Searches done on this and other forums don't show anything close to the requirements for my sound application. Please help. So many variables...
1) Room size: Family room 30 x 20 w/vaulted ceiling going from 8 - 11 1/2' high. Kitchen open to this room is another 19 x 14 w/many cabs
2) Hardwood floors in family room, tile floors in kitchen.
3) 50" plasma will sit on 24" high part of an 11' long credenza.
4) 5.1 system to figure out. Center channel or a 3rd main or "phantom" will sit below plasma. RL mains will sit behind mesh within 36" high part of credenza to RL of plasma.
Goals:
1) Great sound at conversation level volume levels. 90% of our TV viewing comes from HD satellite and HD OTA antenna sigmals. We want to be able to hear that full body sound from our speakers, while still being able to carry on a conversation. Audio shops (of which there are very few out here) don't address this #1 goal of ours to our satisfaction, and disagree on how to get there. Most of the time we are told we need these great big towers, etc to fill the room with sound -- but common sense is telling me if I turn this type of speaker up to actually make it perform, then I'm going to have way too loud a volume and too much reverb to even let them sound good. 10% would be movie viewing and music where we would like to turn it up, but if I can't accomplish our #1 goal at the same time, then this goes. I should add, music listening is going to be in another room since I may be asking way too much to add that to our goals.
2) We prefer tight bass, very clear voices and midrange with "body", and smooth highs - probably something with a silk dome tweeter as opposed to metal. A "musical" type speaker is preferred to "in-your-face" action type speaker. Vienna Accoustics type sound in the store is heaven to our ears.
3) Again, we want these enclosed or mounted in the credenza. The days of towers, wires etc in our home are officially over. For the mains, I have up to 31.5" H x 16" W areas if I need something that size. Will evidently need a shielded center speaker not because of TV, but because of DVR ?
4)Budget - Up to $2500 for LCR or LR phantom.
Have been pouring over the net, stores, etc. and decided to try ACI Essence V, but then was recommended the Sapphire XL instead. The Sapphire XL has a back port, so got totally confused. Their reasoning was I could make the Sapphire perform in such a large space with low listening levels. If I ever turned the Essence up to make it perform, then too much volume and reverb. I'm so confused. Please help. Thanks.
