Speaker Dilemma - Downsizing problem! (1 Viewer)

[RickABQ]

I have a dilemma with my front speakers. We’ve remodeled our family room, and I no longer have space for my beloved, 20-year-old Boston Acoustics T1030 floor-standing speakers. I need to downsize to something that will fit on the new bookcases. Floor-standers won’t fit, and I fear that I will miss something moving all the way down to a bookshelf speaker.

The T1030s have dual 8” bass drivers, 6” midrange, and 1” tweeter. I also have a 12” powered subwoofer (Phase Technology Power 12 – almost as old as the T1030s!) which honestly doesn’t get a lot of work with the T1030s shouldering the load. I’m having a hard time believing that a pair of bookshelf speakers, even decent ones supported by the subwoofer, won’t leave me feeling deprived.

Other speakers in my system are B&W CM Centre, and B&W DS3 surrounds. A Denon AVR-3311CI powers it all.

We use our system for general TV watching, movies, and many styles of music, about equally.

I’ve considered and sound-tested the B&W CM5s, which sound great in the showroom but just make me nervous downsizing so far in a 16’x16’ room. I also see B&W makes a series in a different form factor, the CT7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 home theater speakers, which are larger but would still work in a bookcase. My local showroom doesn’t have these so I haven’t heard them.

Anyone have any thoughts about the pros/cons of these options, or any other options to suggest?

Thanks!

Rick

 

[schan1269]

Stepping down from 1030s?I'd rather take a daily swift kick to the balls.The CM5 still does 60hz...I hope you plan to Zone 2 the 1030s.

 

[John Garcia]

You MIGHT miss some midrange performance if you don't choose an appropriately performing bookshelf speaker, but a properly calibrated system should perform qutie similar with a solid sub and bookshelf. Do you like the sound of the CM5? That should be the deciding factor. 60Hz should give you a good blend to a sub too. One thing to note, you'll want front ported or sealed speakers to stick in a bookshelf - rear ported can have issues, especially if the cabinet isn't deep enough.

I like towers in a system that is intended for music only with no sub usually, but in a "multi-use" system where it has to do everything, I typically prefer a beefy sub and bookshelf speakers.