Speaker Suggestions

[The Raven 504]

Hey guys,

 

I'm wondering if any of you could point me in the direction of speakers that'll work for my system. Any help choosing them is appreciated!

 

I'll be running the CF tube amp - it's almost done! - and using it primarily for movie watching and streaming white/pink/brown noise and nature sounds. I'd like to set it up to get that lovely surround sound dynamic where you can hear the monsters creeping up from behind as if they really were. Grundgy, darker sounding speakers are preferred over brights.

 

It's for a rectangular room, there's very little floor space so they'd have to either be tall and narrow or able to be wall-mounted. Sound source and listening area are on the narrow walls - opposite sides. I might be missing details

 

Any ideas for speakers or system additions or how to set this up to get that effect?

[Daddyjt 9,614]

I am a big fan of NHT for the purpose you describe.  The 2.5 series are floor standers with side-mounted woofers, to allow an aprox 7” wide by 40”(ish) tall frontal profile. They make excellent bookshelf models as well - the 1.5 and the Super Zero are two to look at. Very natural, uncolored sound. A tad bit in-efficient, but that  is not a concern for Carver enthusiasts ?

[loner_t 2,568]

Bob is supposed to be making 42-in versions of the ALSs, which are fondly called 'half-stacks' or CF Speakers. Sunfire CRM2s may also work. 

 

Magnepans and KEFs have flat-panel designs, some of which can be wall-mounted, almost like a painting. 

 

Monitor Audio and Def Tech's are narrow designs. Auditioning is the best of choosing the speakers.  

Edited October 14, 2018 by loner_t

[RodH 4,866]

Any Paradigm speakers in your part of the world?

The Monitor 7 or SE 6000F might be worth a listen.

[Dadvw 2,876]

43 minutes ago, Rod H said:

Any Paradigm speakers in your part of the world?

The Monitor 7 or SE 6000F might be worth a listen.

Paradigm (pronounced Par a dig em.......grin) are my favorites. I own Monitor 9s for my 2 channel setup and Monitor 11s for my HT setup. 3200 sub for 2 channel, 3400 for HT......grin

[BarryG 2,853]

One of the best surround setups I have heard recently was using Definitive Technology Speakers and is Randy’s (MaddMaster).  He really does like them and seems to be pleased with their customer service!  

Hopefully he can chime in!

 

I am strictly 2 channel at present and love my vintage Polk SDAs!

 

Barry

[kingman 662]

Greg heard the MMG’ s at CF this year. With a decent sub, they are good performers. Although I’ve never had a pair, the older Advents have a sweet spot with many.

[DrummerJuice 1,287]

http://db.audioasylum.com/mhtml/m.html?forum=speakers&n=188238&highlight=il40&r=&search_url=%2Fcgi%2Fsearch.mpl%3Fsearchtext%3Dil40%26b%3DAND%26topic%3D%26topics_only%3DN%26author%3D%26date1%3D%26date2%3D%26slowmessage%3D%26sort%3Ddate%26sortOrder%3DDESC%26forum%3Dspeakers

[AndrewJohn 10,453]

Wasn't ChiroAcadamy trying to sell his CarverFest speakers a few weeks back?  I think he also had the CF stands, too. 

 

Has any one tried the CF Amp, with CF speakers?  It could be an interesting combination.

[pindrop 330]

5 hours ago, The Raven said:

It's for a rectangular room, there's very little floor space so they'd have to either be tall and narrow or able to be wall-mounted. Sound source and listening area are on the narrow walls - opposite sides. I might be missing details

What's my budget for this shopping excursion? Do you have a powered sub for the movie 's? How far forward in the room can the front plane of the speakers face sit?

[madmike46 398]

Epi 100's are a nice sounding and efficient speaker, can be had for not much money.  They are a nice little bookshelf speaker.  Any of the EPI or Genesis speakers are fairly efficient.

[AndrewJohn 10,453]

28 minutes ago, madmike46 said:

Epi 100's are a nice sounding and efficient speaker, can be had for not much money.  They are a nice little bookshelf speaker.  Any of the EPI or Genesis speakers are fairly efficient.

I like this suggestion! 

 

If you go EPI, you might also look at picking up a pair of M400 or the later M400+ mini-towers.  They will handle tons of power (I have a pair in my office driven by a Carver M500).  These are vintage.  I saw a pair go for $50 on CL in Detroit a few months back.  Burhoe speaker designs are legendary.  And these are built solid - the M400's way well over 50 lbs.

 

Their are designed for giving a great sense of depth, having drivers and tweeters on 4 sides, which  when properly placed a couple feet from side and back walls in each left and right corner, you'll create an interesting surround-like sound stage.  I have a few CD's of thunderstorms and rain - and these speakers reproduce that sound magically.

 

The picture below is of my pair after I restored them.  I put the book-matched walnut on the top - they didn't come that way. ?  (They are posing for the photo..., not properly placed).

 

 

 

Edited October 14, 2018 by AndrewJohn

[The Raven 504]

40 minutes ago, pindrop said:

What's my budget for this shopping excursion? Do you have a powered sub for the movie 's? How far forward in the room can the front plane of the speakers face sit?

 

Not sure on the budget yet, I'm looking over options and suggestions, narrowing it down to what I like and then putting together a proposal to slip on Greg's desk. I've been wanting a system in there for years and now with the tube amp, that's the perfect prod because it sorta needs speakers to work lol

 

We're making our own sub, super excited about that build! 

 

The front pane of the speaker can only come out to 21"

 

13 minutes ago, AndrewJohn said:

I like this suggestion! 

 

If you go EPI, you might also look at picking up a pair of M400 or the later M400+ mini-towers.  They will handle tons of power (I have a pair in my office driven by a Carver M500).  These are vintage.  I saw a pair go for $50 on CL in Detroit a few months back.  Burhoe speaker designs are legendary.  And these are built solid - the M400's way well over 50 lbs.

 

Their are designed for giving a great sense of depth, having drivers and tweeters on 4 sides, which  when properly placed a couple feet from left and back walls in each left and right corner, you'll create an interesting surround-like sound stage.  I have a few CD's of thunderstorms and rain - and these speakers reproduce that sound magically.

 

The picture below is of my pair after I restored them.  (they are posing for the photo..., not properly placed).

 

 

 

 

 

Great job on the refurb! What an intriguing idea. Since the amp and sub will be built here, I'd love to do the same with the rest of the system, mixing builds with refurbishing. 

 

Does anyone know if there's an unbuilt CF speaker kit floating around? If so, will those work for the back corners and then do something up front that's bigger and vintage so I can refurb it?

 

 

Edited October 14, 2018 by The Raven

[pindrop 330]

14 minutes ago, AndrewJohn said:

Has any one tried the CF Amp, with CF speakers?  It could be an interesting combination.

Yes I have and they are very nice together and getting better. The 275 has been alternating  powering my Fest speakers then my ALlll's and now a set of GoldenEar Triton 7's. The ALlll's run it out of gas pretty quick so low volume they sound very good. The Fest speakers can make the m500t mkll run out of gas but with the filter on and running the Sunfire Signature with them ......I will be going back and trying that again. The Triton 7's seem to be a very nice match with the tweeter that's in them. With the BillD c-1 set about 12:02 and  my trusty RS spl meter I am reading an average of 98db with 104db and above popping up listening to O.A.R. live at Red Rocks. Set up for SH this is KILLER!!!

[kve777 6,888]

Vintage A/D/S/ speakers like L-810's would be an excellent and economical choice. 

[The Raven 504]

@pindrop Oh, the front pane on the back speakers have considerably less room, more like 10", give or take a bit, and they'd need to be able to be wall mounted or set on a corner shelf mounted partially up the wall. There are only two really narrow swaths in back where they can work. 

 

Thanks for the input, everyone! There aren't any big audio stores around here, so your thoughts and opinions on them are invaluable as I'll probably be buying them unheard.

 

I'll research all of these and then see what's out there  

 

 

[pindrop 330]

The Raven hasn't listened to what those Fest speakers are capable of or the CRM2's, they are killer at ambient sounds. The powered DefTec's come pretty cheap and work well with your parameters of nature sounds and movies but music we tend to look else where. Since females hear high frequencies more than males the metal dome speakers might not be what you're after unless you would care to throw an equalizer in there or an in line resistor to tame them for the grundgy sound. Polks Monitor 10's and Monitor 7's with the silk dome tweeters are also worth checking out although they are wider but the 275 would power them to "Run upstairs, the monsters are breaking in!!" .

[mbskeam 1,975]

 

Has any one tried the CF Amp, with CF speakers?  It could be an interesting combination.

 

yes, with the 2011 CF amps. mono (24watts) I use these as my work system with a sub. it cranks pretty  good.....?     with the 2018 they would be even crankier....

Edited October 14, 2018 by mbskeam

[pindrop 330]

Yessss, very crankier.

1 hour ago, The Raven said:

Does anyone know if there's an unbuilt CF speaker kit floating around? If so, will those work for the back corners and then do something up front that's bigger and vintage so I can refurb it?

lol.  Geeeez freakin' unreal, I shake my head in disbelief! Hashy the woman ain't done building her own damn amplifier and got plans of refurbishing SPEAKERS!!!?? ? You're an asshol e if you EVER screw this cakewalk of life up!!#%&@'* 

[The Raven 504]

Here's what I'm finding within reasonable driving distance - 

 

Mirage M-490s

A/D/S L 620's @kve777 are these comparable to what you suggested or a different animal?

A pair of small Moss Audio speakers - no clue if that's a decent brand or not

A pair of Infinity Primus P363 Towers - they look neat and would fit, but no idea of their sound qualities

KEF Uni-Q Q70 - pricey so probably out of the question without being killed lol

[kve777 6,888]

Just now, The Raven said:

 

A/D/S L 620's @kve777 are these comparable to what you suggested or a different animal?

 

Same family. Quite nice sounding.

[RodH 4,866]

Which version of the KEF's? Got a link to a pic?

There were several versions.

[The Raven 504]

@kve777 Thanks!

 

 

11 minutes ago, Rod H said:

Which version of the KEF's? Got a link to a pic?

There were several versions.

 

 

They look clean and classy, not sure how they sound though.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 14, 2018 by The Raven

[DrummerJuice 1,287]

2 hours ago, pindrop said:

Hashy the woman ain't done building her own damn amplifier and got plans of refurbishing SPEAKERS!!!?? ? You're an asshol e if you EVER screw this cakewalk of life up!!#%&@'* 

 

#Winning!

[RodH 4,866]

I had a set of those KEFs. Despite the specs, they didn't sound great with less than 200W driving them.