Possibly Changing my Living Room Mains

[Squishman]

The RZ50 allows you to assign what set of speakers for stereo listening and the Infinities are so clear, just great. Plus better imaging, but that would be more to positioning. I was a little shocked at how much I enjoy either set of Infinities over the La Scalas. @TLS Guy mentioned to me a few weeks ago that horn speakers are better in large rooms, like commercial or a church. That could be my issue. I do not have any interest in parting with my Cornwall center. After trying multiple centers, this one is the best one I have had in this room as far as clear dialog and other characteristics you might want in a center. If I switched to another brand that are not horns, I'd prefer to use the CW even though they say keep things congruent across the front. I might try breaking that rule. Dr. Carter also told me that a midrange (cone) driver is very expensive to make and some, or most maybe are just not that good. So I would be leery about a floor standing 3-way unless I knew that the mid had good data. But I don't know how to interpret that data. So if I can get a decent price for my La Scalas, what do you think I should look for for floor standing or towers? I am so impressed with these Infinities, that perhaps I should look at that brand, but I would be leery of a midrange, or any midrange after talking to Mark. JBL L100's maybe? How are those mids?

 

[ski2xblack]

You do have a rather small place to shoehorn Scalas into. If they're in good shape they can fetch well over a grand for your upgrade budget.

Doc is a stickler, and on solid ground with his take, but he's a bit like Mikey from the Life cereal commercials, he hates everything. There are many options that range from 'comparable to' up to 'superior to' the old Infinities. Even Dr. Carter would like, say, Philharmonic BMR ht towers, willing to bet on that.

 

[Golfx]

You certainly have been around audioholics long enough to read all the reviews. You will likely get recommendations from the “best reviewed” non compression drivers. What are you looking to spend? Can you describe what you like about the infiniti speakers? Perhaps ask @shadyJ?

 

[Squishman]

They are just more clear sounding. I brought out my Heresy III's and the Infinities are still better. I am pretty sure I could get $2500 for the La Scalas. So if I replace them, I could go $100 to 2k I suppose. They don't have to be vintage/used, if they were, then I'd go $750 max I think. I am not super good at describing sound. Just I get way more clarity from the infinities. I wonder if I should consider a 3rd identical pair if I could find a set and use them also as mains. That's ultra cheap, even with new woofers like I did for these two pair. I have to experiment a bit first to see if they can handle big volume. Or my ADS' that I have in another room. That might be good. Or a larger ADS 2 way if I can find a set. TLS Guy told me that ADS 2 ways are better than their 3 ways.

 

[Squishman]

I brought the ADS' bookshelves out and they sound better, but not a big enough stage for rock.

 

[Squishman]

One of my infinity woofers pops a tad at high volume. It could be that they cannot handle that kind of volume. Or I got a bad woofer from Midwest about 7 weeks ago. I may call Midwest about that.

 

[ski2xblack]

Not surprised about your feelings re Heresies. I think I mentioned in a DM some time back that I've been around the Klipsch Heritage block myself. My experience:

Heresies- boxy, bonky presentation; meh
CW- boxy, bonky presentation; again, meh
Scalas- now we're talkin...not meh at all; unboxy; very articulate bass; perhaps Klipsch's best "bookshelf" speaker (they lack bass extension like a typical bookshelf speaker, and they're literally big as a bookshelf)
Forte II- distinctly unboxy; bass is deep yet remains tight, well delineated, and realistic, a great trade off with Hoffman's iron law in that while less sensitive than a CW the bass extends deeper than a CW and sounds better; these are the real gems of the vintage Heritage series (and still demand some work via eq to be their best)

I threw out the BMR HT Towers because after living with Klipsch I feel you would appreciate their wide dynamic range. I would recommend the JBL HDI series for similar reasons, which are available for great prices nowadays too.

 

[Squishman]

Are these worth considering? https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1142682450835664/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp:6a92b4cb-85b3-4b04-b170-b1e4b8fc90c3

 

[Squishman]

Not surprised about your feelings re Heresies. I think I mentioned in a DM some time back that I've been around the Klipsch Heritage block myself. My experience:

Heresies- boxy, bonky presentation; meh
CW- boxy, bonky presentation; again, meh
Scalas- now we're talkin...not meh at all; unboxy; very articulate bass; perhaps Klipsch's best "bookshelf" speaker (they lack bass extension like a typical bookshelf speaker, and they're literally big as a bookshelf)
Forte II- distinctly unboxy; bass is deep yet remains tight, well delineated, and realistic, a great trade off with Hoffman's iron law in that while less sensitive than a CW the bass extends deeper than a CW and sounds better; these are the real gems of the vintage Heritage series (and still demand some work via eq to be their best)

I threw out the BMR HT Towers because after living with Klipsch I feel you would appreciate their wide dynamic range. I would recommend the JBL HDI series for similar reasons, which are available for great prices nowadays too.

LS = bookshelf! ha! Are those HDI horn tweeters? Looking at some google shots.

 

[Squishman]

I might even sell my HIII's and put the ADS' in the bedroom.

 

[ski2xblack]

Well, those advents are ancient, and even in minty, perfect working order, are at the opposite end of the politeness spectrum from what you're accustomed to coming from Klipsch laScalas. They dig pretty deep for their size. You're better off with something more modern, I would imagine.

 

[Squishman]

Ads' sound good in the bedroom. The HIII's were too much speaker for a smallish master bedroom. So selling them too. ha. Funny thing is, I have two (what I consider) killer center speakers. Keeping both because I tried for a long time to find centers that are clear enough for me. These are both quite terrific. A lot of folks would tell me they'll be mismatched, I don't care. I bet it'll be fine and if there is a mismatch, I'll get used to it.

 

[Mark E. Long]

The jbl HDI’s are on sale at several places the 3600 would work in a small room . I would like try the 3800’s I have a big room for them and they are tempting me with the prices lately. Perhaps check Erin’s or Shady’s views on those . Years ago I had L-100’s and L-36’s and L-26’s they all sounded really good I’ve not heard the new iterations of these but every thing I’ve read they sound really good . Good luck with your search .

 

[Squishman]

The jbl HDI’s are on sale at several places the 3600 would work in a small room . I would like try the 3800’s I have a big room for them and they are tempting me with the prices lately. Perhaps check Erin’s or Shady’s views on those . Years ago I had L-100’s and L-36’s and L-26’s they all sounded really good I’ve not heard the new iterations of these but every thing I’ve read they sound really good . Good luck with your search .

Thx. I need to keep the $$ of replacements no higher than what I will sell the La Scalas for. I listed them tonight for $2950.
Edit: the HDI's look to be in that range, providing I get what I am asking.

 

[Mark E. Long]

Thx. I need to keep the $$ of replacements no higher than what I will sell the La Scalas for. I listed them tonight for $2950.
Edit: the HDI's look to be in that range, providing I get what I am asking.

Best of luck in your endeavor never hurts to check what’s out in the market .

 

[Eppie]

I spent a good hour listening to the HD-3600 a couple of years ago. I really liked them and almost walked out with that pair (they were used but in mint condition). Quite different from Paradigms though and the Monitor Audio Gold that the store had as well. Would be nice if you could demo a pair first as they will surely sound different from the Klipsch and the Infinities. What's Crutchfield's return policy on speakers? They were priced half of retail last I checked.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thx. I need to keep the $$ of replacements no higher than what I will sell the La Scalas for. I listed them tonight for $2950.
Edit: the HDI's look to be in that range, providing I get what I am asking.

From measurements those speakers are 4 ohm impedance. They actually measure well in their price range, but that have really uneven vertical dispersion which is frankly awful. So they have a very definite vertical sweet spot. This problem is compounded because the crossover to the horn is 2K and right bang in the middle of the speech discrimination band, which is where you least want trouble, as that is the band most sensitive to aberrations of any kind.

Anyhow it is time you built a set of speakers and not bought them!

 

[Squishman]

So a lot has happened today. I tried "direct" stereo setting and the LS sounded better, so the calibration settings betwixt my heights and fronts may have been interfering with a perfect judgement. But on direct, the infinities were still as good of better. I am actually shocked at the bass these little Infinites put out too (sub was off). It seems when I switch to the heights, direct turns off so it is hard to get a perfect A/B comparison. And with the amp in just stereo, my volumes were not the same. I had to keep turning up the mains to equal the volume of the heights. These small infinities do not seem to handle tremendous volume, but sound really good.
So also, my buddy at work let me try those Ascend two way speakers. If you recall, one had a torn woofer. That set. Two 6 inch woofers with a tweeter in the middle, looks like a standing center speaker. (or as far as @TLS Guy, a correct center if standing like a mini tower). So I got them home and placed gorilla tape (with his permission) over the tear just to hear them semi-properly. Then I discovered the other speaker, one woofer also as a tear!! Taped that too. Gorilla tape is amazing stuff, so I am able to get a good impression of what these sound like. Actually, the woofers are poly, so more a crack, or cracks than tears.
So after all that, they sound great. Just great. I had to see if they'd perform and they do.
If he gives these to me, which is what I think he wants to do, I'd order two woofers to the tune of $130 plus tax and shipping I think. I just wonder If I can do even better.
Where would I start if I were to build a set? I don't have a router or any kind of wood working expertise, so I'd have to pay to get cabs built. Maybe there is a kit that someone sells. I think I'd like a 3-way but only after talking to you Mark, if the midrange was up to snuff. I am super leery of 3 ways now. ha.

 

[Squishman]

I think I might love those HDI-3600's though! As far as sweet spot Mark, you remember my set-up I think. Single-wide mobile home. Probably fine maybe? I like to have tunes on whilst in the kitchen, which is wide open and straight back from the living room.

 

[Squishman]

How about these? Long drive though. But that's fine. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1101443551436851/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks