Get a decent integrated and source.Used lower priced NAD,Rotel,Cambridge comes to mind.I would not spend a whole lot because you are not going to get much more than "casual listening" performance from that speaker placement.This is just my opinion.Good luck.
Making the best of mediocre speakers
I want to get the best system I can, given unfortunate constraints. I'm building a new 2-channel listening system in a new apartment, and my wife insists the speakers in our 17x23 living-room must be in-walls. They fit into a particular lowered soffit, so they'll be installed just above head height. The Sonance Z4s are the best I could find to fit the area; they're OK, but obviously this is a compromise.
So I am planning on a nice subwoofer (which, btw, must also be in-wall), maybe by James, to beef things up. Then about 3K for separates--I am considering a Rowland 102 amp, a Rogue Audio Perseus preamp, and a Cambridge or NAD CD.
My question is, am I wasting money, given the in-wall speakers and placement? Do a nice sub and electronics make up for the speakers? Or should I throw in the towel and just get an Arcam Solo or something?
Many thanks.
So I am planning on a nice subwoofer (which, btw, must also be in-wall), maybe by James, to beef things up. Then about 3K for separates--I am considering a Rowland 102 amp, a Rogue Audio Perseus preamp, and a Cambridge or NAD CD.
My question is, am I wasting money, given the in-wall speakers and placement? Do a nice sub and electronics make up for the speakers? Or should I throw in the towel and just get an Arcam Solo or something?
Many thanks.
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- 29 posts total
Price - long time ago I upgraded to Paradigm Studio/60 speakers and bought Rowland 102 plus Benchmark DAC1 (has volume control) using DVD player for CDP (Benchmark is jitter rejecting and doesn't care about transport - also good for computer). Very nice sound but now I got (bought dealer demo) Hyperion HPS-938. It is pretty much a shock to me how much better speaker could be in my room. Midrange is to die for and lows are chest pumping. Whole thing sounds the same time very coherent transparent and relaxed. Imaging is first class. In my opinion it is not a matter of lows or highs but just better transducers (and design) - you cannot cheat it. Rowland 102 is based on the smallest Icepower module (200ASC) as well as few other amps like Bel Canto S300. W4S is also based on Icepower (larger) and is very good bang for the buck. Rowland has exceptional cases (aluminum billet) and it might be important since one review claims midbass improvement with expensive antiresonant feet under Bel Canto S300. Rowland 102 is really nice amp and it is good candidate to buy used since it was released not so long ago (I'm one of the first owners). Be advised that it has only XLR inputs. Look at bookshelf Hyperions (somebody is selling it on Audiogon): http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1262450537&/Hyperion-586-Great-Monitors. They might have the same transducers (read reviews) and add high quality sub as next step in the future (like JL Fantom series). It would be difficult to top system like that - at least within $10k. Forget about in-wall speakers - waste of money IMHO. If I would guess it might cost you $450 for this Hyperion 586 (older model scratched), $1K for used Rowland. Buy new Benchmark ($1k) since they had a lot of problems and revisions at the very beginning - unless you know what revision it is. Whole budget would be $2450 and will leave you with $500 to save for the future purchase of the JL Fantom sub. The really good one 113 runs used at about $2k but you might settle for cheaper and smaller 110. Somebody claimed very good performance of Icepower amp with Usher Tiny Dancer - exceptional bookshelf speaker with a lot of good bass (but I would still go with Hyperion 586 and the JL fantom). I hope it will help you a little to make your mind. |
First, welcome to Audiogon! Here's the deal. You're simply not going to be able to get that "sweet spot" of sound with in walls. Tell the wife you not only have to get the in walls, but you have to install at least 10 separate tweeters in the ceiling to get any semblance of stereo sound, so you'll need another amp too. Might as well go for a few more sets of in walls while you're at it. For the sub, you'll need something like the Eminent Technology Model 17 to make up for the lack of bass from the in walls. When you present her with all this, a set of monitors & separate sub will seem like a much better compromise. |
Price...I am not so sure that in-wall speakers have to mean mediocre sound. I have never had any so I do not speak from personal experience but my local audio dealer (Goodwins High End in Boston) carries a line of in-wall speakers from Wisdom Audio (http://www.wisdomaudio.com/) that he says rivals many of the big name high-end speakers. They are not cheap rivaling high-end speakers on price as well but if budget is not an issue this may be one way to go. Here are some reviews: http://www.wisdomaudio.com/pdfs/Home-Entertainment-Review.pdf http://hometheaterreview.com/wisdom-audio-sage-series-speakers-reviewed/ |
Good in-walls can't sound pretty nice. The problems are the height and bass. Yours are mounted too high as you know. You need ones with angled tweeters to help compensate. A good sub will help a lot too (even an in-wall one). However, don't bother with $3k worth of gear if your speakers aren't up to snuff. There's some neat units by KEF, Thiel and others that remain fairly hidden. |
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