Dual Subwoofers - what to choose?

[Pogre]

OK - I feel like I'm missing a joke....

They're having some fun because I very recently got those IL30s and have been bragging them up. I own Ascend Acoustics ribbon towers now. I will say, my ribbon towers from Ascend truly are next level performers and I love them. If you have the budget they're a worthy upgrade from your current speakers.

 

[cbecker33]

They're having some fun because I very recently got those IL30s and have been bragging them up. I own Ascend Acoustics ribbon towers now. I will say, my ribbon towers from Ascend truly are next level performers and I love them. If you have the budget they're a worthy upgrade from your current speakers.

Ah gotcha! Just checked out the Ascend speaker prices . Thinking Krylon might be the way to go.

 

[Pogre]

I am not kidding - I have pics to prove it!

I do enjoy the speakers (they, like the subs, are probably better than I deserve) but do wish they had a little 'more'. As I mentioned before, I primarily listen to EDM when I do listen to music and I find them a bit lacking (it might be how loud I like things).

Also, and more importantly, they don't match the décor of the house. I had planned on replacing them when we moved in as blonde maple adds a third, unwanted, wood-type to the room. 11 years later I still haven't gotten around to it.... I've had these speakers a long time and they've been through 3 moves (but I still have the factory boxes)!

Well you did good with those speakers. I really, really like my IL30s.

These are the towers I have now, with the RAAL ribbon upgrade (an additional $350 per speaker). They're the best sounding speakers I've had in my system yet and a clear step up from the Infinity IL series. You have some choices for finishes too so you'll likely find one that suits your room. The only drawback with those right now is they've been back ordered since covid and there will likely be a wait, unless you get lucky and they already have the cabinets in whatever finish you choose. I recently placed an order for my matching center and won't be seeing it til the end of March.

 

[panteragstk]

OK - I feel like I'm missing a joke....

A bit. As @Pogre said he just got some Infinity towers like yours used. It was good timing is all.

 

[cbecker33]

Well you did good with those speakers. I really, really like my IL30s.

These are the towers I have now, with the RAAL ribbon upgrade (an additional $350 per speaker). They're the best sounding speakers I've had in my system yet and a clear step up from the Infinity IL series. You have some choices for finishes too so you'll likely find one that suits your room. The only drawback with those right now is they've been back ordered since covid and there will likely be a wait, unless you get lucky and they already have the cabinets in whatever finish you choose. I recently placed an order for my matching center and won't be seeing it til the end of March.

Too rich for me, sadly. Are the Klipsch R-625FA considered anything special? Just a quick glance around the idea Dolby Atmos capability built-in to the fronts is appealing.

 

[shadyJ]

Too rich for me, sadly. Are the Klipsch R-625FA considered anything special? Just a quick glance around the idea Dolby Atmos capability built-in to the fronts is appealing.

Klipsch can be hit or miss, and they sure do have a lot of misses. I wouldn't bother with those until there is third-party confirmation of their performance.

 

[panteragstk]

Too rich for me, sadly. Are the Klipsch R-625FA considered anything special? Just a quick glance around the idea Dolby Atmos capability built-in to the fronts is appealing.

That'd be a drastic departure from what you're used to listening to.

What do you like about what you currently have?

What do you not like?

What do you wish would be better?

Those will help us.

 

[Pogre]

Too rich for me, sadly. Are the Klipsch R-625FA considered anything special? Just a quick glance around the idea Dolby Atmos capability built-in to the fronts is appealing.

Those atmos modules on top of speakers like that have been coined "bouncy house speakers" by gene, lol.

I put those in the same category as bi amping. Mostly marketing fluff. They can work if your room and ceiling are just right, but it takes careful placement and setup for them to work right. They depend on bouncing the sound from your ceiling to the mlp, so your seating has to be in the right spot too. Unless your room is just right for it you're best just to go with ceiling speakers if you want to go atmos.

Klipsch can make some good speakers, but you have to know which ones to get because they can be on the bright side. I think the R625 you're looking at would be at best a lateral move and at worst a step down. Part of your problem (a good problem to have!) here is you already have some pretty darned good speakers. I'm thinking 2k/pr would be a starting point for your budget to have a meaningful upgrade.

The Klipsch RP-8000F reviewed really well here, but I'm not sure how much "better" they might sound compared to what you have now. It would likely be another lateral move.

 

[Pogre]

Klipsch can be hit or miss, and they sure do have a lot of misses. I wouldn't bother with those until there is third-party confirmation of their performance.

Shady I know you liked the RP-8000s for the price point, but op already has Infinity IL40 mains. You think that would be more a lateral move?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Too rich for me, sadly. Are the Klipsch R-625FA considered anything special? Just a quick glance around the idea Dolby Atmos capability built-in to the fronts is appealing.

If you have to use Dolby AE speakers, I would choose regular speakers. And then get add on modules. That gives a little freedom of adjustability. Even then, it can take some trial and error to get them to “hit” you at the MLP. It’s like a bank shot in pool. Different ceiling heights/speaker heights/seating distances/speaker distances etc all matter. So I would at the very least go in the front height position where the ceiling meets the wall. But that’s another thread lol.

 

[shadyJ]

Shady I know you liked the RP-8000s for the price point, but op already has Infinity IL40 mains. You think that would be more a lateral move?

The Klipsch speakers will have more dynamic range and a narrower dispersion pattern. They would have advantages over the Infinity speakers for sure, but the soundstage would change qualitatively. Whether that would be for better or worse would be purely a matter of preference.

 

[cbecker33]

Here's a not-so great picture.

 

[panteragstk]

Here's a not-so great picture.

Perfectly fine picture. I see your point when you say they don't really fit in. The subs and floor work together. The speakers stand out.

How's your current soundstage at your listening position?

 

[cbecker33]

That'd be a drastic departure from what you're used to listening to.

What do you like about what you currently have?

What do you not like?

What do you wish would be better?

...How's your current soundstage at your listening position

They sound very nicely balanced.

No complaints about sound quality, but I would like a bit more 'oomp' when listening to music at a louder level. That and the color clashes with my room.

I would say (rightly or wrongly) a bit small, but my wife doesn't center up on the TV anyway.....Fine for me when watching movies. When playing music I tend to angle the speakers to hit the impromptu dance floor adjacent the listing position.

 

[cbecker33]

If you have to use Dolby AE speakers, I would choose regular speakers. And then get add on modules. That gives a little freedom of adjustability. Even then, it can take some trial and error to get them to “hit” you at the MLP. It’s like a bank shot in pool. Different ceiling heights/speaker heights/seating distances/speaker distances etc all matter. So I would at the very least go in the front height position where the ceiling meets the wall. But that’s another thread lol.

Great info. 'Regular' speakers it is!

 

[Pogre]

They sound very nicely balanced.

No complaints about sound quality, but I would like a bit more 'oomp' when listening to music at a louder level. That and the color clashes with my room.

I would say (rightly or wrongly) a bit small, but my wife doesn't center up on the TV anyway.....Fine for me when watching movies. When playing music I tend to angle the speakers to hit the impromptu dance floor adjacent the listing position.

You know what... I still prefer my SVS Ultra speakers over the ILs and I think they still have some Prime Pinnacles in stock and on sale right now in the outlet. I'll bet they have more of that oomph too. You could give 'em a try with their generous return policy. 45 days to demo at home. If you don't like them SVS will take them back and pay the shipping both ways. It's risk free and at worst it'll give you an idea of what else could be out there.

SVS Outlet Store | Best Deals on SVS Speakers and Subwoofers

Deals and discounts on top-rated SVS speakers and subwoofers. Lowest prices, fully warrantied.

www.svsound.com

They have 2 left in the outlet!

 

[cbecker33]

You know what... I still prefer my SVS Ultra speakers over the ILs and I think they still have some Prime Pinnacles in stock and on sale right now in the outlet. I'll bet they have more of that oomph too. You could give 'em a try with their generous return policy. 45 days to demo at home. If you don't like them SVS will take them back and pay the shipping both ways. It's risk free and at worst it'll give you an idea of what else could be out there.

SVS Outlet Store | Best Deals on SVS Speakers and Subwoofers

Deals and discounts on top-rated SVS speakers and subwoofers. Lowest prices, fully warrantied.

www.svsound.com

They have 2 left in the outlet!

If only they were black ash.

 

[panteragstk]

If only they were black ash.

No love for the gloss?

 

[cbecker33]

No love for the gloss?

Nope. Not my thing.

 

[cbecker33]

Klipsch can be hit or miss, and they sure do have a lot of misses. I wouldn't bother with those until there is third-party confirmation of their performance.

Any other speakers I should be looking at?