audio buffs

[SacDuc]

These speakers will installed in a 900 sq feet dining room with exposed brick walls, glass block, and plate glass windows.  We keep it pretty rocking

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Spend your money on heavy drapes for the windows, some diffuser panels for those brick walls, wall to wall carpeting and some acoustical paneling for the ceiling. Especially the ceiling. How high is it and what is it made of? You could put a zillion dollars worth of speakers in that room and its going to sound terrible.

Seriously, go make some noise in that room and listen closely to the echo. Bring a boom box (remember those?) or bang some pots and pans together or just scream and listen for the half second after you stop making noise. And bear in mind that when music is playing continuously that half second of garbage becomes continuous too. Being able to turn up the volume won't make it better any more than adding more hp will make you a better rider. It won't drown out the garbage it will make it worse.

Spend your budget on cheap speakers and acoustical treatment.


sac




/you're not buying any of this are you?
//you're gonna buy some sexy speakers

[ODrides]

Cerwin Vegas aren't exactly great sounding speakers, right?

[Bick]

I bought my first pair of Paradigms @ 20 years ago and still love them.

Also check out MK - http://www.mksoundsystem.com/default_2.htm

[DoubleEagle]

I have a pair of B+W Nautilus 801s and they are awesome .

Room treatment is most important to the quality of the sound that your Speakers will deliver.

Also a nice low wattage ( 75 watts RMS ) Tube amp and pre-amp will give you a very warm sound.

I have a McIntosh 500 watt solid state power Amp that doesn't sound as good as my $1300 Jolida 75 watt Tube integrated pre-amp /Amp.

$2000-$2500 should get you a good Subwoofer.Check out Klipsch.

Klipsch also makes a pair of floor standing Speakers ( RP 3s )  w, a Horn Tweeter, Mid-Range Speaker and a separate built in Powered Subwoofer for less than $2000.

Want a good vintage Speaker ? Check out Ebay for a pair of Klipsch Fortes.3 way floor speakers about 40 inches tall w, a horn tweeter a horn mid-range and a 12 inch wooofer.

These Speakers come in what appears to be oak or walnut cabinets and weigh 65 lbs. each. You should be able to buy a decent pair for around $500-$700.

Definitive Technology makes some very good Speakers for reasonable prices.

Dolph     

[mookieo2]

Love the 801's. Velodyne has the best subs IMO but I'm a dealer so I might be biased. (Pm me if anyone wants a deal on one)

[Johnny OrganDonor]

Tubes and horns are a beautiful combination.  I have two pair of Klipsch Forte IIs and a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls.  Both of these models are very efficient and would fill your room with ease.  The Cornwall is a classic but the Fortes are just amazing for the sound they deliver per pound.  IIRC, the frequency response on the bass end digs down to something like 32Hz - no need for a sub for music.  The sound is detailed and waay bigger than the speaker with a strong bass slam.  If you really want to rock the house, combine some big ol' horn loaded Klipsch speakers with a Crown K1 or K2 amp. The pricing for Fortes mentioned by DoubleEagle is right on.  One thing about buying older speakers is that the crossovers or at least the caps may need to be replaced - it's a relatively cheap and easy upgrade and well worth it.

As mentioned, room treatment is very important but you should still start with good speaks and then "tune" your room.