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Suggest "Larger" Bookshelf Speakers...

operaman said:
Cool! Where would I ever get them? And at what price?
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well, drivers are available used on eBAY at all price points.
New production are available from www.greatplainsaudio.com at what I would consider a reasonable price given their quality and performance.

New and used crossovers of various kinds are likewise readily available - I am using Doug Sax's MasteringLabs XOs... or you can roll your own: http://home.earthlink.net/~jmarkwart/

Here's the scoop on the cabinets:
http://www.wardsweb.org/Billfort/

I had mine built by my friend - and contractor - Mike Berg:
http://www.bergcarpentry.com/

I have less than $2k invested in mine -- in terms of prices for drivers & crossovers, chance favors the prepared mind.
 
mhardy6647 said:
not sure what you mean by "too big" -- I'd worry more about filling the space effectively - that is a fair sized room. The A35s definitely won't be "too big" in any sense of the word; indeed you might have the opposite problem.

In fact, you just might benefit from something more along the lines of what I'm usin' upstairs, methinks... 'specially if you're looking for (as they say) 2die4 midrange (as I do)...
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I was looking at charts recommending, for this size room, a cabinet of two cubic feet and only a 6-8" driver size for maximum efficiency and response. I also plan to use a sub with xover set real low.
 
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operaman said:
I was looking at charts recommending, for this size room, a cabinet of two cubic feet and only a 6-8" driver size for maximum efficiency and response...
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I've never heard of such a thing. I've gotta say, empirically, that just doesn't sound right to me* - 15 x 20 x 8 feet is 2400 cubic feet. You will be a little better off in a "hard" room, which as I recall is what you are dealing with.


* The "efficiency" (or, more to the point, sensitivity) of that "two cubic foot box with a 6 to 8 inch driver" could, realistically, vary from about 82 to 100 dB SPL per watt at 1 meter, depending on the sensitivity of the driver(s), the crossover network, and the "box alignment" (i.e., the loading of the LF driver)... in palpable terms, that 18 dB spread represents nearly a fourfold change in SPL.
Can you provide a link to these charts?

Oh, the Duplexes aren't bookshelf speakers in any sense of the word, with cabinet volumes of 8 ft^3...they are coffin-sized :-)

Here's a pair of DIYs in 1 ft^3 boxes with single 8" drivers (no electrical crossover) with mid-high 90s dB sensitivity. They don't go low, but they do sound nice (although they wouldn't be the best for large scale -- i.e., symphonic -- music):

DSC_5663 by mhardy6647, on Flickr
same room, of course, before it had so much junk in it!
 
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operaman said:
I was looking at charts recommending, for this size room, a cabinet of two cubic feet and only a 6-8" driver size for maximum efficiency and response. I also plan to use a sub with xover set real low.
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Based on my experience (and perhaps not so humble opinion) that chart is nuts. I agree with mhardy...the room may be too big for the 35's. My 16x20x8 room is too big for my 25's and just (maybe not quite) big enough for Altec 19's. Go ahead and enjoy those 35's that are headed your way and bring them out a few feet or more from the front wall (if you can....for better sound stage production), but understand if you find you develop a desire for a larger speaker design your room will certainly accommodate it.
 
Thanks all. From my experience and suitably humble opinion I feel like the a 35s will be a good match. Also, my apologies, but I had not remembered the room dimensions accurately (I'm terrible with numbers!) - it is 15x12x8. what do you think? I'll go as big as I have to!
 
operaman said:
Thanks all. From my experience and suitably humble opinion I feel like the a 35s will be a good match. Also, my apologies, but I had not remembered the room dimensions accurately (I'm terrible with numbers!) - it is 15x12x8. what do you think? I'll go as big as I have to!
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That's a good room/speaker match.
 
Yeah, definitely more in line with a reasonable volume of air to load with a pair of medium-sized bookshelf loudspeakers with 10" woofers. The sensitivity of the A35s is pretty good,fortunately.
 
I think they will sound very nice in that size room. My KLH Fives are in a 18 X 22 room with a 9 foot vaulted ceiling and they sound great. The speakers are about 18 feet or so apart. I tried my Klipsch KG2's and they were nice, but a bit to small for that space.

 
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that is a very inviting looking room...
As a completely gratuitous aside, Mrs. H originally hails from Westchester Co. (Valhalla) :-)
 
Doyou like the KLHs on the floor like that, not facing up at all?

I like mine closer to ear level, and have always had a hard time with floor speakers for this reason. Even angling upward, it throws me off. Might be the visual element that is psyching me out, but I feel I need them more at ear-height.

This counter/shelf I'm putting speakers on is around head-high when I'm sitting but below my chest when I stand. Is it too high?
 
mhardy6647 said:
that is a very inviting looking room...
As a completely gratuitous aside, Mrs. H originally hails from Westchester Co. (Valhalla) :-)
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Ah, small world. I spent many Saturday afternoons at Kensico Damn working on my cars and watching girls back in the day when they allowed you to do that!

Thanks for the room complement. It's a great space, and the sound stage is very nice.

Glenn
 
operaman said:
Doyou like the KLHs on the floor like that, not facing up at all?

I like mine closer to ear level, and have always had a hard time with floor speakers for this reason. Even angling upward, it throws me off. Might be the visual element that is psyching me out, but I feel I need them more at ear-height.

This counter/shelf I'm putting speakers on is around head-high when I'm sitting but below my chest when I stand. Is it too high?
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I do like the way they sound. I might build short 2 inch high square frames just to lift them a bit, but otherwise, they sound great. The KLH Six's were designed as floor standers as stated in the owners manual, I assume the Fives are as well. Also, we'll eventually have the receiver on a nice table to match the decor.

Glenn
 
markshan said:
Sounds ideal to me. There's a reason that they put small PA speakers on sticks.
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Yes, primarily to get better coverage throughout the venue for the people further back from the front row. It's in the vein of better sound, but a bit different situation than placing mids/tweeters at ear level in ones home stereo.
 
Those of you familiar with the A25 Dynaco (or A35, which I have)... do you agree with this assessment:

I find they have a bright, high midrange-forward quality that is mitigated by mostly transparent and mellow tonal quality. The bass is open and clear with a lot of detail in upper bass, but less downward extension.

How does this compare to the KLH 6, Advent 1, etc?

Is any one familiar with the Large Advent AND the Baby Advent? I know those are different eras but I'm still curious what the tonal similarities are between them.
 
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