Thinking of Upgrading to Bookshelf Speakers / Good Idea? (1 Viewer)

[GregBe]

I currently have Cambridge Soundworks MC300's for all 3 front speakers. Basically, they have two 4" midrange drivers with one 1" tweeter. They have a -+3 db of 80 Hz CSW recommends setting the crossover at 100, but this weekend I noticed that a 120 crossover gave me a bit of a better sound. I am concerned about this setting being too high and working my sub too hard. The sub is up front, so I am not too worried about it being "localizeable" (if that's even a word, but you know what I mean). Since they have been purchased within a year, I can upgrade for free to bookshelf speakers and a larger center. Here is what I was thinking.
The M60's are bookshelves that have a 6 1/2" driver and a 1" tweeter. The MC400 is the upgrade center channel, and it has two 5 1/2" drivers with one 1" tweeter. They are in the same Newton Family and sound fuller than what I have and sound matched to my ears even though the drivers are of different size.
Two questions:
1) Is it better to go with the smaller satellites if they are matched. The specs for the M60's and MC400's both say the -+3 db is 65 Hz, so I think that I could work the crossover to 100 comfortably, maybe even 80.
2) The bookshelves have a small rear port, and would need to go in actual bookshelves with about a 2 inch clearance behind. CSW says this would not be a problem because with my sub and the crossover, the port would not be utilized that much anyway.
Would you make this upgrade, or stick with what I have. I know that there are better speaker manufactures out there, but I can make this move for no out pocket expenses at all. I may upgrade alltogether later.

Thanks in Advance
Greg

 

[John S]

I am not a fan of smaller sats at all.....

Best of luck with your speaker change.

 

[Rich Malloy]

120Hz is awful high. I think you'd be happier with larger main speakers, generally speaking. The CSW trade-up deal seems to be a good way to do it, so long as your trading-up sufficiently to realize a difference and so long as the speaker you're looking to get sounds good to you (bigger is not necessarily better).

I happen to like the sound of the Newtons, though at that price-point there are several other speaker models I prefer. Still, so long as you like 'em well enough and can get 100% value on your trade-in (and have some disposable cash to cover the difference), then I don't see any reason why not.

So long as... they will allow you 30 days or so to check them out at home? If so, you really can't lose.

 

[GregBe]

Thanks Guys,

They definitely sound better to me in the store on both music and movies, but I am concerned about putting a rear ported speaker in a bookshelf. Is this a big concern if I were to crossover the speaker at 100 Hz with about 2 inches behind the speaker to the back of the cabinet?

Greg