[elmalloc]

1st post.

I'm moving into a new house this November.  I'm budgeting what I think I need to buy before I move in..."living room speakers" is in the list.

The room is a 20x19 foot, 2 story cathedral room.

The audio will be paired with a plasma TV for simple gaming, but it will mainly be used for 2 channel music.

I've never gotten into 2 channel music as I've been a big HT buff (my JVC RS1, onix rocket setup, and SVS woofer will be in the basement).

How are the Strata Minis for my purpose and room?  I don't want to pair it with a subwoofer, but I do want to be sure it can get loud enough.  I've read many reviews that talk about the "intamicy" of the speakres, how they sound at low volume - but can I get away with that in this size room?

Also what amp do I pair it with?  Seems like most on av123 are using the SP3 tube with some CD player they offer as well.

I wish I didn't miss out on the Strata Mini + SP3 + CD combo for under 2K, now the Strata Minis themselves are 2K!  Ack.

Budget is ~2K.  Dang appliances are taking up 6-7K of my budget!  What's more important in life, cooking food - or listening to music?      Why can't they do both?

-ELmO

[macrojack]

Look at what Zybar is selling. Might be perfect for you.

      FS: AV123 Mini Stratas in Rosewood $1500 + shipping

And it just so happens I am selling this:

      For Sale: Onix SP-3

One stop shopping!!!! WOW.

[elmalloc]

What's your SP3 price, why are you selling it, and is it in audiophile quality? aa

Thanks.

[macrojack]

Here's my ad:

Great tube integrated that most of you know all about. These are pretty scarce and sell very fast at anything under $600. It goes to the first person willing to pay $525 plus shipping. Everything is included and everything is original. Looks near new. Box, manual, etc. -- all there.

I thought you would just look it up.

I don't know what you mean by audiophile quality.

I'm selling because I don't use it right now and I intend to buy its cousin, the Melody I2A3 integrated.

[Airborn]

The room is a 20x19 foot, 2 story cathedral room

I have the exact set up you are contemplating, Strata Mini mains, SP3 tube amp and Onix CD-5.  I listen at fairly low levels most of the time <90 db and agree with the descriptions of the "intimate" sound this combo produces.  Even though I think it sounds great in my room, I can't recommend such a system for the room you describe above, as I believe the Strata Minis will require a much, much larger amp to energize such a large space.  Think 250W+ SS amp or 100W tube amp at least if you are going to use Strata Minis in that type area, even with the built in  woofer amps.

[F-100]

The room is a 20x19 foot, 2 story cathedral room.

-ELmO

IMO, the SP3 have enough power to drive the Mini for a small room but not in this BIG room. Get the 250W Odyssey Stratos Mono and you'll rock the house.  aa

Sorry, Macrojack!! I didn't mean to ruin your sale but that is a good price for the SP3 and you shouldn't have any problem sell it. Good luck!!

[zybar]

But I still think you should buy the Mini's.   aa

George

[macrojack]

No problem. I'm content to sit on it for now.

This looks more like you promoting Klaus than trying to help the poster. You're not telling him he needs just any bigger amp but trying to promote your buddy.

I have no idea if my amp is adequate for his situation or not. He asked so I offered assuming he knew what he wanted.

Tell me why he wants Odyssey instead of Bryston or Rowland or Classe or NuForce or 50 others that offer sufficient power. It seems as if the suggestion might not be too honest but could be nothing more as an enree for the product you want to promote.

This opportunistic cliquey shit really diminishes this forum in my opinion.

[JLM]

That room, except for being large, would appear to be horrible (a perfect cube is the worst possible shape, except for a sphere but not many live in a sphere).  With each dimension being nearly the same, you'll have triple amplified resonances at one multiple of frequencies.  I've been in anechoic chambers, domes, and square rooms.  All are horrible. 

The first thing I'd do is post on the acoustics circle for help.  Don't know how much domestic acceptance needs to be factored into what you can do with the room.  Mucho absorption on two adjoining walls and the floor could help, but effective absorption could cost more than you've budgeted for the entire system.

A subwoofer might help as it would allow for improved placement flexibility, but my guess is also that the less bass you try to reproduce, the less problems you'll have with the room.

Honestly, maybe you want to think about headphones if you want audiophile quality sound.

take care

[elmalloc]

Thanks for the input.

[zybar]

The Mini's allow you to somewhat control your bass:

You can choose where you want to cross over the powered woofers.

You can choose a volume setting for the powered woofers.

You can choose the phase for the powered woofers.

While not as powerful as full EQ functionality, these options do let you control how the bass performs in your room to a certain extant.

We were able to see this via the Velodyne SMS-1 when playing around with them in my room.

George

[mca]

This looks more like you promoting Klaus than trying to help the poster.

He recommends an Odyssey amp and gets that load of BS from you 

Sounds like you and your Zu speakers...

[macrojack]

That's right. Find the post where I interrupted someone else's sale to promote Zu.

If he wanted to help the poster and the SP-3 really is too small (I've said I don't know that is or isn't true), then why not just suggest to the poster that he may need more power. That didn't happen because the intrusion was not initiated to help the poster get an appropriate amplifier power but to direct the poster to a specific brand of amplifier. This kind of thing happens here all the time and, as I said earlier, I think it diminishes the spirit and credibility of this forum.

You might also notice that I pointed the poster toward George's speakers not Zu.

[lonewolfny42]

Tom....Tom.....Tom....the poster mentioned Odyssey because he has them with his Strata Minis..... 

Modded SB3 -> Modded Paradisea DAC ->     
Promitheus TVC  -> *****Odyssey Extreme Mono -> Onix Mini Strata****

It would be like someone asking about the SP Tech's....I'd say try a Butler or two....

[elmalloc]

It's alright, everyone has their own opinion and it doesn't sway me particularly completely in one or the other direction.

The thing is, I can put a cheapo boombox in a room in the house - and you can hear it no matter what part of the house you're in (because the floor plan is open).  I'm not looking for knock your socks off sound, just that there's enough power to hear music cleanly and that the minis subs will fill the sound out.

If the SP3 proves to be too little, I can convert it into a bedroom setup and find a better amp for the minis.  I will worry about that later...

Regardless, I may not even buy any of this now - only at closing on the house, but we will see...

So many expenses quickly, I think I'm spending over 20K at closing time in addition to the actual house costs..yikes.

-ELmO

[F-100]

This looks more like you promoting Klaus than trying to help the poster. You're not telling him he needs just any bigger amp but trying to promote your buddy.

First of all, I recommend Odyssey amps with the Mini because I have first hand experience with these gears. This combination produces wonderful sound so I made the recommendation. What's wrong with that? I'm not BSing or hyping and I'm not trying to sell him my gears either so get real, Dude!!!!


I don't need to promote Klau's products. His products and outstanding service speak for itself. Also, I had an SP3 but sold it a long time ago so I know what I am talking about.

You're the one who is not helping the poster but instead trying to sneak your sale pitch into this thread.