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speakers for a small room

First of all a happy new years to all.

this isn't another thread for speaker suggestions, but is instead a three parter of other sorts. I'm building a small listening room at the moment, in a small section of the basement willed to me by the spouse. The dimensions will be roughly 13W x 14L x 9H.

1) is this room large enough for two systems? I would like to have both a SS and tube system.
2) the SET system will have 2-way bookshelf speakers, but I would like the SS setup to be hooked to planar/electrostatic speakers. Is the room too small for these types of speakers (Apogee, Acoustat, Eminent, etc)
3) the room is in the middle of the basement and will have 2 sets of 30" doors. Would placing the speakers, with either the one or two sets between a set of doors be breaking audio taboos (the door is centered on one of the walls)? I'm planning to acoutically treat the room with some DIY later, but want to first test with the equipment.

the systems will have CD/SACD and TTs, also my listening tastes stretch from jazz, vocals to rock.
thanks all for your feedback to my newbie Qs
qclabrat_1
qclabrat_1 OP
7 posts
 
Thanks for the reply Sebrof

I'm just getting into tubes and already have some entry level SS equipment to start with. As planars are known to be hard to drive with tubes on budget I was thinking of using my old SS Counterpoint amps for them. As the room acoustics are improved I will then continue my quest for better tube equipment.

As you mentioned, I will eventually pair it down to one setup, but not yet impartial to tubes, as a final SS setup is still a possibility. I have small Maggie set up in the den which is nice, but not the sound I was looking for, while the soundstage is full and none of the notes in a jazz piano solo were particularily tight.
manitunc
795 posts
 
If you mean is it ok to put one speaker on each side of the door opening, yes, that is fine. Not ideal, but ok
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,402 posts
 
OP/Sebrof,
I am in the process of setting up my room very similar to you guys (13.5 X 12.5 X 9). What did you do different, so that the music quality is not sacrificed in this squarish room? I am thinking of treating the room with GIK Acoustic panels.

OP, I read a thread on the net where a person had a door between his speakers, but used "thick Roman shaded" to cover the glass on it. Apparently the door became a non-issue. I am myself considering this type of correction for my doors.
wcheng
33 posts
 
I am in a 12 x 13 x 9 room. I currently am using audience clairaudient 2+2 monitors and they work very well. I had quad esl63 before and the room was definitely too small for them. Most planers, electrostats need room to breathe. I would advise against that type of speaker for your small space
qclabrat_1 OP
7 posts
 
Wcheng, that's what I've heard about planars, larger ones may need about 6 ft which would put the speakers smack in the middle of the room. However, I really enjoy the sound of planars for vocal music, though I don't intend to cram one in if not feasible. Are there smaller planars designed for smaller rooms?, like the older Apogee Stage, which is relatively diminutive, but still a full range planar.

_JerseyWalt
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