Need help choosing some speakers. I am new.

[PeterW.]

Also, the normal US listening room is usually far larger than the average British one, and for this reason, the frequency response is tailored for one or the other. A US 'speaker in a UK room can sound very bass heavy, with prominent mid range and squeeky treble, as listening distances can be much shorter.

YIKES!!

Seldom have I seen such a collection of unvarnished misconceptions in so few words.

I have used AR9s, first iteration (2 x 12" woofer, 6" lower/2" dome upper mid, 3/4" dome tweet) in a room 4M x 9M x 3M and the same speakers in a room that was 3M x 4M x 3M, without the slighest sort of dispay noted above. And Maggie MGas, and MGIIIs similarly.

Good speakers are good speakers. The size of the room affects _only_ the size of the bass drivers *required* for a decent bass response. Sure, all of the above were overkill in the smaller room - at the same time, with proper placement and perhaps-moderate tweaking of the tone controls all will be well. Now, trying to have a pair of AR4x speakers fill the largest room described above will not be so successful.

Point being that the physical size of the speaker may present problems in a smaller room, not the sound coming out of them. Put yet a third way - if the larger speakers cannot be made to sound well in a small space - they cannot be made to sound well in a larger one, either. But, perhaps, their defects are better disguised in the larger room. And the entire mythology of the "sweet spot" greatly exacerbates this issue.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[cats squirrel]

so you don't subscribe to loudspeaker-room interaction?

Or put another way, you don't hear it hear it hear it

[PeterW.]

Sure I subscribe to loudspeaker-room interaction. Sheesh - why would you ever think otherwise? What might I have written that implies or suggests otherwise?

I am stating, categorically, that well-designed speakers are able to produce good sound using basic interventions and basic physics in any room wherein they are physically able to be installed with minimum design-clearances. And, for the record, that is quite a broad range such that it very nearly parallels the real-estate requirements of the speaker itself.

As to "hearing it" - absolutely. It may take several hours over several days with several different settings and placements before even very good speakers may be placed properly in difficult rooms. But if nothing else is driving the issue - such as the need to use the room for something other than listening - then well designed speakers are suitable pretty much anywhere as described.

Please do not take this to extremes - we have a cedar closet under the eaves that could conceivably fit a bed and a night-stand and even a person as long as that person is about 170cm or shorter. It is about 2 x 3 x 1.8 meters. It would not accept the maggies, and the AR3as would be a task to place as they could not go against any wall or corner. But the AR M5s would do nicely as would the Athena or Revox Piccolo systems. The 3as would need to have the treble and midrange boosted a bit (pots on the speaker itself). But as the bass would be reduced by necessary placement, no bass cut. Not impossible. Difficult.

Do you also subscribe to the "sweet-spot" myth? Meaning do you honestly believe that it is necessary to place your head within a few hundred cubic inches of space in order to hear signal properly? And that this is either a necessary or a good thing thing?

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

[jburnham123]

My room is 9 foot by 11.

I am considering purchasing a pair of Sony SS-B3000 Bookshelf Speakers.

What are your opinions?

Please don´t do that...

Let me try to help you.

How much power does your amplifier puts out?


Cheers!

I will be purchasing a Rotel 920 and it puts out 20w.

[HT Performance]

There are so many choices!

I´ve been looking at eBay UK for you.

You´ll be more than pleased with these speakers, and also a great deal!

They are new, high-sensitivity, wide frequency response and a well know brand.

Don´t let them go!

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DENON-SCM37-SPEAKERS-PAIR-in-Black-BRAND-NEW-/180920212536?pt=UK_AudioVideoElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item2a1faf5c38

[jburnham123]

Which of the two would you recommend?

Sony SS-B1000 or the Boston Acoustics Cr67 ?

[HT Performance]

I´m sorry, I placed the Boston speakers by mistake.

But they are also excellent speakers, I would go for the Denon´s because of their wider-frequency range.

I have worked as a technician at Sony, and speakers... well... always take a second look!

Also those Sony SS-B1000 have very poor bass!


Cheers,

Miguel

[jburnham123]

I like the look of the Boston speakers and they are in my price range, maybe.

Is there any particular Denon speaker's you would recommend?

I meant Sony SS-B3000, do they still have poor bass? I have been told by a few people that the Sony's have poor bass.

I think i will have to look at a different make for my speakers.

Thanks

[HT Performance]

Well of course you´ll be amazed with the Boston´s over the Sony´s.

In your price range, I would either get the Boston´s or the Denon´s wihtout any doubt.

The choice is up to you, if you could listen to both it would be awesome!

You can go with the Boston´s without any regret!

I just believe that Denon´s will have a deeper bass.

Almost all speakers repair I had, involved woofer replacing because of open coil or rattling woofer. Maybe because people tend to push-up the bass on amplifier to compensate?


Cheers,

Miguel

[cats squirrel]

<snip>
Do you also subscribe to the "sweet-spot" myth? Meaning do you honestly believe that it is necessary to place your head within a few hundred cubic inches of space in order to hear signal properly? And that this is either a necessary or a good thing?

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

well, if you mean that the 'sweet spot' is the point which is at the apex of an equilateral triangle ('speaker, head,'speaker), then yes, it is real.
Is it a good thing? For me, no, it's like putting headphones on, with a very vivid 3d presentation. I prefer to listen further away, as I want to be convinced that I'm listening to a group of musicians playing in their environment, not in my head, or even in my listening room. This is a quale, and very difficult to explain, but the best systems for me, take me to the venue, not bring the venue to me!

[mmarston]

I've definitely experienced a sweet spot, or maybe sweet zone, with every setup I've had over 45 years. Have to be on the center line equidistant from each speaker for proper imaging. Every speaker pair in every room has had a preferred distance from the back wall found by experimentation. Room symmetry is important too where feasible. That said, once I've found the right spots for the speakers, listening is pleasant anywhere in the room, even without the imaging. But then I've always favored speakers with decent power response... Higher frequencies becme directional, flat response off axis may sound too bright in the preferred listening position...

Just some random thoughts...

Best,
Mike