CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

I am curious to know what people are using for their main speakers (Left & Right), and maybe the Center channel. Also, being that sound from them isn't independent from the source and processor, you can also let people know what is amplifying these channels as well.

Right now I am using a Pioneer Elite VSX-45TX AVR as an integrated amplifier to drive Paradign Studio 100s and matching center channel. I know I like the combination, I can blind test recognize them (already been tortured in that test), but just because I like them doesn't mean others do, too.

papalek · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1536 Location: Longs SC

ALL of my speakers are Electro Voice and are driven with Carver amps. I am using a Pioneer VSX-1014 for the proccessing and pre amp.

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

Wow, someone had recommended Electro Voice a month or two ago when I was looking for a pair of all around speakers for the family room. What mode(s)l of Electro Voice are you using?

papalek · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1536 Location: Longs SC

My system is in a 7.1 setup.
I have PI 15-3 for the main left and right channels they have the T350 tweeters and nice mids with 15" woofers,two LR4B for the center they have the T350 tweeter and 6 5x7 mids, The surrounds are EJ2 they have 3 1"tweeters and 3 10" woofers in each cabinet. The rears are two more of the same EJ2. They are driven with a TFM 35 for the mains,TFM 15 for the centers,TFM 25 for the surrounds and a TFM 15 for the rears. This setup rocks in a 17'x28' room.

overclkr · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 4227

Yummy. Carver Amps.........

Cliffy

papalek · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1536 Location: Longs SC

I forgot about the Subs. Thumbs Up

I have a TFM35 with one channel driving the Madison Executioner X21 Mr. Green

and the other channel is driving four 10" car subs. Two pairs of subs wired in series to make 16 ohms each pair, then they are wired parallel to bring it back down to 8ohms.

**kal** · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:55 pm Post subject:

Mains: Paradigm Signature S8's driven by Mondial Designs Acurus A200x3 amp (2 of the channels)
Center: Paradigm Signature C5 driven by Mondial Designs Acurus A200x3 amp (the 3rd channel)
Surrounds: Paradigm Signature ADP's driven by Mondial Designs Acurus A100x2 amp
Sub: Paradigm Servo-15 (powered)
Prepro: Mondial Designs Acurus ACT-3

Upgrade path (very slow process) Smile

Replace the amps and preamp with an Anthem D2 prepro and P5 amp (5-channel)
Add a set of Paradigm Signature ADP's and P2 amp (2-channel) for 7.1
Add another sub

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2002 Location: Cloverdale

7.1 Martin Logan. all driven by Meitner amplification and a Bryston pre/processor.

Moose · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 788 Location: Minnesota

Legacy Focus. Terrific speaker, no real need for a subwoofer. I am, however and as insane as it sounds, in the process of building an even larger speaker that will play much louder, even though the Focus will play as loud as I can stand. I don't know why, it's just something I've wanted to do for over a decade and now, thanks to Ebay, I can get the drivers much cheaper.

Amplifier is a Crown Macro Reference (760 watts/channel) pro amp, E Version, which I've owned for over a dozen years. The E version is simply a consumerized version that features consumer friendly inputs and outputs. Crown charged $500 more for it over the standard amplifier. It's quite rare.

J Kildare · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 164

Onix rockets speakers
....2-Rs1000 Rockets, 1-Bigfoot, 4-rs300, 1-Ultra/ 2 SVS

Processing and amps: Denon 3808ci, 2 Nakamichi stasis PA7 x 200w amps, 1 Nakamichi stasis PA5 stasis 150 w amp in a 7.1 set up. I'm using 2 channels of the denon for the rears.

Jim

ecrabb · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 6:26 am Post subject:

M&K 750THX mains, S550 surrounds (6.1 setup), all driven by a Marantz SR7500. Before I put up sound treatments, the system played reasonable loud and clean - I measured 104-105 dB on some live music recordings. Then, I put up sounds treatments and even though I haven't take more SPL samples, the system definitely doesn't sound as loud. Need more power...

SC

UPDATE - I eventually added two Crown XLS202D pro amps to drive the mains - 300 wpc into my M&K's 4-ohm load. That was compared to the receiver which was probably 200 wpc if if it was lucky, and probably less with all channels driven. To say that the sound changed is a drastic understatement. The improvement was night/day - almost shocking, in fact. The sound now has a kind o authority it lacked before. Mids and mid-bass especially has a 'feel' to it now that wasn't there when the receiver was driving the speakers. Just thought I'd throw it out there in case somebody was using a receiver to drive their speakers and was thinking about speaker upgrades. Try the amp first, because even if you get different speakers, you can still use the amp(s).

CRT_Ben · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 1684 Location: Northern Virginia

5.1 setup:

Pre/Pro: Sony SDP-EP9ES
Mains: Wharfedale Emerald 97s, driven by Adcom GFA-545
Rear surrounds: Random 8" bookshelfs, driven by Adcom GFA-535
Center(s): More random 8" bookshelfs, driven by Adcom GFA-535

I'd love to find more of the Wharfedales to use for surrounds, but the supply has dried up. I plan on building 5 (maybe 7?) of my own large-ish floorstanding speakers, all identical, and I'll probably run an AT screen to accommodate the large center. Most likely I'll go with a WMT or WMTM design featuring the Dayton Reference line.

oliverg · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 7:42 am Post subject:

Martin Logan Odysseys - Mains LR
Martin Logan SL3s - Rear LR
Martin Logan Scripts - Sides X2 LR
Martin Logan Cinema - Centre

Sony STR DA9000ES 9.1 - Also have a pair of Dared tube amps but I don't use them anymore.

There will come a time when I might split - move my MLs into a listening room with tubes and go Paradigms for the HT. Electrostatics have to be placed 'inside' the room which take away the cinema feel - there's something to be said about in wall/hidden speakers. Alot more WAF friendly.

AvgOrdinaryGuy · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 1:57 pm Post subject:

No brand name on the speakers, but...

5.1 setup and all speakers are of my own design and construction

Front 3 = contain 8 drivers, two are 5" mid-base and six are 4" full range

Surrounds = both contain two of the same 4" full range drivers that the front speakers have

Sub = two 12" drivers, each in it's own 4 cu ft reflex enclosure

Powered by a rather old Kenwood surround receiver and a 2 channel Onkyo, and 2 channel Fisher amp

Joust · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 2:34 pm Post subject:

Burhoe acoustics

http://www.humanspeakers.com/o/burhoe/index.html
old units designed and built by Winslow Burhoe.

J Kildare · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 164

Joust · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:45 am Post subject:

I think He moved onto bigger and better things. http://www.directacoustics.com/
I'd like to get hold of more of these speakers. they are small and sounds great. I have two pair. I use them all along the front. (two for center)

beun · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 676

Bohlender Graebener Radia 520dx for front LR
Bohlender Graebener Radia 220dx center
Bohlender Graebener in-walls as surround

Yamaha RXV2200 receiver
Crescendo Systems DPA5 power amplifier

perisoft · Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 2920 Location: Ithaca, NY

Fronts are Cerwin Vega VS-120s. The others are a wretched hodgepodge of random stuff I had around.

The Vegas have better bass response than most subs, and since I'm using different amps for each set of speakers (not separates, really; multiple receivers) I can drive them with the full 4 or 500 watts my beefiest receiver puts out to two channels at 4ohms, so I use AC3filter to copy the LFE channel into the front L/R as well as the three other subs. Audiophiles may sniff at Cerwins, but for the $0 + a pair of crappy Altec Lansings I traded for them I am a happy, happy man.

Edit: Ah, you asked what amps. The mains are driven with - wait for it - some Technics I got a few years back. The other stuff... don't even ask. It's amazing it works at all, let alone sounds as good as it does.

erikjohn · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 636 Location: Florida

Yamaha RX-Z9
Klipshorns - Mains
Klipsch LaScalas - F&R Centers
Klipsch Cornwalls - Rear Surrounds
Klipsch Hereseys - Front Presence Channels
Klispch RSW-15 Rear Sub
2 ea SVS Ultra's Front subs

I am pretty sure the EV makes the drivers that are used in the older Klipsch Heritage Series speakers.

-EJ