I want to chime in that SR HFTs and Atmospheres require fine tuning to work in some rooms. My room thoroughly dislikes the Atmosphere anywhere between my speakers/in front of the listening area. It congeals the center stage into a slim line, removes the air and depth of a recording. I moved it to the back of the room and it works fine there while restoring the great sound I had previously but a little closed in still..
Next, I then wanted more height/openess in the sound so I experimented placing the HFT on the central front wall up higher, an inch at a time. I ended up 8 inches higher, at the top of my speaker basically. That also thinned out the bass/lower mids. I then lowered the four speaker side panel HFTs exactly one ince which is recommended to increase warmth and bass. Voila! That was one I was looking for, a perfect balance. I tested out everything from electronic rock (Yello) to classical chamber music, solo instruments, mono recordings, to 50’s jazz to opera to bid band with vocalists. Everything sounded tonally rich, open, widespread as the recording would permit. I like to just set things up and not futz with them (most of my equipment is 12 years old or older). In this case, SR requires you to adjust room treatments.
Total Contact together with SR Black Box is a great match. My wife heard the combo and said it brings the music to life, similar to the $1.5 million Von Schweikert/VAC/Kronos system featured at every show that she would like to have (I can’t afford it and it’s too big even for my garage size room).
P.S. I don’t take sides in the which is better, CDs or LPs debate. They both can sound great or mediocre, depending on the recording and mastering. I do have audiophile quality equipment for both, but it is certainly easier to listen to and store a CD, with boxed sets selling dirt cheap on Amazon. I have 78s and LPs which have zero chance of ever being reissued in any format so I’m not giving up those ever.
Next, I then wanted more height/openess in the sound so I experimented placing the HFT on the central front wall up higher, an inch at a time. I ended up 8 inches higher, at the top of my speaker basically. That also thinned out the bass/lower mids. I then lowered the four speaker side panel HFTs exactly one ince which is recommended to increase warmth and bass. Voila! That was one I was looking for, a perfect balance. I tested out everything from electronic rock (Yello) to classical chamber music, solo instruments, mono recordings, to 50’s jazz to opera to bid band with vocalists. Everything sounded tonally rich, open, widespread as the recording would permit. I like to just set things up and not futz with them (most of my equipment is 12 years old or older). In this case, SR requires you to adjust room treatments.
Total Contact together with SR Black Box is a great match. My wife heard the combo and said it brings the music to life, similar to the $1.5 million Von Schweikert/VAC/Kronos system featured at every show that she would like to have (I can’t afford it and it’s too big even for my garage size room).
P.S. I don’t take sides in the which is better, CDs or LPs debate. They both can sound great or mediocre, depending on the recording and mastering. I do have audiophile quality equipment for both, but it is certainly easier to listen to and store a CD, with boxed sets selling dirt cheap on Amazon. I have 78s and LPs which have zero chance of ever being reissued in any format so I’m not giving up those ever.