Lost in home audio

[bartram02]

So here is the deal. Basically I am leaving for school and living in a house with 5 other guys. I already have 2 bose direct reflecting speakers with 6in driver that I want to move to use at the rear speakers and a jbl 150 watt powered sub. So what I begin to wonder is what I am looking for in my new front speakers. I watch plenty of movies and listen mainly to rock(man I love those guitar solos) and at times prolly at some decently loud sound levels. However, the speakers will be in my room and in a protected environment so i dont want to sacrifice any quality for loudness. I really dont know where to start looking, I was starting to lean towards 2way speakers but then started to worry about losing sound depth, but also wonder if I really need towers at this point. Well any information to get me started would be great and im sure you response will spur many more questions.

Thanks for the help guys
Andy

[Timn8ter]

There's so much to choose from it's impossible to make a recommendation based solely on the information you've provided. I find that for rock music compression horns are favored (think Klipsch RB-75) and guitar solos step forward with a good mid-range in a 3-way system. However, in a small room that could easily be overkill. What's your budget anyway?

[bartram02]

Well i am looking at somewhere in the 500 range if at all possible but could possibly splurge if I find something I really like. I have heard the klipsh Rf-15's but they were pretty lame for a 3-way in my opinion. I was looking into the phase technology's v8 but kinda was scared off because they were bookshelf however I did like the sound. Do you really think I would sacrifice that much sound depth and quality going with a 2way over a 3way or if i find a quality pair it wont be that noticable. And secondly, I read somewhere about that you dont want you mid range drive to much bigger than your tweeter because you begin to have a sound gap. Any truth to that?

Thanks
Andy

[bartram02]

what about constructing some kind of pa speakers or would I really lose sound quality that way? still trying to get ideas

[Timn8ter]

You could take a look at some of the recommendations in this thread.
Best DIY Speaker for Rock

[Bill F.]

If you're not afraid of making your own large boxes, I'd recommend a set of these in big bass reflex cabs. The crossover is even built in--no muss, no fuss.

For a little over $300 + wood, you'd have a set of truly high performance speakers. They'd be 96db/w efficient and capable of huge SPL--in short, big rockin' party factor, and no sub required. Honestly, I believe you would be amazed when comparing them to other speakers you've heard.

I've got a lightly used set of these on my shelf waiting for cabs. Actually, I'd probably be willing to sell them to you if you're interested since I've got so many other projects ahead of them and so little time.

[rcavictim]

I second what Bill says. I have a pair of the 12" woofer version of those Selenium coaxials and use them with the factory supplied crossover. They are pretty good music drivers. They are awesome as L-R mains in a HT setup. They even come on sale once in a while at P.E.

[Bill F.]

I’m pretty impressed with these Seleniums, but I haven’t met many people who have tried them. However, I’ve read positive reviews of the HF compression drivers they use. Coaxials generally have a lot going for them, and these seem like excellent values.

Here's a sim of what I'm suggesting--the speakers I wish I'd had in college.

Put each Selenium 15CO1P in a 12cu. ft. box tuned with 2 ports (4" dia., 2.5" long). The green line shows the response with both ports open--tuning freq. is 32Hz. This would be the setting for punchy bass.

Block one of the ports (with a rubber pipe plug available at most any hardware store), and you'd have the response shown by the orange line--sort of an EBS alignment tuned to 23Hz. This would be the setting with less audible group delay for more critical listening to music that doesn't call for so much bass punch.

Two different speakers in one--nifty, huh?

These graphs simulate response at only 20w of input power. Notice that even at this relatively low level, SPL is close to 110dB--and that's just one channel anechoic.

Heaps big fun, I'd say.

Edit:

If these are simply too huge and overpowering, I'd recommend the 12" version RCAVictim mentioned. You could put them in 3cu. ft. sealed boxes and cross them to your sub at around 60Hz . . . although I'm not entirely sure your sub could keep up.

[Timn8ter]

Have you had the opportunity to compare these with the Adire or Eminence coax drivers?

[Bill F.]

Nope, but I hear those can be done up nice, too.