Help with new Theatre setup, Focal In wall or regular?

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familiar1985

Audioholic Intern
I am setting up a new theatre system in my house. I was going to go with Focal IW 1002 BE for Main L/R, Electra IW 1003 BE for center and electra IC 1002 for surrounds. Im still deciding between 7.1 and 5.1. More then anything i need to decide whether to use in wall vs normal speakers. I really want to go listen to the speakers some time. Does anyone know if the focal in wall speakers can be angled? This is very important for me to make the decision. I cant see the setup sounding as good as regular speakers if they cant be angled. Also, are there typically reverb problems with in wall speakers reflecting off of the wall? If so, maybe i should do the 2 main L/R non in wall. I will be running the speaker wire this week. What thickness speaker wire would be best for this application (12guage?). What brand would you recommend? Any input will be appreciated. Also if you have suggestions of other speakers that are better sounding feel free to let me know. Thanks
 
AVRat

AVRat

Audioholic Ninja
No angling ability on those. In-room speakers are generally prefered, but in-walls have come a long way. Depending on your budget, SpeakerCraft offers excellent quality in-walls with full pivoting baffle and additional pivoting tweet for more aimability. What are the dimensions of the room and budget?
 
J

jostenmeat

Audioholic Spartan
I am setting up a new theatre system in my house. I was going to go with Focal IW 1002 BE for Main L/R, Electra IW 1003 BE for center and electra IC 1002 for surrounds. Im still deciding between 7.1 and 5.1. More then anything i need to decide whether to use in wall vs normal speakers. I really want to go listen to the speakers some time. Does anyone know if the focal in wall speakers can be angled? This is very important for me to make the decision. I cant see the setup sounding as good as regular speakers if they cant be angled. Also, are there typically reverb problems with in wall speakers reflecting off of the wall? If so, maybe i should do the 2 main L/R non in wall. I will be running the speaker wire this week. What thickness speaker wire would be best for this application (12guage?). What brand would you recommend? Any input will be appreciated. Also if you have suggestions of other speakers that are better sounding feel free to let me know. Thanks
12awg is good, since it's affordable from Monoprice, and will future proof any wiring concerns with any speakers upgrades (for the distances involved).

Inwall speakers can be of very high performance, but the problem is that there is a VERY high premium to get there.

An option play that some do is to get decent inwalls, and have dedicated subwoofers right under them, so that they can increase the xover point. But, since there are more subs involved, how much money is this after all . . .

In room speakers is my vote, unless aesthetic desires or space constraints say otherwise.

Oh, some people love and respect Focal speakers, I for one do not. How do you like them? I've listened to various Chorus, Profile, BE, and Utopia speakers.
 
F

familiar1985

Audioholic Intern
I will get a subwoofer. The Main speakers for me are most important since i will be listening to more stereo audio then anything. The surround speakers i don't care much for. I wouldn't want to spend more then 1k each for surrounds but the cheaper the better. For the Mains i would spend up to $10k if it is worth it to me. I would be more comfortable with $6k. Sub, im guessing around $2k. So about $15k max for full setup and under $10k optimally.

This is in my living room. The wall for tv and Mains is 15' wide. Left side wall is 15' then its open space. right side wall is about 45'. There is no back wall instead it enters kitchen and rest of living room.
 
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familiar1985

Audioholic Intern
it wont let me post pic until i have 5 post
 
F

familiar1985

Audioholic Intern
I am also considering B&W 805 Diamond series for my mains. I really need to find place where i can go listen and compare.

Josten, I have had good experiences with focal. I have never heard these particular speakers in person though. What other brands would you suggest i look at?

For my particular room i don't think in wall mains would work. So I'm thinking of using normal Mains, in wall center channel and in wall surrounds if i can get surrounds that angle at least a little.
 
F

familiar1985

Audioholic Intern
Here is the room layout, Im at 5 posts, lol.

 
J

jostenmeat

Audioholic Spartan
With your budget, I say do it right the first time, and I speak from some experience.

Go with three identical speakers all on the same plane, vertically arrayed.

You will have the ideal mch setup in case you ever get to concert/music blurays, sacds, dvda, etc.

That may require an acoustically transparent screen. Look at Seymour retractables, if you like looking at your speakers for music only purposes.

While any and all of us can throw out recommendations, I vote that you go out and listen to as much as feasibly possible. BW and Focal are very reputed, and that's a good start, but I would be happier if you listened to much more. I aimed for 50 speakers, and got about half way there before I got sick of myself.
 
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familiar1985

Audioholic Intern
Why not just get normal center channel?


I forgot to mention the rooms acoustics are not so good. The room has wood floor and ceiling and large glass door on one side so there will be a lot of reverb. Its approx 15'by15' with no rear wall (continues to rest of house). It is a high ceiling with a slope from 8' to 12'.

I currently use Dynaudio BM5a studio monitors and JBL 15" sub for all my listening and mixing needs. They are in an untreated room 12' by 12'. I have the LF rolled of -2 db on the BM5a and the HF -1 db. I have been using this setup for 3 to 4 years. I'm really used to it. The sub is not great to mix on but sound is ok.

Today I listened to the B&W 805d and 804d with no subs powered with mcintosh amp. I liked the 804d better. I need to listen to many more. I liked the overall sound. They are very full however i cant get over the fact that my BM5a with sub sound considerably more crisp and clear. The BM5a midrange especially and high end is better defined. I'm baffled that i like my $1500 dollar setup better then $15000 setup. Was it just that B&W where not EQd properly and they have the potential for a crisper midrange/high end? I did not try to EQ them, somehow skipped my mind. Don't get me wrong i like the way they sounded much fuller and more colored then BM5a. I could really use them to reference mixes. They dont point out suddle details like the BM5as. I just expected more for such a big difference in price. I'm scared to spend so much on really nice speakers and not like the way they sound especially since the room is allready not so great acoustically. Maybe I'm just really used to listening to everything on studio monitors and really used to the punchy crisp mid end on the BM5a. Maybe I'm just really used to listening to everything on studio monitors and really used to the punchy crisp mid end on the BM5a. I know the designs are different but overall production wise it really seems as if studio monitors are similar quality overall for far less money? Is this because they spend less money on marketing? Or rarely produce new models? Just curious.

However this got me thinking why not just get some nice studio monitors for my living room and HT setup. Like some larger Dynaudio or Focal or Adams matched with a nice studio sub. They are not near the price of high end HT speakers and so much crisper. Since music is 80% more important to me then movies is this a better choice? No problem splicing the XLR cables of Studio Monitors to connect to standard Amplifier or is there? Would it try to send power to them anyway? I would really like to know your opinions on this.

I will continue to audition more HT speakers as i all ready know what to expect from studio monitors having listened to the ones i mentioned and many others.
 
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T

Theresa

Junior Audioholic
studio monitors

Most studio monitors are not great sounding. They are also usually engineered for being near field because they are close to the control personnel. I would look for a pair of monitors designed for home use along with a sub. It can be the pinnacle of audio reproduction with better imaging and frequency response. Also studio monitors are crossed-over in such a way that there is no baffle refraction circuitry that is needed if speakers aren't going to be placed up against a wall. Most studio engineers are not looking for an audiophile mix but rather aiming to satisfy the masses so they want sound that will be most attractive to people playing mp3s with earbuds or a boombox.
There are exceptions though especially with High Def mixes that can be downloaded from sites that cater to audiophiles.
 
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