f i was able to have 115 db.
Unfortunately you cant do this in a room the size of my lounge so i have to make do with a max of 105db. Shucks.
regards David
Posted on: 28 January 2003 by Frank Abela
I would certainly get a listen to Dynaudio Contour 3.0s and 3.3s. I've used 3.0s in rooms of similar size quite happily. The 3.3's could give the 135s a hard time but they'd sound great before shutdown! :-) You might even just get away with them, but certainly a case of trying before buying. If they're to your taste, Dynaudios could fit the bill.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Posted on: 28 January 2003 by Martin Payne
quote:
Originally posted by DAVOhorn:
I just wish i had a room your size as i would be able to achieve 115db off a 15 w valave amp.
This i did when i bought them. I took round my amp to try on the speakers before i bought them and in a room of 30fx18fx12f i was able to have 115 db.
Unfortunately you cant do this in a room the size of my lounge so i have to make do with a max of 105db. Shucks.
David,
how does that work, then?
Normally speakers have a harder time filling a bigger room.
BTW, I'd want to hear those speakers on the end of Naim amps before recommending as a good match.
Maybe Yamaha NS1000 would be worth trying. I've heard these work well on 72/hi/250 in a room 20' x 12', but they seem to take a lot of power and are an easy load.
cheers, Martin
E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com
Posted on: 29 January 2003 by DAVOhorn
Dear Martin
the room is too small due to the internal volume and the pressure level trying to be achieved.
The sound just collapses around you, and sounds real bad.
In a larger room the things just seem to breathe properly and the sound does not fall to pieces.
weird i know but that is what happens.
I believe it is due to the fact they are horns and horns have some interesting properties.
What would Naim sound like on large horns probably a bit fierce and strident. But i have not done this so it is just conjecture.
Naim seem to work best with inefficient loudspeakers which require a lot of driving.
This is my experience.
For a laugh i recently bought a 6w valve power amp to go with the horns. They sound georgeous as a combination and the dynamics are stunning.
So i love horns and have done for years, it took a few years to be able to have a pair but it was worth the wait.
regards David
the room is too small due to the internal volume and the pressure level trying to be achieved.
The sound just collapses around you, and sounds real bad.
In a larger room the things just seem to breathe properly and the sound does not fall to pieces.
weird i know but that is what happens.
I believe it is due to the fact they are horns and horns have some interesting properties.
What would Naim sound like on large horns probably a bit fierce and strident. But i have not done this so it is just conjecture.
Naim seem to work best with inefficient loudspeakers which require a lot of driving.
This is my experience.
For a laugh i recently bought a 6w valve power amp to go with the horns. They sound georgeous as a combination and the dynamics are stunning.
So i love horns and have done for years, it took a few years to be able to have a pair but it was worth the wait.
regards David
Posted on: 29 January 2003 by Martin Payne
"What would Naim sound like on large horns probably a bit fierce and strident. But i have not done this so it is just conjecture."
I don't think that many Naim fans would choose the sound of your horns as their ideal.
Maybe we'll have to torture them on the end of my NAIT2 next time we're over?
cheers, Martin
E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com
I don't think that many Naim fans would choose the sound of your horns as their ideal.
Maybe we'll have to torture them on the end of my NAIT2 next time we're over?
cheers, Martin
E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com
Posted on: 29 January 2003 by Martin Payne
Dave,
I've just remembered that you said your valve amps needed a service last time I heard (the bias or something?)
Maybe they would be better with that sorted?
cheers, Martin
E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com
I've just remembered that you said your valve amps needed a service last time I heard (the bias or something?)
Maybe they would be better with that sorted?
cheers, Martin
E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com
Posted on: 30 January 2003 by DAVOhorn
Dear Martin ,
the valve amps that need a service are my 500w EAR 529.
The little valve amp has just been rebuilt and revalved by the vendor.
Mike F has had a listen to the little one, sure raised his eyebrows.
A NAIT 2 hmmmmmmmmmmm.
yep we can give it a try.
look forward to hearing your biased criticisms again.
I love this hobby.
p.s. when do i get the invite to slag off your DBL's.
regards david
the valve amps that need a service are my 500w EAR 529.
The little valve amp has just been rebuilt and revalved by the vendor.
Mike F has had a listen to the little one, sure raised his eyebrows.
A NAIT 2 hmmmmmmmmmmm.
yep we can give it a try.
look forward to hearing your biased criticisms again.
I love this hobby.
p.s. when do i get the invite to slag off your DBL's.
regards david
Posted on: 31 January 2003 by Markus S
My guess is that you can forget Naim with horns; too much noise. I thought a Nait 2 had too much noise even with speakers of 94ish dB efficiency. Klipschorns have about 6 dB more, which is a lot.
I guess Naim have their gain structure, and their noise performance, optimised for speakers like their own, which are significantly less efficient.
Oh, and older Naim gear has measurable crossover distortion, which you will certainly hear as roughness/unpleasantness on very high efficiency speakers.
Markus
I guess Naim have their gain structure, and their noise performance, optimised for speakers like their own, which are significantly less efficient.
Oh, and older Naim gear has measurable crossover distortion, which you will certainly hear as roughness/unpleasantness on very high efficiency speakers.
Markus
Posted on: 31 January 2003 by jpk73
I paid EUR 6600 for my exdem NBLs
- Jun
- Jun
Posted on: 31 January 2003 by Frank Abela
I've used Audio Note E's at 94.5 db/w/m with both a 62/90 and 82/hi/250. In both cases, the combination was great. True, if you were watching tv without using the system, the hiss would be high, so the Mute button was a necessary item.
I disagree that Naim amps prefer difficult loads. In my experience Naim amps really begin to breathe and sound free and dynamic when they have an easy load to drive. Difficult loads make them work hard to the point where they can shriek at you if you're asking too much of them.
The new Naim kit is a lot cleaner than the old, so in fact the hiss issue may also be a moot point now, though I haven't tried it myself yet.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
I disagree that Naim amps prefer difficult loads. In my experience Naim amps really begin to breathe and sound free and dynamic when they have an easy load to drive. Difficult loads make them work hard to the point where they can shriek at you if you're asking too much of them.
The new Naim kit is a lot cleaner than the old, so in fact the hiss issue may also be a moot point now, though I haven't tried it myself yet.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.