Speakers toasted in fire..need new

Greetings All,

This is what I am trying to say I want in a loudspeaker: DISPERSION!!!

The following excerpt is from Home Electronic Ideas Winter 2008 magazine article:

"SOUNDSTAGE and IMAGING are important concepts in Hi-Fi. DISPERSION refers to how well a loudspeaker can maintain a consistent sound throughout the room. Since we don't a;ways sit in the "sweet spot" of a room, speakers with wide dispersion and a quality soundstage are ideal. Soundstage refers to how clearly and convincingly it reproduces a sense of space encoded on the recording.

SOUNDSTAGE and IMAGING are often used interchangeably, IMAGING actually relates how precisely sounds occur or emanate within a sounstage.

Picture a concert hall: This is your soundstage. Now imagine players standing on stage playing their instruments. These are your images."

I did not write the explanations above myself. They were paraphrased from the magazine mentioned earlier.

I, Eddie, am looking for loudspeakers known for their DISPERSION ability as a top priority.

Room size 20'L x 14'W with 8' ceilings. 100% carpeted over sound deadening foam. No mirrors or reflective paintings, glass, etc. Open floor plan with triple archways delineating rooms. Co-op does not allow in-wall, on-wall or ceiling mounted speakers. Musical tastes are solo classical piano and Orchestral Music primarily. Next would be Jazz followed by classic rock for the kids. 1300 Total square feet (given the floor plan).

I have most of the new electronics and TV picked out to replace those destroyed in fire. Speakers are the sticking point. I am disabled with back injury since 1994 and have a difficult time sitting down. I move around the room, lay down on sofa or floor, lean against walls, or sit briefly when I used to have my old system. I really need help finding speakers with great DISPERSION.

Thanks,

Eddie

Re: Speakers toasted in fire..need new

I have an opportunity to purchase a new/used pair of Acoustic Zen Adagio floor standers from a gentleman that has a wife who hates the red color. He already purchased another pair of the same speaker in honey/golden Amber and his wife loves that color. I have to move quick because he is going to list them on Audiogon.com if I don't reply within a week.

Eddie

Re: Speakers toasted in fire..need new

Considering your priorities and music tastes, you are one of the few people I would recommend the same brand I own. Oddly, I rarely do that for various reasons. I have Thiel CS 3.6, which are recently discontinued, after being in production for over 15 years. they may be a bit large for you though. Unfortunately, Thiel seems to be at the beginning of completely redesigning their line and currently only have a couple floor standing models, and the CS 3.7 (which replaced the 3.6) runs a cool 10K per pair. The good new is, you might find a used pair of 3.6 for around 2K, maybe less. They aren't easy to find, but I'm telling you, with the music you listen to, they are worth seeking out.

One important thing, they need room to breathe, including being placed at least a couple feet from the back wall, but the reality is that soundstage will always require that, regardless of what claims are made.

Thiel Audio

Re: Speakers toasted in fire..need new

Thanks John.

I check Audigon a few times a day now for speakers.

Eddie

Re: Speakers toasted in fire..need new

Overall budget is $12K:

Acoustic Zen Adagio Floorstanding Loudspeakers $3150
New Panasonic Z800 Plasma 46" TV in May $2800 MSRP or 42" $2300 MSRP
BDI Meriden Furniture or equal $1300
Multichannel SACD CD/CD-R Player Marantz SA8001 $900
Next Generation of BluRay Players Profile 2 in Summer
Remote Harmony One $250
A/V Receiver - that does superb Audio for MUSIC only sessions - 2 channel & Surround
Cables and interconnects by MONOPRICE or BlueJeanCables.

I will add center channel and rear surrounds at Christmas since the Adagio JR.'s and stands are expensive.

I figure I have about $2500 for an A/V Receiver by Yamaha, Denon, etc. that meets all the current A/V codecs. ONKYO runs too hot and is out of consideration since this system is to replace system lost in house fire.

Hope that helps,

Eddie