Speaker reccomendations (1 Viewer)

[DavidV]

I am planning to add some speakers in my basement billard room. I only plann to use these speakers for music. (mostly POP music)I do not have room for a powered sub. So what speakers will put out great bass and sound good. I would prefer a larger woofer in each speaker 12" - 15". My main concern is having the bass without a powered sub. For a comparison I use Paradigm monitor 11's, in my home theater. These sound great but lack the bass out put I will be looking for. I also have a SVS 20-39pci sub and would like bass output simular to this. I know that I won't get nearly as much output as the svs but I would like a fair amount of bass. The room size is 26' X 18'.

 

[Adam.Gonsman]

You're probably looking at powered towers to meet this sort of requirement. Either that or a pretty beefy amp with fair sized passive towers. Maybe some Acoustic Research AR1's? A 500 watt Sunfire amp into a 15" woofer would definately pound the bass on pop tracks.

Seriously, I would look at the AR1's, 3's, 5's and 9's depending on your price range and just what kind of power handling and punch you want. All of those are powered towers except the 9's but the 9's still pack a 10" sidefiring bass driver in each tower. You'd just need a beefier amp to get them really thumping.

I have always been fond of Acoustic Research for their price. I think they make a good speaker for the money.

The only issue is that these belong to Acoustic Research's Hi-Res series and are getting harder to find. But they're around if you hunt for them.

 

[John A. Casler]

Hi David,

You didn't mention you budget, but at the risk of going over it take a look at the VMPS Tower IIs. They list for $1298 pr and do everything you want and more.

I have a used pair in my showroom (of the previous model) for around $699.

These things have two 12" woofers and a 12" passive radiator and will go down to 22Hz.

For a picture look here:
Link Removed

For info:

http://www.vmpsaudio.com/20thAnvDoc.htm

I sell many brands of speakers in my consulting biz and choose this line for my personal system.

 

[Jon_Welker]

David,

Just to throw out ideas, have you looked at the NHT T5's or T6's. The subs are integrated into the pedastal that the monitor sits on. I've had a pair of T5's I'm using for a surround sound system, and they are fantastic. The T5's retail for about $2500/pr. though. Also come with NHT crossover and amp dedicated for the subs. Check it out:

http://www.nhthifi.com/home_product.asp?subjectid=11

Best of luck.

-Jon

 

[Chris Quinn]

Can you put a box sub centered under the pool table? Or would this detract too much from your decor?

Do you have any space on the other side of a wall that you could put in an infinite baffle sub? Check out IB subs at the "Cult of the Infinitely Baffled" www.f20.parsimony.net/forum36475/index.htm .

edit: link correction

 

[DavidV]

I could put the sub under the pool table but My wife really has a hard time with all the control stuff. You should of seen her try to work the pronto TSU2000 for the first time. What I need is a user friendly system that she and her friends could operate. I figured speakers with subs built in would do the trick. Personally I just get another SVS. I am looking at spending $600-$700. I rather not buy nice speakers beacuse we have alot of parties and people would tend to abuse the speakers. I would rather get some that if they got damage I would not get too excited about 6-7 hundred dollar speakers. Any sudgestion in this price range. My friend has a pair of cerwin vega V-15f. They sounded OK but I would like more feed back. Thanks. I will be powering the speakers with my old Denon 3600 reciever. Will this power a 12" or 15" woofer OK. Does anyone know what the power rating on this reciever is. It's 5 years old.

 

[MatthewK]

David,

If you are worried about people abusing the speakers and you get a sub I would be sure to get a downfiring box sub. I have a 25-31PC+ and my wife "watered" it while watering the plants in the house. I just about freaked when my wife called me at work to tell me! In fairness it was an accident and she didn't put too much water in it so everything turned out ok.

If you entertain a decent amount I could picture a forward firing being kicked and a cylinder getting drinks dumped down it if it was not well protected!

Perhaps I missed it but are wall mounts out? If they are not I second the idea of getting a sub and stashing it under the pool table (perhaps a nice tablecloth hiding it or skirt around the base of the pool table). Perhaps with this put sats on the walls.

I don't know if you like the sound of the JBL northridge series (N26AW II) but, for the price ($99/pair @ bestbuy.com), they may fit the bill. Again I would assume wall mounting and a "hidden" sub.

Matthew

 

[Chris Quinn]

I guess I'm not getting why she needs to be able to control the sub. Leave it set so that when the receiver is powered up the sub and the speakers come on. Then get some wall mounted speakers so you don't have to worry about them getting messed up.

I corrected the link to IB subs.