What are some good Front presence speakers!!!!!

[jc1carter829@ho]

I would like to add some Presence front speakers to my system making it 6.1 and later add some for the rear back surround speakers. currently I have the Studio 20's Ver III for the front. Is there some speakers from the Paradigm line to cover the presence speakers. Can some one give me idea of what speakers to buy. Thank you guys in advance......

 

[ggunnell]

JC, I've used Yamaha receivers (among others) for years, and their implementation of front 'presence' speakers makes for the best sound fields I've heard on movies.

The signals sent to these speakers seem to my ears to be mostly treble -- they expand the subjective acoustic space. For this reason just about any speaker will work -- even speakers as small as computer speakers will give you a lot of the effect (but I'd try not to use any speaker rated for less than 20 watts RMS if you are running loud).

Realistically, any bookshelf speaker with a 4" or larger woofer will work -- if you have any small speakers give them a try.

For OPTIMAL results, I recommed dipoles -- I'm using NHT dipoles right now -- because the sound spread adds to the sense of acoustic space. It is NOT necessary to match your other speakers.

Get some hooked up and enjoy!

Edit: Some good inexpensive dipoles are at AV123.com; click on 'Products', then 'Speakers', then 'ELT dipoles'.

 

[jc1carter829@ho]

GGUNNELL:
Thanks for your input, will check it out ASAP!!!

 

[ggunnell]

JC, you PM'ed me about mounting locations.

Like surrounds, you want them above ear level. Many folks place their surrounds 7' to 8' high. It's not that critical -- the main thing is to place them outside the mains (farther apart than the mains) to spread the sound field out.

Assuming your system is against a wall, just mount them on that wall using any simple means -- I've got mine on plywood shelves supported by angle irons for shelf brackets -- figure two brackets 16" apart on two wall studs and a piece of 8" or deeper shelf board for each speaker -- you can get decorative shelf kits at any hardware store -- or get actual speaker mounts.

Almost any position "up and out" from the mains will work -- all you have to do after that is adjust the relative volume for the presence speakers in your set up menu, and of course, set them to 'small'.

Hope this helps

 

[shamus]

You dont hear enough people talk about the use of yamahas presence speakers. Ive always liked the idea of them but have never been able to hear them. Do they help with the transition from front speakers to side surrounds???? I know sunfire makes something called side axis channels that are suppose to.....

 

[jcPanny]

Presence speakers

I would like to add some Presence front speakers to my system making it 6.1 and later add some for the rear back surround speakers. currently I have the Studio 20's Ver III for the front. Is there some speakers from the Paradigm line to cover the presence speakers. Can some one give me idea of what speakers to buy. Thank you guys in advance......

I would consider connecting an old pair of bookshelf speakers to the presence channels before you make an invenstment. Also keep in mind that the Yamaha receivers can run surround back speakers (7.1) or 5.1 + presence speakers and not both.

 

[ggunnell]

Shamus, the 'side-axis' speakers that the Sunfires and similar Emotivas have do exactly that -- blend the fronts and surrounds.

The Yamaha's 'presence' speakers expand the front sound stage, make it seem more realistic (additional high frequency 'spacial' info) and sometimes make it seem deeper front to back.

 

[gmichael]

Also keep in mind that the Yamaha receivers can run surround back speakers (7.1) or 5.1 + presence speakers and not both.

Most, including the 1600 in question, yes. But not all. The RX-Z line will drive all 9 speakers at a time.

I do enjoy the presence speakers in a few applications instead of the rears. They are great for watching TV shows (Best for sports IMO). And also very good for live music DVD's. It keeps the soundfield more in front of you and makes the stage seem wider.

 

[shamus]

Shamus, the 'side-axis' speakers that the Sunfires and similar Emotivas have do exactly that -- blend the fronts and surrounds.

The Yamaha's 'presence' speakers expand the front sound stage, make it seem more realistic (additional high frequency 'spacial' info) and sometimes make it seem deeper front to back.

Maybe i will get both.....11.1

 

[jozeph78]

My room doesn't afford the space for additional rear speakers so presence seems the way to go. I'm matching them will sapphire stIII towers, ps3b subs, sbs bookshelfs for rears,and an infiinty C25 (temorary) for a center. I'm getting a sapphire center as soon as I find one online and would like to find the sapphire SS dipolars to use but don't want to wait forever.

I'm looking at these Infinity Beta ES250 for presence speakers, but think they might be a bit overkill if they are hardly used.

http://www.infinitysystems.com/homeaudio/product_detail.aspx?prod=BETAES250BK&series=BET&cat=SAS




Does anyone know if they play in 7ch stereo mode and what is the wattage output to the presence speakers?

 

[ggunnell]

Unfortunately, Jozeph, you can either run presence OR rears, not both, on the Yamaha 2500/4600/2600 -- even if you have an outboard amp!

The built-in power amp is rated 50 watts @ channel -- this is ambience information. Something like SVS bookshelves is all you need -- although if you have the money (Sapphires say yes ) dipoles do spread the sound field better -- an inexpensive pair of dipoles would give optimal dispersion for the least $

EDIT: I'll mention these dipoles again:
http://www.av123.com/products_category_brand.php?section=speakers&brand=13
At the closeout price of $249@pair they're the most sound field for the money IMO

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

If you get presence speakers, you had better get something that can keep up with your fronts!!

Keep in mind, they're going to be sharing space "UP FRONT"....

And no.....not just any "ITTY BITTY" speaker will do. Whatever you get, they need to match up well with your current front speakers.

 

[ggunnell]

Buckeye, I've owned a lot of Yamaha receivers and used a lot of speakers for the Yamaha front presence speakers down to Radio Shack 5" two ways, and what I've said above is accurate.

These are ambience recovery speakers and the onboard Yamaha 50W@ch amp is plenty.

What you are saying is correct for the center channel and to a lesser extent for the surrounds -- Yamaha's presence speakers are different.

The only reason I am running $800@ pair NHT dipoles in that position is because I already have them from a previous set up -- if I were buying for that position I'd buy exactly what I'm recommending.

As far as "keeping up" is concerned, if you are running high efficiency horns for your mains, yeah, you may need horns for the presence speakers or use an outboard amp.

 

[boostedmaniac]

I thought about using paradigm in wall speakers for front effects.

 

[ggunnell]

Sure!

THe Yamaha front presence effect is not as speaker position dependent as other channels. As long as you have them above the mains (7' - 8' works fine) and a little to the outside of the mains they'll work.

One time I got them too far apart on a long front wall. My mains were sort of together in the middle area of the wall and I put the presence speakers in the corners -- at least 10 feet outside the mains! The sound was too spread out.
I'd say anywhere from 1' to 4' outside the mains will work fine.

 

[mvp2005fan]

Recommended Yamaha Presence Speakers for Mythos

I have a Def Tech Mythos Setup (Ones L/R; Eights (C, RR, LR), and UIW RSSII (SS) ) with 2 SVS PC12-Pluses.

If I want to add the presence speakers, would the Gems or Gems XL be the better choice?

I'm using a Yamaha RX-Z7 to drive everything.

Thanks!