Bookshelf speakers for all purpose use

[bandphan]

Frequency Response: 59Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB)
Woofer: 10" (254mm) polypropylene coated

this is sad for the size of those speakers, i have a set of floorstanders with an extension of 40hz that are smaller and cheaper.

Are these sad because of their F3 of 80hz

 

[yepimonfire]

no, they appear to be in a sealed enclosure

 

[bandphan]

no, they appear to be in a sealed enclosure

Not sealed Extreme SPL and great dynamics

 

[yepimonfire]

yea, i noticed they had a max spl of 129 DAMN!!!!!!!

 

[njedpx3]

I would agree with the bookshelf speaker kit suggestion. I would also suggest that you either place them on a pair of slender stands, so they won't be as imposing as your floorstanders. Or, you can also get wall mount brackets that have arms which extend so that the fronts of the speakers are at least flush with the front of the entertainment centre.

I would not lay a speaker, which was designed for vertical placement, on its side. The frequency response at the listening position is likely to be adversely affected.

That is why I suggested Cambrodge Audio S-30 on Sanus stands. They would fit and look and sound good

OP , I hope you have gotten some good ideas from all the responses and have an idea of what you want to do.

Peace and Good Sound,

Forest Man

 

[njedpx3]

yea, i noticed they had a max spl of 129 DAMN!!!!!!!

try 129 dB for a little while and the SQ won't matter anymore

Jet takeoff (25 M) 150 dB Eardrum rupture
Aircraft carrier deck 140 dB Earphones at high
level
Jet takeoff (100 M) 130 dB
Thunderclap, live rock music, 120 dB Human pain
threshold
Peace and it might become very quiet,

Forest Man

 

[NJTitan]

OP , I hope you have gotten some good ideas from all the responses and have an idea of what you want to do.

Peace and Good Sound,

Forest Man

I have gotten some good ideas and have come to realize that placing speakers on either side of the entertainment center is the best choice for sound, but I believe I need to find the second best place.

I have come up with a new option. Placing speakers above the entertainment center and angling them down toward the couch. Is this a better option versus placing the speakers on either side of the television only 46" apart?

I can place the speakers 8' apart if I place them on the wall above the entertainment center.

Thanks!

 

[GO-NAD!]

I have gotten some good ideas and have come to realize that placing speakers on either side of the entertainment center is the best choice for sound, but I believe I need to find the second best place.

I have come up with a new option. Placing speakers above the entertainment center and angling them down toward the couch. Is this a better option versus placing the speakers on either side of the television only 46" apart?

I can place the speakers 8' apart if I place them on the wall above the entertainment center.

Thanks!

Do I understand correctly that placing speakers on either side of the entertainment center is simply not an option, even bookshelf speakers on stands? If so, I think you're going to have to do some experimentation in order to determine which of the acceptable locations (above the entertainment centre or beside the TV) has the least detrimental impact on sound quality. I would also suggest that the centre speaker be placed in the same plane as the left and right mains if possible, i.e. if you put the mains above the entertainment centre, place the centre speaker there as well. Then angle them all towards the listening position. At least try it.

I took another look at your posted photo. There appears to be a crown molding around the top of the entertainment centre. That raises a question regarding placement of speakers on top. Is the top of the molding flush with the top of the entertainment centre? If not, you should place some sort of platform under each speaker, so that the bottom of the speaker is at least at the same height as the top of the molding. I hope you can picture what I'm trying to say here.

The potential issue is that if the molding is partially obscuring the drivers in your speakers, it will deflect sound upwards, rather than towards the listening area - especially if the speakers are angled downwards.

Personally, I would find perching my front speakers on top of the centre less visually appealing than placing them on stands on either side of the centre. I understand that arrangement of a HT involves compromises. And you, have a significant compromise facing you, whichever placement you opt for (above the entertainment centre or beside the TV). I once again, urge you to reconsider those options. If sound quality is important to you and your wife, then bookshelf speakers on stands are your best option.

Good luck!

 

[NJTitan]

GO-NAD you are right on the money and I greatly appreciate your time thinking about this. I love a great sound system and I especially love it when people set their stuff up correctly (not that I am any kind of expert and is the reason why I am here). I was hoping for a magically solution that would satisfy me and my wife.

I really like our new entertainment center and I mistakenly convinced myself that placing speakers beside or above the TV would be alright. I should have known better and I have no way of experimenting with speaker placement unless I borrow good bookshelf speakers from someone. There are two issues/requirements 1) getting new front speakers that go down to at least 50-60Hz and 2) deciding on the placement of these new speakers.

The new problem is my wife now has it in her mind that the speakers are going beside or above the TV to “clean up” the space in our family room and I caused this problem. After hearing from everyone in this forum I am convinced I should place the new speakers on either side of the entertainment center. Perhaps nice photos of other setups similar to mine with speakers placed on the sides will end the battle I have created. This may convince her that is does not look bad or too crowded. I could demand we do what I want and have learned, but that would not be playing fair, would it?

I’ll keep everyone posted on my progress and update with a new photo once we have decided on the new speakers and placement.

Since my center speaker is the Boston Acoustics VRC I am thinking…
1) VR1 or VR2 or VR3 for my new front speakers assuming I win the battle.
Or
2) E70’s on stands for my new front speakers assuming I win the battle.
Or
3) CS26 on stands for my new front speakers assuming I win the battle.

Which would you pick and why?

 

[sholling]

I think you're back on track. I'd pick the VR3 - unfortunately Boston discontinued the VR series speakers and moved from enthusiast's speakers to more of a Best Buy type product line. If you want VR3s, which I love, then you'll be shopping the used market. However I just upgraded the mains in my master bedroom to SC26 bookshelves and it's reinvigorated my bedroom system. A huge improvement over my old Boston CR65s which have been moved to satellite duty. But I'd check with Boston about timbre match before investing in CS26s.

I'd also look at towers and centers from others.

 

[NJTitan]

I think you're back on track. I'd pick the VR3 - unfortunately Boston discontinued the VR series speakers and moved from enthusiast's speakers to more of a Best Buy type product line. If you want VR3s, which I love, then you'll be shopping the used market. However I just upgraded the mains in my master bedroom to SC26 bookshelves and it's reinvigorated my bedroom system. A huge improvement over my old Boston CR65s which have been moved to satellite duty. But I'd check with Boston about timbre match before investing in CS26s.

I'd also look at towers and centers from others.

Used speakers do not interest me unless they come from a trusted source.
I found the VR1's new, but I am waiting for my wife and I to agree.
Will the VR3's sound tremdously better than the VR1's?

 

[sholling]

Used speakers do not interest me unless they come from a trusted source.
I found the VR1's new, but I am waiting for my wife and I to agree.
Will the VR3's sound tremdously better than the VR1's?

Yes in my the VR3 is a better, but the VR1 wasn't bad if memory serves - but take that with a grain of salt because it's been 4 years since I've heard the the VR1 or VR2. One thing to keep in mind is that they have both been out of production for years, so I'd be leery of anybody claiming to have a brand new set.

I'd also start giving thought to other brands including replacing the center. I suspect that the well respected and very easy to drive Infinity Primus P362 mains and PC350 center will be a bit too industrial looking for your wife but at $600 for the set it's great bang for the buck. Another to keep in mind is the EMPs that everyone here has been drooling over. I haven't heard their stuff but for $1000 shipped for L, R & C it looks good.

 

[GO-NAD!]

I thought you wanted bookshelf speakers!? Are you changing tack, based on the possibility of keeping a pair of speakers beside the entertainment centre?

Since you have a subwoofer to fill in the lowest frequencies, I would suggest that a pair of bookshelf speakers would offer the best bang for your buck. That is of course, if you don't waste money on over-priced stands! They just have to be stable and solid. If you are a DIY-type person, nice stands can be made from MDF, dirt cheap. If not, perhaps you have a friend who could help with that.

I don't know if this would help convince your wife to not place speakers beside the TV, but you could suggest that, sometime down the road, you both may decide to get a larger TV and the extra space on the shelf will be needed. Nothing to loose in suggesting...

 

[NJTitan]

I am not ruling out any options now that I have heard from the forum members, Thanks to all.

Option 1
Purchase floor standing or bookshelf (on stands) speakers and place them on either side of the entertainment center.

Option 2
Purchase bookshelf speakers and place them either beside or above the TV with the option of moving them out to the sides of the entertainment center if the sound is really bad.

Option 3
Purchase wall mountable speakers and install them above the entertainment center and angle them down toward the seating area. Installing on either side of the entertainment center is another possibility which will keep the floor space clear. Another bonus for mounting on the wall is my kids wont knock into them! I just don't know if wall mounting will look bad. I will have to mock something up out of cardboard.

I am very handy and I can build and design.
Money does not flow freely from my hands so I tend to take the most cost effective option. I want good speakers, but I am not willing to break the bank.

 

[GO-NAD!]

I am not ruling out any options now that I have heard from the forum members, Thanks to all.

Option 1
Purchase floor standing or bookshelf (on stands) speakers and place them on either side of the entertainment center.

Option 2
Purchase bookshelf speakers and place them either beside or above the TV with the option of moving them out to the sides of the entertainment center if the sound is really bad.

Option 3
Purchase wall mountable speakers and install them above the entertainment center and angle them down toward the seating area. Installing on either side of the entertainment center is another possibility which will keep the floor space clear. Another bonus for mounting on the wall is my kids wont knock into them! I just don't know if wall mounting will look bad. I will have to mock something up out of cardboard.

I am very handy and I can build and design.
Money does not flow freely from my hands so I tend to take the most cost effective option. I want good speakers, but I am not willing to break the bank.

Well, if DIY is your thing and you have a frugal nature, here's what I would suggest:

1) Go with a speaker kit, such as one of those previously suggested.
2) Build wall mount brackets substantial enough to support a speaker and having an arm long enough to bring the baffle of the speaker at least even with the front of the entertainment centre. Some experimentation would be prudent, in order to determine the best distance from the wall behind.

If you have kids, that will get the speakers somewhat out of harms way. I say somewhat, because the tweeters of your speakers should be at ear height, when you are seated. So, they won't be completely out of reach, but they would be much less vulnerable than on stands. The kids would have to go out their way to knock them down. If you want to place them higher up on the wall, then you're back to aiming them downwards at an angle.