DougG
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Need Speaker Help for Large room that has 20' ceiling
Monty
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It sounds like to me that you need your speakers to work with your decor and also work for entertaining guests. I can't really make any recommendation on that front, but I'll toss out a few brands to check on.

Anthony Gallo Speakers
B&W Speakers
Sonus Faber Speakers

All offer unique aesthetcs, a wide selection and sound damn good. You might even consider in-wall speakers.

DougG
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Thanks Monty. You would go with Active Subs in the speakers,correct ? My brother is replacing Polk Speakers with two Active Sub. The only problem with B&Ws is the lack of Bass for such a large room.... ?

gkc
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Hi, Doug -- Wow! That's a BIG room. It is a big-speaker-big-sound-lover's dream. But it may cost a few bucks to fill it properly. You can find some $20,000 Revel Salons used, on Audiogon, for as low as 8-9 grand, or you might even consider Klipschorns (3-5 grand), which are great on pop and will fill Yankee Stadium...on 5 watts!! If you have two unoccupied corners, the K-horns would sound great in that kind of space!

Bonnie Raitt? I have Give it Up, with my favorite, "You Gotta Know How." An LP that I bought in '76, along with Linda Rondstadt's Prisoner in Disguise ("...Pick me up, mah feet are draggin'/Gimme a lift an' I'll hay yore wagon..." Perhaps the finest couplet in English, at least in a tie with Burns' "I am a bard/Of no regard." Good luck, Clifton

Buddha
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What a perfect room for planar speakers!

I'd suggest auditioning the large Magneplanars and Martin Logans, even the Sound Labs "A" series.

This is one of those times where you hopefully live near some dealers. In in-room audition would be nice, and their expertise at matching your system with a suitable sub would be worth the price of paying retail.

Are you changing electronics, as well?

Best wishes.

DougG
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Maybe change the AMP. I think he has a $600 Onkyo 100W about 6 years old. Not looking for the top of the line speakers and AMP. More looking good qulaity without loosing the sound in the room.

Any suggestions for AMPs and IS anyone making a Good 2.1 AMP. I do not feed video thorough an AMP. Or is it just better to buy an amp for the money that is 7.1 because that is what manufactures make today........

CECE
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www.legacyaudio.com that room sure would fill nicely with some FOCUS or WHISPER!!!!oh yeah..maybe even a HELIX!!!!

gkc
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Get real, Pantagruel. Doug is talkin' 7.1 integrateds. Your'e talkin' 20 grand, minimum. AVA might be a bargain, but not everybody can afford 5 digits for the speakers. He needs to visit showrooms -- LOTS of 'em -- not websites, so he can get a feel for what's out there at what price.

Buddha
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Dang, the real world steps in to cut the options.

Well, then, how about checking out the PSB lines or even Paradigm?

They have more real world pricing and are easy on any amp you might have on hand to drive them with.

I would be curious about "stacking" some monitors from either maker to get a cheap thrill.

PSB has a new Alpha speaker that's pretty cheap. I'm thinking an inverted pair on each side might offer killer room filling sound at 600 bucks or so.

Then you could subwoof to your satisfaction!

gkc
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Yo, Buddha -- It's hard to tell if Doug has REALLY tight budget constraints, or is simply used to pricing audio gear in the hundreds (not thousands) of dollars on the basis that "it all sounds similar." Once he hears what's out there, and correlates what it costs with real sonic differences, he'll get a better idea. Your idea about planars is excellent, of course. Since Quad is introducing new models, there is going to be virtual flood of 989's come on stream, I believe, and at bargain prices. The question is, will 4-5 grand be too much? I haven't checked out the market on used Maggies or Sound Labs, but those really tend to be fussy about amps, don't they? I reco'd the K-horns because I got the impression Doug prefers mostly different pop genres, and, while I don't like the K-horns on classical, they can REALLY crank out the pop tune vocals and rhythm instruments. And, of course, they'll fill a cathedral with less than 5 watts, which opens the door for MANY great sub-$1000 amplifiers, including (heh, heh) toooobs.

Doug, if you are thinking 2+1, it sounds like you're having center-fill problems (i.e., absence of a sonic image between the speakers). High-end stereo (and not necessarily mega-bucks) has no problem with this, if you choose components carefully. You may not need a middle speaker. Or were you referring to an output for a sub? Try to provide us with more details, including budget constraints (REAL ones, not those based on habitual assumptions), and the forum denizens out there will cram you chock full of great ideas -- all of us/them have been at this pursuit a long time and have heard a huge variety of systems that work. Good luck, Clifton

imispgh
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What is the room used for? Do you listen standing, sitting, in or out of the sweet spot?

If it's for casual listening and you like the Polk's then I would do a powered sub or maybe two. Make sure they have an adjustable cross over and level. Depending on your source you may have to run spealer level signals to the sub (if you have no sub out). If you get a single sub you will want a good 12". try Paradigm, PSB or NHT for a reasonable price. Maybe Polk has some? If you get two single ones I am sure you will need at 10" woofers in each.

If you want a new speaker the larger Paradigm and PSB's will do nicely. So will some Mirages. A used pair of M1si or M3si would do well. They have later models with active subs built in. I pick Canadien units because they usually have ample bass for the price.

Another brand you might want to try is Athena. They are very reasonably priced and have larger units with more bass.

Heck Polk isn't so bad either.

Depends on whether this is a dedicated listening room or not

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