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Seeking advice for speakers for my Family Room

 Hello experts,

I am starting out on my quest to finally get some quality speakers, mostly making do with off-brand in-walls, in-ceilings for the most part for my family room.

And wanted to get your advice on what speakers to get for my kind of use case.

USE:

So, these will be used in my Family Room where I will be using them for 60/40 movie watching/listening music.  Ocassionally, we would like to be able to pump up the volume and listen to either multi channel audio or 2 channel music for parties etc.

ROOM:

The room has a lot of hard, reflective surfaces (tile flooring, some, tile on the wall behind the TV, it also is a large room (36' wide x 18' deep with 9' ceilings). However, my main listening position/couch and media cabinet and the floor standers will be in the left 15' portion of the width of the room and at 13' away from the speakers/TV.  Pictures attached below.

 


EQUIPMENT:

My receiver is Denon x3700H and I have a Polk PSW-505 12" sub. Eventually, I am open to getting an external amp to use with the pre-outs of my receiver, something like this Class D amp Purifi based VTV stereo amp. But first, I wanted to get my speaker selection nailed down.

 

SOURCE: 

At the moment, I have tried only YT Music (at 256kbps AAC) since I already have a subscription for this. I am not an audiophile and neither is my use case for critical listening. So, while I understand there are better SQ options for streaming music, I have my reasons for sticking with YT music (lyrics, music videos etc)

 

SPEAKERS AUDITIONED:

I have tried the Klipsch RP-280FA with the Klipsch RP440C center channel and found them unbearably harsh/bright. Tried several modes, but couldn't even get through 2 songs without having to stop. This was at loud volumes...

Next, I tried the KEF R11's and these were MUCH better, but I still found the highs a bit bright.

Other contenders (based on what I am hearing are considered a bit more warmer speakers) I have not tried yet but would like to get some advice on before just going through the hassle of ordering, setting up, trying etc:

-Wharfedale EVO 4.4

-Sonus Faber Lumina V (would have to wait a long time to even get these)

 

Maybe later, I might look into room treatments, but I am thinking I will leave that for later, that can be a slippery slope/money pit, but for now, I am looking for speakers that don't sound harsh/bright at loud volumes for extended periods of time. I will probably get a matching center as well (for HT/movies) that would need to provide clear dialog. 

Thanks,

KG

 

ROOM PICS:

 

 

kgtunes
maxwave's avatar
maxwave
978 posts
 

@auxinput  

Where are you when we need you  :-)

auxinput
2,920 posts
 

lol, I generally don't monitor the Speakers sub forum much because opinions are all over the place.

Klipsch are not that great of a speaker and can sound harsh.  The KEF are going to have a bright edge to the sound due to their metal dome tweeter.  I actually think their metal dome has more of a bright edge than other metal domes. 

The same goes for Focal with their exacting beryllium tweeter or the older generation aluminum dome.

The Sonus Faber are excellent speakers and may work out for you because they are more forgiving in the high frequencies due to their soft-dome tweeter.  In your room, this may be the best speaker solution.  I do not generally recommend Sonus Faber to people who want a fast-responding high resolution home theater system, but it may help compensate for all your hard tile surfaces.

Otherwise, you can try a Marantz receiver.  Their sound has high frequencies that are softened and rolled off.

I would not recommend Monitor Audio speaker because their ribbon tweeters are so bright.  The Monitor Audio sound is also a hard edged sound that would not work in your room with so much tile and reflective surfaces.

I would not recommend Wharfedale EVO 4.4 either because of their ribbon tweeter.  Actually, you should avoid any speaker with ribbon tweeter or metal dome tweeter.  Look for speakers with soft-dome tweeters, unless you are able to compensate with warm sounding electronics such as Marantz.

mesch
3,481 posts
 

Seek speakers that are on the warm side, somewhat rolled off on the upper octave.

Absorption panels need not be expensive. One can even have pictures imprinted on canvas to use as covering over self made panels. Look up ATS Acoustics for DIY materials. Much of the needed supplies could be purchased locally. 

auxinput
2,920 posts
 

There are several Sonus Faber Venere speakers on audiogon for $2-3k used if you're interested.  Dynaudio may be another brand to look at, but I personally don't think they are as resolving as other speakers.

sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 

Natural fiber curtains and rug might make your evaluation of bright speakers a completely different conversation. Cheers,

Spencer

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