Tower recommendations for new theater room - Budget: $3,500

[sunPin]

Hi Holics,

We just bought a new house with a dedicated theater room that is wired for 5.1. We are looking at upgrading our satellite system to floorstander fronts. If necessary, we will upgrade the surrounds, but need some advice about whether it makes sense to go di/bi-pole vs. stick with direct.

What we want is a closer-to-theater experience:

1. Large, seamless sound stage
2. Sharp imaging and localization
3. Accurate, open highs

The room is used almost exclusively for movies. Our favorite types of movies are science documentaries (a la Planet Earth), action (a la Marvel), and sci-fi (a la Interstellar).

Basically, we want our kids to feel like they got wet when the blue whale exhales.

We will be using a wall-mounted, 60" plasma for our display for the foreseeable future, but may move to a projection system later on down the line, which would likely use an acoustically transparent 100-120" screen.

Current setup:

• L/C/R: DefTech ProCinema 1000/2000/1000
• LS/RS: DefTech ProCinema 1000
• Sub: DefTech SuperCube III 8"
• Denon AVR790
  
• 6x GIK 242 wall absorbers, 2x GIK Tri-Traps bass traps
• Pioneer 60" plasma display (wall mounted)

Room is ~15'x12'x10'. The display will be along the 15' side, with the entrance recessed into the wall left of the display. Floor is carpeted. Seating is for six, is not raised, and will probably consist of foam bean bags (e.g., LoveSac).

Budget is $3,500 for LCR, $1,500 for surrounds. We plan to upgrade the LCR first and then upgrade the surrounds later. I'd be open to the possibility of putting more money into the LCR if it makes sense to keep using our current direct ProCinema 1000 surrounds.

I've had the chance to demo Martin Logan electrostatics and ribbons and was impressed by both, though I had a hard time determining whether I liked one better than the other because I think they didn't have the electrostatics (with built-in woofers) crossed over with the sub correctly.

Any and all recommendations for specific LCR+/-Sur combinations welcomed and appreciated!

Thanks, Holics.

 

[slipperybidness]

If I had your budget, Phils would be the top of my list!
http://philharmonicaudio.com/

Also great speakers, a little more pricey than the Phils, is Salk
http://salksound.com/

Check out Ascend too
http://ascendacoustics.com/

Also, EMPTek
http://emptek.com/

You did not mention any plans for a new subwoofer. Trust me, there are MUCH better subs out there. You should consider shifting some of the budget that direction and get a sub (or a pair) from HSU, Rythmik, SVS, or PSA.

Eidt: If you like the sonic signature of the Def Techs, then go have a listen to Goldenear Tritons. Goldenear is the 3rd company from one of the DT founders.

 

[TheLaw612]

Honestly... I'd drop the budget for your LCR a little, keep the surrounds you have and upgrade that crappy little deftech sub. So put $1500 + a little from your LCR budget and get one or two subs from Power Sound Audio, Rythmik, SVS, Reaction Audio, etc. THAT will have the biggest impact on your movies.

There are plenty of good LCR's out there in the ~$1500-$2k range, combined with proper subwoofers, that will make your movie nights incredibly enjoyable.

Ascend and EMPtek are great places to start. Specifically the Ascend 340se's.

Happy Hunting.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I would not recommend any of these excellent speakers, simply since you ask for theater level sound.
You need to go with special speakers and sub.
These for LCR:
http://jtrspeakers.com/home-audio/noesis-228ht/
and use the $1500 budget from surrounds towards new sub - https://reaction-audio.myshopify.com/collections/subwoofers/products/gamma-218?variant=1107649941

 

[sunPin]

Very useful recommendations all around.

So far, it seems like the consensus is to stick with the current surrounds and upgrade the sub. Why is that? Is that because an 8" won't pressurize a room of that size well? It was about $1000 when I bought it and it produces a surprising amount of output.

@BoredSysAdmin: I would imagine that many people would want theater quality sound, so why do so many of the manufacturers mentioned previously not make speakers that do that by your measure?

 

[slipperybidness]

Very useful recommendations all around.

So far, it seems like the consensus is to stick with the current surrounds and upgrade the sub. Why is that? Is that because an 8" won't pressurize a room of that size well? It was about $1000 when I bought it and it produces a surprising amount of output.

@BoredSysAdmin: I would imagine that many people would want theater quality sound, so why do so many of the manufacturers mentioned previously not make speakers that do that by your measure?

$1000 will get you a KILLER sub. Obviously, you have never heard a sub from one of these ID companies. Once you hear big boy sub, you will realize that $1000 for that DT is over-priced. A good sub (or better yet a pair) is going to be the 1 upgrade that gets you closest to the "theater quality experience".

As far as the surrounds, they don't really get a lot of action going to them. It's kind of silly to drop big $ on surrounds that only give you some ambiance and a few surround effects.

Spend the $ on the Sub(s) and a great pair of mains or maybe a great set of the front 3.

The speakers that I listed are fine for HOME Theater use.

What BSA is suggesting is that if you want TRUE Theater sound, then pick up TRUE (Commercial) theater speakers. With your budget, his suggestion does make a lot of sense.

 

[sunPin]

@slipperybidness: By your definition, what is difference between "home theater" use and "true theater sound"?

Regarding the sub, I will make demoing a new sub a part of our upgrade path. Thanks for the tip.

 

[zieglj01]

Look at the Reaction Audio CX-12 for the front L/R speakers - sold each
http://reaction-audio.myshopify.com/collections/speakers/products/cx-12t?variant=1009161185

For the center, you can turn the CX-10 sideways - if you can not do vertical
http://reaction-audio.myshopify.com/collections/speakers/products/cx-10?variant=823614953

^^^ That will give you some big powerful sound

Also look at the Reaction Gamma 18 sub
http://reaction-audio.myshopify.com/collections/subwoofers/products/gamma-18?variant=1107645869

No need to spend a lot for surrounds.

 

[3db]

I would also look at PSB Imagine T2s listed here.. and the Imagine C center channel.

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/imagine/Imagine-T2-Tower

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

By your definition, what is difference between "home theater" use and "true theater sound"?

You said it yourself - "to feel like they got wet when the blue whale exhales."
This level of sound pressure and dynamic range most home speakers would simply not be able reproduce truthfully.

"True Theater" as in speakers similar to what you find in commercial theaters - they can play very loudly and softly effortlessly.

JTS Speakers (and these Reaction audio) produce speakers capable of such feat, but without commercial theater audio prices. I know RA subs are excellent - they had been tested thoroughly by 3rd party independent tester - http://www.data-bass.com/data?page=system&id=114

I don't much about performance of these RA speakers, but probably you could just get a pair, test them at home and judge them yourself. Don't like = hassle free return

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Also this short video might give you a visual clue what I am talking about:

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I would imagine that many people would want theater quality sound, so why do so many of the manufacturers mentioned previously not make speakers that do that by your measure?

Look at JTR speakers - they are not exactly pretty, yet relatively expensive.
Quality components cost money, solid cabinets takes engineering, skill and good materials to build.
To achieve such performance JTR concentrated on pure performance and zero attention to looks.
The issue is most people paying over a grand per speaker for home use expect it to look nice in the living room. Not to say there aren't capable and good looking speakers, but they cost a lot more

 

[shadyJ]

+1 for the Reaction speakers and subwoofers. In that budget, I would be looking at a CX-10 front stage, CX-8 surrounds, and a couple of Echo 18 subs. That will just crush any equivalently priced martin logan system.

 

[sunPin]

These Reaction Audio speakers look quite amazing. Jerry W from RA is actually chatting with me online right now, at midnight CST lol. Talk about customer service!

 

[zieglj01]

These Reaction Audio speakers look quite amazing. Jerry W from RA is actually chatting with me online right now, at midnight CST lol. Talk about customer service!

That is cool - hope it works out.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Probably Jeremy, the owner of RA.

 

[TheLaw612]

All these recommendations are fantastic. I'm sure Power Sound Audio or Reaction Audio would give you a package discount if you bought an LCR + sub(s) combo. Both companies have FANTASTIC customer service.

 

[sunPin]

Ok I'm sold on Reaction coaxials and upgrading the sub.

Question of ported vs. sealed sub: I thought that sealed provided more controlled bass, but Reaction's ported sub is actually more expensive than its sealed one.

Why is that?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So far, it seems like the consensus is to stick with the current surrounds and upgrade the sub. Why is that? Is that because an 8" won't pressurize a room of that size well? It was about $1000 when I bought it and it produces a surprising amount of output.

Have you already set up this Def Tech system in your new dedicated HT room?

Is the sound LACKING in this very room? Or was the sound lacking in a different room?

IMO if the sub sounds GREAT to YOU in YOUR room, then there is nothing wrong with it.

IMO a 12' x 15' room doesn't require big giant speakers and subwoofers. With the screen on the 15' wall, I assume you will be sitting about 8 - 9 FT from the front speakers.

 

[sunPin]

Hi @AcuDefTechGuy, thanks for your note. The sound is lacking because the sound stage my ProCinemas, which I have loved for seven years, creates is small and doesn't produce nearly the dynamic range that I hear in a theater.