Well, here's some background. About 6 years ago I got into diy audio, and built myself a pair of rather marvelous speakers (by my standards at the time). I had the cabinets and crossovers done by Zalytron, who gave me an excellent setup for a very good price (right about 1k for the whole shebang, all parts included). My level of expertise at this isn't the greatest, but I have enjoyed the system I made for the whole time I had it.
Unfortunately, they are getting old and a bit worn down from near constant usage (I listen to music or watch movies every day) and they're due for replacement. To be blunt, I /did/ put them through hell (8 moves, lots of shipping, assembling, disassembling, tweaking, loud music, etc). They've done amazingly well, but now I'm getting bit by the bug yet again...
Now, the system as of now consists of a Meridian 586.2 for source and an Arcam AVR200 for pre-amp and powering duties. Using some nice transparent cables all the way through the system and the speakers as well. The speakers are a 3-way, using a Seas Excel silk dome tweeter, Excel magnesium cone 6.5" woofer and a Zalytron 8" sub. They've done very well all things considered, with a full midrange, good clean highs and nice bass. The soundstage has been good and the imaging very pleasing, but after several years of listening, I'm noticing they're lacking the true depth or clarity I'm starting to crave, as well as the impact in the lows.
Taking this all into account, I've started on the path to a new system. My new criteria are:
1) To hell with space. I want a system that sounds good dammit.
2) I'm not nearly skilled enough to make my own amps, otherwise I would. Therefore, I am snagging a used Levinson 331 to hook up to my Meridian controller/pre that is collecting dust (562v3) as well as getting some balanced interconnects and better cabling. The amp and pre can be changed though (maybe something from Pass?) if there are other suggestions
3) I want a system that can be just as good at low volumes as at high volumes. Or as close to this as I can get anyway.
4) I /really/ want a good soundstage and imaging. My hearing is extremely sharp and not much makes me enjoy music more than a system that can do this in spades.
5) The music I listen to can involve a lot of bass, so the lower octaves are a priority, whether or not this involves a new sub as well. In fact, that might even be fun. But I expect to power it with the levinson unless I really don't need to.
6) My budget is $5k or so. Maybe a bit more depending on how many more I.T. contracts I complete before I really get going
7) The girlfriend factor is not a problem. Hell, she enjoys helping me geek out with model trains and as far as she's concerned, speakers are just as much fun (she wan't to build amps too, but I had to put my foot down and say "not yet hon" - that's a ways off for sure
Yes, my girlfriend is a rare find. I'm a keepin' this one
Aaaaanyway, enough rambling about stuff, now to the meat of my dilemna:
I called Zalytron and talked to the same gentleman who sold me my kits so many years ago (I forgot his name, but he's been a huuuuuge help to me). He recommended something using the Focal Audiom TLR and 4 7" woofers (I think focals as well). This brought me to thinking about maybe a line array of some sort, or at least lots of drivers (the better to handle power?). He recommended I call Alan at Orcadesign (Alan, if you read this, I'm soooooo sorry that I just called out of the blue, especially when you were probably busy - my sincere apologies!). I asked Alan his opinion and he suggested the New York Noisemaker, which uses the Raven R3 and two 10" woofers (Peerless?) crossed over at 800Hz.
Well, two rather different suggestions here. I'm not sure what sort of sound each will yield. I mean, I'm not going for crazy volume 100% of the time here. My girlfriend and I enjoy listening to some music during dinner at lower volumes or when just chilling on the couch. We also enjoy movies playing pretty loud with good 'ol hard-hitting bass beating us around without being tiring.
I'm not sure of the sound these suggestions will yield. I'm not even sure these will do what I want. I've searched a lot of threads and found some great systems and setups, but I'm still not quite sure what's going to get the sound I'm after.
Ideas I've had on my own were for a system built around a single tweeter with 4-6 woofers. Maybe a simpler 3-way system. I even have been simply looking at dynaudio speakers in general (I love their sound). Heck, if a pair of small 2-way speakers would do it, I'd build 'em happily and put the $$ into working on my race car, but I'm willing to shell out the cash to make something really special.
I'd love to hear ideas and suggestions, even just pointers to threads I missed. Any thoughts on what I've got going here is much appreciated.
Thanks all!
-Copper
Note: I'm going to get some system pics up here soon as I can snag 'em, as well as a diagram of my listening room with dimensions, so space can be taken into account.
Unfortunately, they are getting old and a bit worn down from near constant usage (I listen to music or watch movies every day) and they're due for replacement. To be blunt, I /did/ put them through hell (8 moves, lots of shipping, assembling, disassembling, tweaking, loud music, etc). They've done amazingly well, but now I'm getting bit by the bug yet again...
Now, the system as of now consists of a Meridian 586.2 for source and an Arcam AVR200 for pre-amp and powering duties. Using some nice transparent cables all the way through the system and the speakers as well. The speakers are a 3-way, using a Seas Excel silk dome tweeter, Excel magnesium cone 6.5" woofer and a Zalytron 8" sub. They've done very well all things considered, with a full midrange, good clean highs and nice bass. The soundstage has been good and the imaging very pleasing, but after several years of listening, I'm noticing they're lacking the true depth or clarity I'm starting to crave, as well as the impact in the lows.
Taking this all into account, I've started on the path to a new system. My new criteria are:
1) To hell with space. I want a system that sounds good dammit.
2) I'm not nearly skilled enough to make my own amps, otherwise I would. Therefore, I am snagging a used Levinson 331 to hook up to my Meridian controller/pre that is collecting dust (562v3) as well as getting some balanced interconnects and better cabling. The amp and pre can be changed though (maybe something from Pass?) if there are other suggestions
3) I want a system that can be just as good at low volumes as at high volumes. Or as close to this as I can get anyway.
4) I /really/ want a good soundstage and imaging. My hearing is extremely sharp and not much makes me enjoy music more than a system that can do this in spades.
5) The music I listen to can involve a lot of bass, so the lower octaves are a priority, whether or not this involves a new sub as well. In fact, that might even be fun. But I expect to power it with the levinson unless I really don't need to.
6) My budget is $5k or so. Maybe a bit more depending on how many more I.T. contracts I complete before I really get going
7) The girlfriend factor is not a problem. Hell, she enjoys helping me geek out with model trains and as far as she's concerned, speakers are just as much fun (she wan't to build amps too, but I had to put my foot down and say "not yet hon" - that's a ways off for sure

Yes, my girlfriend is a rare find. I'm a keepin' this one
Aaaaanyway, enough rambling about stuff, now to the meat of my dilemna:
I called Zalytron and talked to the same gentleman who sold me my kits so many years ago (I forgot his name, but he's been a huuuuuge help to me). He recommended something using the Focal Audiom TLR and 4 7" woofers (I think focals as well). This brought me to thinking about maybe a line array of some sort, or at least lots of drivers (the better to handle power?). He recommended I call Alan at Orcadesign (Alan, if you read this, I'm soooooo sorry that I just called out of the blue, especially when you were probably busy - my sincere apologies!). I asked Alan his opinion and he suggested the New York Noisemaker, which uses the Raven R3 and two 10" woofers (Peerless?) crossed over at 800Hz.
Well, two rather different suggestions here. I'm not sure what sort of sound each will yield. I mean, I'm not going for crazy volume 100% of the time here. My girlfriend and I enjoy listening to some music during dinner at lower volumes or when just chilling on the couch. We also enjoy movies playing pretty loud with good 'ol hard-hitting bass beating us around without being tiring.
I'm not sure of the sound these suggestions will yield. I'm not even sure these will do what I want. I've searched a lot of threads and found some great systems and setups, but I'm still not quite sure what's going to get the sound I'm after.
Ideas I've had on my own were for a system built around a single tweeter with 4-6 woofers. Maybe a simpler 3-way system. I even have been simply looking at dynaudio speakers in general (I love their sound). Heck, if a pair of small 2-way speakers would do it, I'd build 'em happily and put the $$ into working on my race car, but I'm willing to shell out the cash to make something really special.
I'd love to hear ideas and suggestions, even just pointers to threads I missed. Any thoughts on what I've got going here is much appreciated.
Thanks all!
-Copper
Note: I'm going to get some system pics up here soon as I can snag 'em, as well as a diagram of my listening room with dimensions, so space can be taken into account.