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Proac 3.8 Owners

I've been doing some preliminary research on Proac 3.8 speakers and can't find any information on optimum listening height for this speaker. The tweeter is located at about 44" (speaker height is 49" on spikes), but my preferred listening position height is more like 34-36"-- hey, I'm a slouch.

I've called two dealers, including the USA importer, and all were puzzled-- in fact had never thought about it. Does anyone have any info. on this? Maybe listening height is not important with the 3.8s? My Vand. 3As are adjustable for listening height by tilting the speaker forward or back with adjustable spikes-- can the 3.8s be tilted? But then 3As have 1st order crossovers and optimum listening height is important. I see the 3.8s have 3rd order crossovers. I'm hundreds of miles from nearest dealer, thus the questions/research at this point. Thanks. Craig
garfish
garfish OP
1,840 posts
 
Comcherry; thanks for the info. re: tilting on the 2.5s, I'll look into it further. Avguy; at least temporarily, I brought your rating back to zero for your first post here-- can't understand why you'd get negs for that? I suspect you're right, the listening height thing of 3.8s may be just a "perceived" problem by us audiogeeks. Altho' LG in his STPH review did set his listening ht. at tweeter ht.-- but then he's an audiogeek too. Cornfed; lifeguard chair good idea-- in southern Calif:>) Thanks, and Cheers. Craig
tacs
220 posts
 
I just heard the 3.8s at the Montreal show, powered by Moon amps and MIT wires, in a pretty big room. My impression of the sound was that was powerful but somewhat "dark" sounding, meaning not very crisp and lively, more syrupy. I venture to implicate the MIT wires in the darkness (?) and perhaps the Roger Waters recording.
I thought I'd mention this just as my 2c and also as a suggestion that it might be important to be able to listen at the tweeter level to mitigate a dark perceived balance (as usual system and room matching important as well).
avguygeorge
2,300 posts
 
Thanks Craig. I don't know why the -s irritate me, but thanks,--nice guy!! BTW,I got the (in my case) loss of base slam from 2 places. One was a NY dealer who carries both speakers;another nice guy. I told him I was calling from 3,000 mi. away;and still we had a lenghty conversation. He said (and I believe him),the 3.8 s are a much better than mine, speaker/ but not as dynamic in the low end.(the trade off thing) What's an audio geek to do? And, like you close your posts,"cheers".I'll add; "& good hunting"; I for one, will be interested in what choice you make.
garfish OP
1,840 posts
 
Avguy; this may be a really strange reason (excuse?) to change speakers, but we've got a year old cat that is a real hell raiser and she won't leave either my Vand. 2CEs (now covered w/ tinfoil), or my 3As alone (now surrounded w/ chicken wire-- yes, I'm serious). The Vands. are completely wrapped in grill cloth (lots of scratching area) and they have to be sent to factory for cloth replacement. Well, the Proac 3.8s only have a grill cloth on the front, and it's mounted high also, so they may be fairly "catproof", but even if the cat gets to them, the grills should be replaceable fairly inexpensively. Also, Proacs have always been a well regarded speakers. We like the cat too. Cheers. Craig.
avguygeorge
2,300 posts
 
I guess we need to start a new thread" The strangest reasons for changing speakers". ---Come on! You wanted new speaks;right?? Blaming it on the cat, may work at another sight,but not here.'ss ok, your amoungst friends. BTW,my son has 9 cats;his speaks/Linn 200s/ he leaves sans grills;the kittys leave them alone. He does have that rolled barbed wire thing,but that's for the kids. (Not) (The 9 cats is)
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