In a Quandry...

[Halon451]

Well, the wife shut me down when I gave her the dimensions of the 3 AV123 x-cs's I have on order. TOO big she said, for use as a center channel. Using them as my mains would be okay, as they are smaller than what I have now, but it simply won't fly as a center because the thing is too massive, and would have to go atop the entertainment center. Not very conducive to the aethstetics, she says...

I couldn't argue much with her, because she just let me bring in the SVS PB12-NSD which is a hulking beast in our living room - didn't want to push my luck.

I'm extremely disappointed, because I was looking forward to this setup. The center channel needs a clearance of 7" or less (height) in order to go where my JBL Center is located now. The x-cs's 8.5" height just won't do it.

Front soundstage timbre matching was a huge part of my decision to go with three x-cs's, now I may have to opt for another brand altogether, or go with the two x-cs's as my left/right and find a suitable center (for the time being).

I don't know what to do. Any suggestions out there in HT Audio-land before I cancel my order?

So far (for center channel) I've looked at:
-Klipsch Reference (part of another thread - more expensive, and I'll audition them this weekend)
-Infinity Beta C250 (similarly priced on the web to the x-cs's, no idea how they sound in comparison to AV123's)
-a dizzying amount of others...

 

[GlocksRock]

Have you considered the SVS line of speakers?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Did she think something named 'big foot' was gonna be small?

I dont know, I hate to see you limit your selection based on what will fit. Can you replace your entertainment center with a nice credenza that will house all your gear?

 

[Halon451]

I have - in fact it was choice between those and the AV123's before I settled on that line. The thing that I liked about the AV123's over the SVS's was the sensitivity rating. The SVS's seem to be a little on the low side of average, at best. I just read a very favorable review of them in the latest Home Theater magazine. I might re-consider.

 

[Halon451]

Did she think something named 'big foot' was gonna be small?

I dont know, I hate to see you limit your selection based on what will fit. Can you replace your entertainment center with a nice credenza that will house all your gear?

LOL - I have to win the small battles before I can win the war I presume. Yes, getting a new credenza has occured to me as well, but that's going to cost additional $$. I've looked at several of them.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Match the front three.

I don't know what your needs are (aesthetics / cost...)so recommending anything would be bad advice.

I look up your other posts...

SBF1

 

[mazersteven]

Did she think something named 'big foot' was gonna be small?

The x-cs is not the "Big Foot"

This is the "Big Foot" Rocket RSC200

 

[Halon451]

Well, the three x-cs's plus shipping were going to run around $537. Somewhere in that range or less is preferrable. The money I had allocated for my A/V purchases is pretty much maxed out at that threshold.

Anyone have any thoughts on whether the lower sensitivity rating will have any effect on my system performance (in reference to the SVS line)?

That was the second thing that made me select the x-cs's - they have a >90 dB sensitivity rating.

 

[Halon451]

This is the "Big Foot" Rocket RSC200

Yeah, that's definitely a hell-to-the-no.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Easy then, order the big one and when she freaks out, send it back and get the smaller one that you really wanted.

The x-cs is not the "Big Foot"

This is the "Big Foot" Rocket RSC200

 

[mazersteven]

Dude,

You are talking about an inch, and a half. 1 1/2 inches. Is 1 1/2 inches that important to her?

O I forgot we are talking about you here. I should have known.

 

[Halon451]

Easy then, order the big one and when she freaks out, send it back and get the smaller one that you really wanted.

Haha... I don't think she'll fall for the same trick twice. I had showed her a picture of the HSU VTF 3 MK 3 w/ Turbo, when I was sub-shopping, so when the SVS came in, it wouldn't be as bad in comparison.

Good advice though!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Just start crying like a baby, fall down, kick your feet and scream...that center is all I want in the world...

Haha... I don't think she'll fall for the same trick twice. I had showed her a picture of the HSU VTF 3 MK 3 w/ Turbo, when I was sub-shopping, so when the SVS came in, it wouldn't be as bad in comparison.

Good advice though!

 

[mazersteven]

Well, the three x-cs's plus shipping were going to run around $537. Somewhere in that range or less is preferrable.

I'm sitting here, and can't think of one possible alternative to the x-cs's. The SVS SCS-01's are as close as IMO your going to get.

 

[Halon451]

Thanks Maze - I can't either. Looking at them both side by side (SVS, AV123), they do seem to have similar build quality, would this be correct?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You will be trading a pretty speaker for an uglyy one. Tell your Wife that.

Thanks Maze - I can't either. Looking at them both side by side (SVS, AV123), they do seem to have similar build quality, would this be correct?

 

[Halon451]

You will be trading a pretty speaker for an uglyy one. Tell your Wife that.

I ordered the black satin x-cs. Doesn't look much different to me, but of course I've only seen the pics, not the real thing. The SVS seems a bit more of a flat color, that's all.

 

[3db]

I ordered the black satin x-cs. Doesn't look much different to me, but of course I've only seen the pics, not the real thing. The SVS seems a bit more of a flat color, that's all.

No PSB dealers close by? If so, take an audition.

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Image-Series/Image-C40-Center

 

[Halon451]

No PSB dealers close by? If so, take an audition.

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Image-Series/Image-C40-Center

None within 50 miles. I checked.

 

[Soundman]

The x-cs is not the "Big Foot"

This is the "Big Foot" Rocket RSC200

Mazer, why do you torcher me like this!!?!? Eveytime you post Rocket pics like this you get me all excited (especially since I picked up "Bigfoot" for $299), but I still have to wait 'till the end of January. .