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Been away for awhile and need some help

Hello guys. I've been out of audio and HT for a couple of years. During this time I've relocated from Texas to Virgina and am in the process of closing on a new house with most of my stuff currently in storage.

My speakers (in storage) are a pair of Klipsch Cornwall III's, Klipsch KLF-C7 and a SVS sub. Big speakers and big sub. Problem is they're too big for our new home. I plan to install in-walls for surrounds, but we have built in shelving in the front so I will be limited to book shelve speakers for mains. Something that will fit between the bottom of the TV and the top of the fire place mantle for a center and between shelves for mains.

I don't have exact measurements yet, but I know I'll be limited to about 20" width for the mains (shelves are adjustable so height will not be an issue).

My SVS is one of the big cylinder units and I'm going to have to do something different here as well. The bottom of the cabinet is enclosed with doors. Do you guys think I can install something here that will work with the doors closed or am I going to have to up them up whenever I use the sub?

So with these limitations I wanted to get some suggestions for three good front speakers, two in-wall surrounds and a sub. I'm not shooting for really high end stuff, but for something that leans more toward the HT requirements that will also have good audio performance. Been an Audiophile for too long to totally give it up. :-)

Like I said, it's been awhile so I was hoping you guys can give me a starting point. BTW, I don't really have a firm budget in mind, but I'll probably have to get rid of my Klipsch and sub which will finance the new speakers.

Thanks so much.
jack_dotson
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knownothing
1,537 posts
 
Vandersteen is good suggestion. Here are a few more for for you to check out for your fronts:

-B&W 685 - front ported, fairly efficient, good for HT

-Focal Chorus 706V or 806V - front ported, very efficient, good for HT, bigger number = more $$ and you hear it

- Pardigm Titan Monitor - front ported, very efficient, big sound, good for HT

Whatever speakers you choose, make sure they can function well near the wall. auditoin of speakers in the shop sitting on stands away from the wall won't necessarily translate to a shelf next to the wall in your listening room.

Once you have selected your speakers, make sure the shelf you put your speakers on is secure and not going to vibrate (much). Once your shelf is secured, attach your speakers to the shelf with bluetack of similar adhesive material.
tobias
1,534 posts
 
A front port on a speaker may make it work a bit better when close to the wall than a rear ported design, but not always. There are actually not a lot of stand-mounted speakers specifically designed to be near the wall. Most of them like a little space behind them.

If a speaker is specifically designed to go near, on, or in the wall, that's your best bet. In-walls are popular again now for small HT setups or for whole-house systems. One of the very best makers of near-wall ( bookshelf really on a bookshelf ) speakers is North Creek Music Systems.

http://www.northcreekmusic.com/
mceljo
1,348 posts
 
Knownothing - Have you listened to a 706v side by side with an 806v? The store that I deal with generally only carries the 706v as the recommended Chorus bookshelf model and then steps to the 816v as the recommended Chorus floorstanding model. They've told me on more than one occasion that they think the 706v is the better value. They do have an 806v in the store currently because they obtained several different Chorus 800 models in the Moka color that has been discontinued. I have not taken the time to compare the two directly. The only difference, that I know of, is the thickness of the cabinets. The salesman thought that resonance became an issue with the floorstanders. I should have taken the opportunity to demo side by side.

Jack_dotson - These Focal speakers sound great (my father-in-law has a pair of 706v speakers) and might be an excellent option for you. There is an in-wall version of the 706v as well that you could use for a full system match.
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knownothing
1,537 posts
 
Yes, sort of. I actually mis-typed - I meant to type the 706V and the 807V, which I have compared. Sorry for the confusion. I also compared these two speakers with Dali Icon monitors. I thought of the three, the 807V's sounded the best: less grainy, less treble glare, natural but not reticent midrange, stronger and more tuneful bass. I am guessing there is more going on in terms of differences than just a thicker cabinet to produce the results I heard.

The 806V is s smaller stand mount, and more comparable to the 705V, I think.
mceljo
1,348 posts
 
The 706v and 806v share the same drivers (Chorus tweeter and 6-1/2 inch bass driver). The 807v uses the same tweeter but has a unique to it 7 inch bass driver. I've listened to an 807v speaker once and was impressed. The 705v uses a 5 inch bass driver. The 6-1/2 inch driver is used throughout the Chorus series speakers, only the 705v and 807v use something different.
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