Greetings.
An lifelong audiophile and music lover who teaches at a liberal arts college is trying to put together a recorded-music listening room so students can hear great music on something other than earbuds.
The listening room will have LP playback.
The room is being designed by an architect, with acoustical consultation from Rives Audio.
The room is to be about 20 x 35 feet with a ceiling height of about 10 feet. Obviously, these dimensions will be fine-tuned.
The listeners will sit in two or three rows of chairs. The room should accommodate at least 15 to 18 listeners.
The project manager loves the sound of the big mbls. However, these may not be practical or affordable. So, he asked my advice on speaker choices. NB, he is not interested in panel speakers of any kind.
Here is my short list, pretty much in order of preference. NB also, I took practicalities and cost into account.
I welcome constructive criticism. Or helpful suggestions.
Duntech Sovereign 2001
Still being made. Still an industry standard. Not crazy money. Great bass with sealed-enclosure virtues. Room-friendly and amp-friendly. Pretty much bomb-proof. Only negative is that he would have to order new ones from Australia based on hearing older ones here, as there is no US representation.
Aerial 20T
Robust bass and sweet ribbon treble in a comparatively compact package at a comparatively sensible price. More demanding on the amp than the Duntechs. Built in the US from some foreign components, so the price has remained stable.
ATC SCM 150
Another pick probably better regarded in the pro field. A wonderful midrange driver plus a stonking huge woofer. Also available as self-powered active monitors.
Egglestonworks Savoy
The half-pint version of Bob Ludwig's Ivys; if 400 pounds each can be considered half-pint. Before the Ivys, Bob had Duntech 2001s. My iffiness is two-fold. Bob's pair's crossovers were voiced to his room and tastes, and I have heard Eggl'etc. speakers sound a bit bleached or forward in the midrange, which may or may not be still connected directly to the amplifier, outside the crossover. And, frankly the visual aesthetics are a tad weird. In "Henry Ford Model T Black."
Wilson Benesch Chimera
A truly lovely speaker that comes in last, as its bass will not be competitive with any of the above speakers, but perhaps the wonderful coherence in its mid and treble and its boffo looks will win the day.
The listening room will be within the existing library building. Therefore, huge speakers that can reproduce rock concert stage volumes are not required.
Amp, etc. selection will follow speaker selection, as it should.
Thanks in advance for helpful and reasoned comments.
Cordially,
John Marks
Greetings.
An lifelong audiophile and music lover who teaches at a liberal arts college is trying to put together a recorded-music listening room so students can hear great music on something other than earbuds.
The listening room will have LP playback.
The room is being designed by an architect, with acoustical consultation from Rives Audio.
The room is to be about 20 x 35 feet with a ceiling height of about 10 feet. Obviously, these dimensions will be fine-tuned.
The listeners will sit in two or three rows of chairs. The room should accommodate at least 15 to 18 listeners.
The project manager loves the sound of the big mbls. However, these may not be practical or affordable. So, he asked my advice on speaker choices. NB, he is not interested in panel speakers of any kind.
Here is my short list, pretty much in order of preference. NB also, I took practicalities and cost into account.
I welcome constructive criticism. Or helpful suggestions.
Duntech Sovereign 2001
Still being made. Still an industry standard. Not crazy money. Great bass with sealed-enclosure virtues. Room-friendly and amp-friendly. Pretty much bomb-proof. Only negative is that he would have to order new ones from Australia based on hearing older ones here, as there is no US representation.
Aerial 20T
Robust bass and sweet ribbon treble in a comparatively compact package at a comparatively sensible price. More demanding on the amp than the Duntechs. Built in the US from some foreign components, so the price has remained stable.
ATC SCM 150
Another pick probably better regarded in the pro field. A wonderful midrange driver plus a stonking huge woofer. Also available as self-powered active monitors.
Egglestonworks Savoy
The half-pint version of Bob Ludwig's Ivys; if 400 pounds each can be considered half-pint. Before the Ivys, Bob had Duntech 2001s. My iffiness is two-fold. Bob's pair's crossovers were voiced to his room and tastes, and I have heard Eggl'etc. speakers sound a bit bleached or forward in the midrange, which may or may not be still connected directly to the amplifier, outside the crossover. And, frankly the visual aesthetics are a tad weird. In "Henry Ford Model T Black."
Wilson Benesch Chimera
A truly lovely speaker that comes in last, as its bass will not be competitive with any of the above speakers, but perhaps the wonderful coherence in its mid and treble and its boffo looks will win the day.
The listening room will be within the existing library building. Therefore, huge speakers that can reproduce rock concert stage volumes are not required.
Amp, etc. selection will follow speaker selection, as it should.
Thanks in advance for helpful and reasoned comments.
Cordially,
John Marks