Speaker suggestions for less than ideal accoustics


I live in a lovely timber frame home that works well for our lifestyle but presents challenges when trying to create a good audio listening environment. My great room has a wall of windows, tile floors (radiant heat), a large stone fireplace,28' ceiling peak, open to a loft area and open to the kitchen/dining area. The space is approx 1000 sq ft. I have listened in stores to some nice speakers (JM labs 816s, Def Tech 7004, Paradigm studio 100s, PSB T55,) but I know none of them will sound the same in my great room. Anyone ever faced this challenge and know if certain qualities in speaker designs lend themselves to this? I have learned a lot from this forum and wish there were more places to hear some of the equipment mentioned. BTW,this is for music listening only. Home theatre will have its own dedicated room in the basement where things can be built to suit
timberman
I'd kill for a room like yours. (Although you didn't mention the dimentions -- about 30 x 30 or 25 x 40?)

You're in a position (if not vetoed) to "islandize" your whole listening setup to the middle of the room, thus avoiding image-destroying reflections. Then all you need to worry about are echo/reverb, which can be addressed with general sound absorption (rugs/carpets, stuffy furniture, drapes/wall hangings/tapestries, lots of people, etc.) and bass nodes (which should be minimal in a room that size, but you might need some traps.)

The ceiling is too high to cause interference reflections, so only needs sound absorbtion if there's not enough elsewhere.

As for the glass. Well if you have radiant heating, I assume your house is energy efficient. So you have double paned windows. Those are pretty stout, and probably just as stiff as drywall (unless they're huge panes.) So unless they are rattling, I wouldn't worry about them.

But do consider a speaker/listening arrangement that pulls everything into the middle of the room -- you'll be so happy.

By the way, an ideal environment for dipole speakers and dipole subs. You're so lucky!
I can't help but think something like the Tact might help. The Gradients are reputed to be room tuneable.
Can't help but agree with Nsgarch! I would love to have that room to work with...Get something to produce concert levels...Hmmmm...So nice!
Frankly, I am pessimistic about anything that will work for that large space and would agree about setting off a small part for listening. Then you can treat that restricted area.

Kal
Get a Behringer DEQ 2496. This will help alot. For 300 bucks with the Behringer ECM 8000 microphone it's a steal. If you can use any room treatment that would be good too. No speaker is designed for bad acoustics that I'm aware of. Do some reading on the above piece.