SP1.7/9BSST : front and center speakers advice ?

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flom

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SP1.7/9BSST : front and center speakers advice ?
« on: 12 Sep 2006, 06:42 pm »
Hi all!

I am actually starting the quest of the "absolute speakers" for my current configuration.
The room is 40 m2 but I have a constraint of width for the front speakers (<31cm)...

Could you please post recommandations, based on experiences with my upstream amplification chain (Bryston SP1.7/9BSST)
Thx in advance

Fabien

Phil A

Re: SP1.7/9BSST : front and center speakers advice ?
« Reply #1 on: 12 Sep 2006, 07:03 pm »
Fabien, when my friend worked at the high end shop, I set-up and delivered lots of systems.  The Bryston stuff is pretty neutral with everything I've heard.  I met another friend who lives up the road from me who used that electronics combo and he has a avg. to small size room and uses Thiel 2.4s and a Thiel SCS3 center.  It's all about tastes and listening habits (e.g. type of music - like it loud, like it soft, etc.).  My friend who worked at the store has that electronics combo and uses Vienna Acoustics speakers.

If I've converted your measurements properly, you need the fronts to be around 12 inches wide and under and your room is about 430 square ft.  Sorry, but I grew up being taught non-metric measurements.  How big is the room (length, width, height) and where will the speakers be positioned (long wall, short wall, etc.)?  What is your speaker budget.

I use a 1.7 along with a 14BSST and a 6BSST.  My room is very large, opens in other spaces and has a 19 ft. ceiling (about 6m).  I use Thiel 7.2s so I need the power.  I've found the Vienna Acoustics line in general to be very easy to drive vs. other things and many of their speakers have narrow foot prints.  Here in the US, they are distributed by  http://www.sumikoaudio.net/  Depending on your budget, you may want to check them out.  B&W is another brand that makes speakers with narrow foot prints too.  There are lots of others.

flom

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 42
Re: SP1.7/9BSST : front and center speakers advice ?
« Reply #2 on: 12 Sep 2006, 07:38 pm »
Phil, thx for your feedback and your very valuable advices!

My room is composed of two non separate spaces (communicating) of 20m2 both http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9536/largebe5.jpg

Please don't laugh with the picture. I don't plan to takeoff my fireplace. Then the front loudspeaker space is limited...

The style of music I am listening to is Jazz70%, world music 15% & soul  15%.

I do appreciate the authentic restitution speakers capabilities and revel F30/M20 are potential scenarios even if I did not define a specific budget...

I had the opportunity to have a listening session of BW80D and it was quite interesting...

Other advices in the 3000€-6000€ areas?
Cheers
Fabien

brucek

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Re: SP1.7/9BSST : front and center speakers advice ?
« Reply #3 on: 12 Sep 2006, 08:37 pm »
Quote
Then the front loudspeaker space is limited...

Your budget would certainly get you a pair of British ProAc Response D25's . These drive fairly easily, play the music you referenced very well and have a narrow footprint at around 8 3/4 ".

Their cost is about $5000USD or 3000 pounds. There are lots of reviews you can read.

I have their older big brothers in the Response 3.8's (~$8000USD) and drive them from a Bryston 4BST and a Bryston SP2.

I highly recommend them if there is a dealer near you..

I have to say the location of your speakers in the picture you provide is less than optimum........

brucek

Phil A

Re: SP1.7/9BSST : front and center speakers advice ?
« Reply #4 on: 12 Sep 2006, 11:32 pm »
Fabien - would never laugh at the picture.  I'd have to concur with brucek's observation

"the location of your speakers in the picture you provide is less than optimum........"

I'd also offer that the most overlooked component is the room itself.  I use an RTA to analyze rooms.  If you don't have one at your disposal, I'd at a minimum get a test disc or use test tones with an SPL meter.  rivesaudio.com makes a disc for $21 that is engineered to work with the Radio Shack meter.  Delos records makes a disc entitled "surround spectacular" that has one disc of surround music and one of test tones incl. detailed bass frequencies from around 160 HZ down.  Test tones can also be downloaded such as:  http://mdf1.tripod.com/test-tones.html

I would not drive yourself crazy (I have friends that do) to try to get everything perfect but if there were problem frequencies, I'd get some room treatments (or use natural ones like pictures or hanging tapestry, etc.) to at least tame the really bad ones.  You can also make stuff DIY bass traps for not all that much.  Regardless of what you end up buying, you're still going to have to deal with the listening area.  Perhaps if you go to a really good dealer, they will do a room analysis for you and waive the fee if you buy speakers from them.


flom

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  • Posts: 42
Re: SP1.7/9BSST : front and center speakers advice ?
« Reply #5 on: 13 Sep 2006, 05:40 am »
I do agree w/ your remarks!
During my installation, I tuned the speakers' levels w/ a DBmeter (SPL) to set all at the appropriate levels. A also used my sms1 coming w/ my Velodyne DD subwoofer to track bad frequencies and correct them. And the other side, I was not able to remove my fireplace, then the available spaces for my front speakers are quite reduced...The other possibility is to move my left speaker behind my fireplace and close it & move my right one at the same stage level...
The ceiling are nevertheless treated and compensate the ground and wall effects.

What about BW803S vs REVEL F30 vs M20 (more tiny) vs D25?

Cheers
Fabien

Phil A

Re: SP1.7/9BSST : front and center speakers advice ?
« Reply #6 on: 13 Sep 2006, 02:15 pm »
Don't know about those speakers.  The other consideration with your listening space is the Vienna Acoustics line I noted.  They make a couple of wall-mounted speakers.  The Waltzes are pretty good at their price point.  I think they are about $1,300-1,500 US, depending on finish.  Other speakers that can be wall-mounted are Linn Katans.  Linn Ninkas are floorstanders from the same line and have a narrow footprint.