[Antman27]

Hello all, I am debating a new pair of speakers
I now own
Paradigm Studio 40's V.3
SVS SB12+ sub
Driven by a Denon 3805 AVR
My major complaint now is a lack of lows evenly through my room
I know my 40 are not set up properly sitting on the TV stand so I want to look into floorstanders to sit on the side of the stand. (may concider bookshelf's if something goes down low BUT if it were bookshelf's I think the wife would want them on the tv stand like the paradigms)
My room is long and opens into another room -its 14x 25 and opens into a 12x12 and this is why I think it is hard to get my sub to intergrate with my mains.
My paradigms are rated down to 36Hz but I have read they roll off about 63
I am looking at speakers that would have a cherry Finnish and also have matching center and rears for HT
I do not have room for an external amp so I will be staying with mt Denon 3805 for power
Speakers that look good to me are the Aperion Audio 633
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-633-T-Tower-Speaker,33,28,91.aspx
Totem Hawks (but I herd totem my be hard to drive )
If I stay with Bookshelf's the ACI Sapphire XL 
Or something from AV123
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=795&pos=5

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=795&pos=2

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=795&pos=31

 Thanks for your thoughts !

[Upstateaudio]

If you like the Totem sound, the Sttafs are easier to drive and are also small floorstanders.   I would email Totem to see if the Denon receiver and the other parts of your situation would work with the Hawk .


info@totemacoustic.com

[Antman27]

I  did email them about a week ago no reply

[richidoo]

If you are a little bit computer savvy, use this free program to measure the frequency response in your room. Then get a little advice from bpape or Ethan Winer on this forum about treating your room with bass trapping. If your wife will allow you to use 2-4 bass traps your bass will get much, much better, and so will your music.

It is counterintuitive that adding bass absorbtion would make the bass louder, but this is exactly what happens when room modes are controlled. Stick your head into a floor/2wall tri corner while playing some music and you will hear where all your bass has gone.    Read more about it at http://realtraps.com or http://gikacoustics.com. GIK sells bass traps that are powerful and can be covered in designer fabric. It's still a big ugly panel (IMO  ), but the benefits are worth it to some people. They also make a corner piece tri-trap that fits in better. I have no connection to either company, but friends with bryan and have bought from gik with good results.

You already have great equipment. You are close to the point of diminishing returns for a living room/casual home theater equipment. Good job shopping! You could consider a 2nd sub to even out the bass response in the room, but you can probably improve it a lot without any new gear.

You can experiment with moving your speakers around. Get them away from the wall onto sturdy stands. Learn to place the sub in the best position, adjust phase. 8th nerve treatments do help with bass and full frequency response, but they are not cheap. There is a lot of info about this on AC and around the web. PM me if you want more links.
Good luck!!!!!
Rich

[Airborn]

Check out the Rocket line from AV123.  They come in Rosewood, which is similar to cherry finish and are designed specifically for home theater.  They are also fairly easy to drive, depending on model.  Go to the AV123 forum or the AV123 section here at AC to learn more and give them a call, the customer service is top notch.  Btw, I have the Strata Minis, which have great bass response due to the built in woofer amp, but I think they are probably too much load for the 3805 and the footprint is too big for your space judging by the pics you posted.

[Antman27]

Nobody has any thoughts on Aperion Audio 633s

Speakers that look good to me are the Aperion Audio 633
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-633-T-Tower-Speaker,33,28,91.aspx

[Zero]

Antman,

I am really surprised that you have received no response (or a very delayed one) from Totem Acoustic. Typically their service is quick and helpful.   With that said, I have a *bit* if a bias towards the earlier recommendation of the Sttaf. I say that because well, it's been my speaker of choice for a number of years now. All Totems have this unique ability to be completely free of themselves, and can sound quite potent down low while doing so! With that said, in order to really experience with the Sttaf has to offer; you will need to put it in a smaller, closed off room. As much as I love the speaker - I'd say that option is out. The Hawk by contrast, when fed the right gear, is perfectly at home in larger rooms and in fact, prefers a space no smaller than at least 15x18. Again, take these comments with grains, if not pounds of salt, but when Totems are done right - they can do things that only the big heavy hitters can do. Unfortunately, a Denon AVR won't be able to give you even 30% of what they can do.

With that said, don't over-look the suggestions given by Richidoo. Careful attention to room treatment can be an effective way (both in cost and sound) to get those nasty peaks and valleys under control.

When it comes to affordable monitors that not only sound excellent, but sport very good dynamic range...  you are right on track with the Sapphire XL.  They will work out just fine on your existing electronics and should be able to fill your space well. They wont have the punch of your Paradigms, instead - you'll get a much smoother and warmer sound. I believe this is a topic you and I covered reasonably well a number of months ago.

I have no first hand experience with Aperion - although I hear they do create solid speakers for the money, albiet suited more for HT.

Other affordable options may be av123's new X-MTM towers in the Palisander rose-wood veneer. It's not quite cherry, but it is light and easy on the eyes, and most of all - its very, very affordable.
 

[chgolatin2]

Aperion=garbage! The speaker itsels is geared towards HT and not HiFi audiophile listening...

Nobody has any thoughts on Aperion Audio 633s

Speakers that look good to me are the Aperion Audio 633
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-633-T-Tower-Speaker,33,28,91.aspx

[Bigfish]

Hi:

I currently have a Denon 3806AVR driving Monitor Audio 9is (Mains), Monitor Audio Studio Center, Axiom QS 8s (rear) and M&K 1250 Sub.  My new Odyssey Mono Extreme SEs are scheduled to be delivered tomorrow.  The reason for purchasing the amps was because I was very unhappy with the 2 channel performance of my system.  I think the biggest problem we have with our systems are the wimpy Denon AVRs.  If you are committed to HT and are space limited you might want to seriously consider upgrading to multichannel amp (continue to use the Denon as a preamp) before upgrading the speakers. 

Good Luck,

Ken

[TONEPUB]

I have the ACI Sapphire XL's and really like them a lot!
I think Mike makes an awesome speaker for the money.

What really makes that speaker sing though, is the
matching sound anchors stands.  See if your better
half will go for that if you get a pair!  They make all
the difference in the world!

Good luck on the hunt!

[doug s.]

antman, before trying another pair of speakers, try running a pair of stereo subs.  it will help a lot, imo, especially w/the complaints you have w/your present system.  either get a second sub to match what you have, or sell it, & get a pair of different subs.  i'd recommend vmps - from those who have compared, vmps subs are better for music than the svs subs.  i have never heard the svs', but i can vouch for the vmps' - they are superb for music.

doug s.

[Antman27]

Thanks all , I am so torn on what to do BUT I do think the 2 subs may be a good way to go
I also may look into a better amp and keep the paradigms
I have read in a paradigm forum that they love high current amplifiers.
Again I am very limited in rack space so can anyone recomend a high current amplifier that is slim or can be placed behind my Tv or hidden somehow
Should I start another post on high current amplifiers ? I feel like a pest

[doug s.]

electrocompaniet amps are relatively low profile, & extremely high current, for their rated power output.  excellent amps...  for solid-state, that is!     mine are now powering my subwoofers, since i went to tubed amplification for my mains...

doug s.

Thanks all , I am so torn on what to do BUT I do think the 2 subs may be a good way to go
I also may look into a better amp and keep the paradigms
I have read in a paradigm forum that they love high current amplifiers.
Again I am very limited in rack space so can anyone recomend a high current amplifier that is slim or can be placed behind my Tv or hidden somehow
Should I start another post on high current amplifiers ? I feel like a pest

[Antman27]

If you like the Totem sound, the Sttafs are easier to drive and are also small floorstanders.   I would email Totem to see if the Denon receiver and the other parts of your situation would work with the Hawk .


info@totemacoustic.com

I stll did not hear back from Totem Humm 

[Scrith]

I've been using Totem Acoustic Model 1 Signatures for over a year now and it has been a wonderful love affair...just an amazing sounding speaker with about the sweetest midrange I've ever heard.

But, nothing lasts forever in this hobby.  I just had to try going a little bit bigger to get a little more bass into the picture, but nothing in the Totem lineup gave me exactly what I was looking for, so I went to the next best thing:  Dynaudio (who makes the drivers used in the Totem speakers).  The Dynaudio Contour S 1.4 was my choice (not too big, but bigger than the Model 1).

They arrived recently and I can confidently say that there is life after Totem.  The mids are there, but so is a bass that was just missing before, and the highs sound great too.  It's kind of like a Model 1 that has undergone some athletic training.  It makes me a bit sad, but the Model 1 Signatures will be going on Audiogon soon.

Anyway, give Dynaudio a try...they have a very similar sound to Totem (to my ears, and based on the fact that they use the same drivers) with a few more options in their product lineup.  And they seem to get snapped up pretty quickly on Audiogon, in case it doesn't work out. 

[JLM]

As others said above, and on previous threads, your speakers are probably fine.  Your bass problem lies elsewhere.  I'd try the acoustics circle and keep your money.

[rollo]

As others said above, and on previous threads, your speakers are probably fine.  Your bass problem lies elsewhere.  I'd try the acoustics circle and keep your money.

   


   Have to agree with JLM. The Dennon has a warm character. Kinda rounded and smooth . A speaker that is neutral or even a tad bright say B&W, DCM, Silverline may be a good match. There is a speaker from Sweden called Guru, it sells for $1850 and is a killer. You will not need your sub with this speaker.
      Heard them at Home Entertainment Show. The room was packed. I was in the room with several members of the Sterophile editorial staff. They loved it as well as all who heard it. This speaker IMO has it all. Check them out.

  rollo

[Bob Reynolds]

If floorstanders will get the speakers away from the TV, then maybe it would be worth the investment. But, the main problem remains that you have a huge space to fill.

Nothing against Totem speakers, but they will not do any better in your room than your Paradigms. There's only so much a 6.5" driver can do. The Revel Concerta F12 http://www.revelspeakers.com/products/product-overview.asp?ID=19 would be a much better choice. You'll still need a good subwoofer.

Changing amplification will have no effect.

As I recall you were constrainted as to where you could locate the sub. It may be that you are simply stuck. Many of us have living room constraints. I have a love seat that I didn't want that sits way too close to the right channel speaker, but there's always this red headed female laying on it.

Have you tried a Velodyne SMS-1 digital equalizer on the subwoofer?

Best of luck.