Need WAF small speakers. Gallo's? reference or a'diva ti?

[gadgetfreak]

Moved into a new house and selling my Rocket speakers http://www.tweakcityaudio.com/forum/...9846#post59846

Given the constraints of my room (which is huge) 30 feet wide, 18 feet deep and 10 feet high.

I'm getting a 63 or 65" TV to put over the fireplace mantle (I know, not ideal) but the room layout (and wife) dictate that it's the only place.



So I was thinking the Gallo Reference Strada for the center channel http://www.roundsound.com/reference-strada.htm

Reference for the L/R (in white) http://www.roundsound.com/reference-av-speakers.htm
and the A'Diva TI for the rear and sides hanging from the rafters.

http://www.roundsound.com/adiva-ti-speakers.htm

Should I do 7.1? worth it?

I'll be using my UFW-12 Hot-rodded sub! Yes, I got lucky and am one of the few with one.

I would love thoughts on this setup. The only other speaker that meets the WAF factor is the orb's, but given all the reviews I've read I think the Gallo's can be a good solution for me. Of course, it won't sound like Bigfoot or the 750's... :(

[TrevorR]

What about Paradigm Millenia Speakers, although I have not heard them.

http://www.paradigm.com/products/paradigm-reference/lcr

[InfernoSTi]

You have a beautiful room (and I assume rest of the house!). A couple of ideas for you...take them with a grain of salt please!

First, in my house, the actual appearance of the speaker may make more of a difference than the size (to a certain degree). Is there a way SWIIC would actually like a certain exotic wood that would match the hardwoods well or a gorgeous piano finish? That may be worth a try over the long run.

Second, have you considered a recessed shelf for the center channel? Perhaps you could even cover it with a subdued acoustic cloth grill that pops in and out. That would be a resale point for future buyers as everyone pretty much has the same issues with HT setup. Again, a long term solution, perhaps.

Third, maybe you can help the sound with acoustic room treatments that are hidden as decoration (Matt's idea to share in the process which may have it's own side benefits)? To play on Matt's idea in another thread, a beautiful throw carpet selected together will help a lot with a hardwood floor's first reflections and add to the home's appearance.

Continuing that theme, I have also recently found a few creative ways to hide bass traps in everyday items. This takes a little ingenuity but the results can really help take your speakers to a much higher performance than their price point (really!). Don't focus on the actual item as you would need items that fit your decor, but here is a wicker basket with lid that holds an entire roll of R-25. My small room has four bags of fluffy insulation (which is a great bass trap material when more than a foot deep) in various objects (as well as three 4" sheets of Owens Corning 703...not so easy to hide) and they made a substantial improvement...almost like buying new speakers before/after.

Good luck and enjoy your beautiful new home!

John

[1BionicEar]

Nice room. I am a big fan of the Gallos if you need to go stealth. I use 3 A'Divas accross the front and a pair of Micros for the rear in my living room. It may take a while to dial in the transition from your sub, but the result will be a dynamic, enveloping sound.

[gadgetfreak]

What about Paradigm Millenia Speakers, although I have not heard them.
http://www.paradigm.com/products/paradigm-reference/lcr

Wow! Never seen these. Guess I'll be researching... Although I wish they came in white for the WAF factor... she really wants "invisible"

Here's the current state of the room, and a better angle of the fireplace and where the TV and speakers would be mounted.


the mantle is already at 51" high! So I don't have much room for a center channel (need really low one) as I'm going to mount a 63" or 65" TV.

(can I do a center above the TV?" It'd probably be close to the ceiling at that height.)

[gadgetfreak]

You have a beautiful room (and I assume rest of the house!). A couple of ideas for you...take them with a grain of salt please!

First, in my house, the actual appearance of the speaker may make more of a difference than the size (to a certain degree). Is there a way SWIIC would actually like a certain exotic wood that would match the hardwoods well or a gorgeous piano finish? That may be worth a try over the long run.

Second, have you considered a recessed shelf for the center channel? Perhaps you could even cover it with a subdued acoustic cloth grill that pops in and out. That would be a resale point for future buyers as everyone pretty much has the same issues with HT setup. Again, a long term solution, perhaps.

Third, maybe you can help the sound with acoustic room treatments that are hidden as decoration (Matt's idea to share in the process which may have it's own side benefits)? To play on Matt's idea in another thread, a beautiful throw carpet selected together will help a lot with a hardwood floor's first reflections and add to the home's appearance.

Continuing that theme, I have also recently found a few creative ways to hide bass traps in everyday items. This takes a little ingenuity but the results can really help take your speakers to a much higher performance than their price point (really!). Don't focus on the actual item as you would need items that fit your decor, but here is a wicker basket with lid that holds an entire roll of R-25. My small room has four bags of fluffy insulation (which is a great bass trap material when more than a foot deep) in various objects (as well as three 4" sheets of Owens Corning 703...not so easy to hide) and they made a substantial improvement...almost like buying new speakers before/after.

Good luck and enjoy your beautiful new home!

John

thanks for the tips.. What do you mean a recessed shelf for the center channel? I'm stuck above the mantle being the chimney so really can't go into the wall. As for bass traps, what a great idea. I never thought of that, although it'll be tough to get away with. We'll definitely have some huge rugs, and lots of upholstered chairs and sofa's in the room. I'm not going to be able to hang any sound dappening bass traps though :(

[gadgetfreak]

Nice room. I am a big fan of the Gallos if you need to go stealth. I use 3 A'Divas accross the front and a pair of Micros for the rear in my living room. It may take a while to dial in the transition from your sub, but the result will be a dynamic, enveloping sound.

How big is your room? did you consider the Reference Strada's?

my concern of the A'Divas is whether or not it'll sound full range and can fill a room that big. I'm 100% Movies/TV. No music. Moving from the rocket's I want something that can really fill that room and not make me feel like I gave up too much. The balance is that I need to go stealth.

where did you buy the Gallo's? online or local dealer? MSRP is a bit pricey.

[rsa]

If I had your space and constraints, I'd be thinking BG Radia in-walls for the front and back. If I wanted sides, I'd find something in their catalog that would work. :)

[1BionicEar]

How big is your room? did you consider the Reference Strada's?

my concern of the A'Divas is whether or not it'll sound full range and can fill a room that big. I'm 100% Movies/TV. No music. Moving from the rocket's I want something that can really fill that room and not make me feel like I gave up too much. The balance is that I need to go stealth.

where did you buy the Gallo's? online or local dealer? MSRP is a bit pricey.

I got my Gallos from Underwood Wally - Walter Liedermann.

I think the A'Divas will be fine for movies. I would be concerned if you were doing 5.1 music.

[gadgetfreak]

If I had your space and constraints, I'd be thinking BG Radia in-walls for the front and back. If I wanted sides, I'd find something in their catalog that would work. :)

Thanks for the suggestion. never heard of them, but i'll do some research. Problem is that the center channel being over the fireplace can't be "in wall" since that's the fireplace...

[rancid]

Check out the mirage OMD line, they are small speakers but are quite nice for what they are. Vanns currently has them on sale with a 30 day return policy.

[rsa]

Thanks for the suggestion. never heard of them, but i'll do some research. Problem is that the center channel being over the fireplace can't be "in wall" since that's the fireplace...

The specs show the depth for the two in-wall center channels as 1-1/4 ” and 3/4". :eek: Sounds improbable, but it's there in black and white. :)

AV123's LS-6 and LS-9 used BG drivers. A lot of G-R Research's kits feature BG drivers too.