can small speakers like bose kef etc produce an equally good sound like larger speakers floorstanding etc
small
or big
or big
BIG or Small?
- Thread starter tvspecv
- Start date
No Chance, a decent traditional box speaker will trounce most sub/sat systems especially in large rooms where they can breath.Forget any Bose system so overrated and expensive.
I think there are certainly some good sub / sat systems on the market, and the one I use I find great for films and music. The sub's really important for the sub / sat systems, but as long as it's agile higher up and integrates well, it should be OK.
However, while I've done no direct comparisons, the wisdom is that you'll pay more for a sub / sat system to get the same performance, and I think you have to be more careful as they aren't all suited to films and music.
However, while I've done no direct comparisons, the wisdom is that you'll pay more for a sub / sat system to get the same performance, and I think you have to be more careful as they aren't all suited to films and music.
The Bose Acoustimass system does not tell you the frequency response of any of the speakers in the specifications or owners manual. This would ring alarm bells to me as far as sound quality is concerned. I would also be worried about how low frequency the satellite speakers can go and how high a volume they can go at that frequency as if the crossover frequency of the sub woofer is anything above 120Hz it might cause the sub woofer to be localized as a source of sound. The subwoofer itself is only three 13cm woofers which are not going to be capable of going very deep.
So better than the speakers on a flat screen tv. But not as good as a proper sub-satellite system with a decent 8" long throw or bigger active sub woofer going down to 20Hz or lower and proper hifi bookshelf/stand speakers with frequency response down to 60-80Hz. As for floor standards I think they are best if you do not need or want really low bass extension but want volume and have a large room. Sub woofers tend to annoy the neighbors. If you have no neighbors with joining walls and want the best sound quality for movies I would go with a decent sub woofer and satellite system.
So better than the speakers on a flat screen tv. But not as good as a proper sub-satellite system with a decent 8" long throw or bigger active sub woofer going down to 20Hz or lower and proper hifi bookshelf/stand speakers with frequency response down to 60-80Hz. As for floor standards I think they are best if you do not need or want really low bass extension but want volume and have a large room. Sub woofers tend to annoy the neighbors. If you have no neighbors with joining walls and want the best sound quality for movies I would go with a decent sub woofer and satellite system.
In an ideal world i'd like to go big-B&W or Monitor Audio- however due to restrictions, OH and little fingers, i had to settle for the Jamo A102 package, however im more than happy with them,-small speakers- BIG sound IMHO
I think with good subwoofer integration it can do well. But if your up to compromise small speaker boxes can look stylisch to and will be an improvement.
I had these Missions with a sub included...
http://www.superfi.co.uk/images/cinemam72.jpg
In a not to big room it sounded very good, i wish i didn't sell it a few years ago, i had them in silver and What Hifi rated them 5 stars back then and i think they would still sound very good.
I had these Missions with a sub included...
http://www.superfi.co.uk/images/cinemam72.jpg
In a not to big room it sounded very good, i wish i didn't sell it a few years ago, i had them in silver and What Hifi rated them 5 stars back then and i think they would still sound very good.
Guys,
We have a Bose Acoustimass 15 speaker system, driven by a Yamaha DSP A595a amplifier, all purchased just over 10 years ago. Our house is an old cottage with beamed ceilings, room size about 4.2 x 4.7. I have the sub-woofer on a rack up inside the inglenook and all the small sub speakers just disappear against the black beams - so much so that people often ask "where does the sound come from ?"
I agree with the discussion that better audio quality may be available with other speakers but for our use - almost exclusively to watch television either off air or via DVD - the Bose system is the ultimate fusion of form and function. When I upgrade our multiroom AV system later this year everything will be changed, except the Bose speaker system.
Remember: "One mans meat is another mans poison"
Bob.G
We have a Bose Acoustimass 15 speaker system, driven by a Yamaha DSP A595a amplifier, all purchased just over 10 years ago. Our house is an old cottage with beamed ceilings, room size about 4.2 x 4.7. I have the sub-woofer on a rack up inside the inglenook and all the small sub speakers just disappear against the black beams - so much so that people often ask "where does the sound come from ?"
I agree with the discussion that better audio quality may be available with other speakers but for our use - almost exclusively to watch television either off air or via DVD - the Bose system is the ultimate fusion of form and function. When I upgrade our multiroom AV system later this year everything will be changed, except the Bose speaker system.
Remember: "One mans meat is another mans poison"
Bob.G
It depends on your room. All things being equal, a large speaker system will deliver better sound than a sub/sat package. However, if it's installed into an inadequate space - for example, if you've got to cram a massive floorstander into a corner simply to fit it into your living room - you'll create more sonic problems than you solve.
A small speaker system correctly installed, with each speaker placed in its optimum position within the room, can often deliver excellent sound, and in some circumstances it can even be the better choice.
A small speaker system correctly installed, with each speaker placed in its optimum position within the room, can often deliver excellent sound, and in some circumstances it can even be the better choice.
Frank Harvey
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Most people make the incorrect assumption that Bose is out there to challenge high end systems and convert Krell users to Lifestyle systems. Like most products, Bose has it's place in the market, and has kept that market despite others trying to cash in on their success in this area. While I'm not exactly a Bose fan, I can appreciate why they do what they do.
Also, people are under the assumption that people who buy Bose do so purely due to their marketing. As I've said before, anybody who has purchased Bose from us have always listened to it in store - no special shopfitting, just an old 16th Century building.
Bose make no claims about their systems using subwoofers - they're called 'bass modules', which fill in the frequencies the satellites can't reach - it's not designed to rattle your house at 10Hz. I think issuing any specs on their speaker systems would be pointless, as those who buy them aren't really interested in specs, they just want something that's small and discreet and sounds good.
Larger speakers will always sound better, although there are exceptions. MK sub/sat systems can produce huge soundstages and play at Reference Level with ease because of the way the system works- these we find superior to hi-fi speakers when reproducing movie soundtracks.
Also, people are under the assumption that people who buy Bose do so purely due to their marketing. As I've said before, anybody who has purchased Bose from us have always listened to it in store - no special shopfitting, just an old 16th Century building.
Bose make no claims about their systems using subwoofers - they're called 'bass modules', which fill in the frequencies the satellites can't reach - it's not designed to rattle your house at 10Hz. I think issuing any specs on their speaker systems would be pointless, as those who buy them aren't really interested in specs, they just want something that's small and discreet and sounds good.
Larger speakers will always sound better, although there are exceptions. MK sub/sat systems can produce huge soundstages and play at Reference Level with ease because of the way the system works- these we find superior to hi-fi speakers when reproducing movie soundtracks.
It also depends how loud you like to go - chances are that the larger systems will sound better at higher volumes, speaker dependent of course. Some floorstanders prefer a bit more juice to get the best out of them, and sound more impressive when cranked. 🙂
Frank Harvey
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Completely agree, which is where decent dealers can make all the difference. It amazes me that some buyers spec their speakers 'blind' on the basis of our reviews, no matter how many times we try to point out the variables involved. I've long advocated the notion that a good system includes both the kit and the room, and that no-one should attempt to specify the former without at least some consideration towards the latter.
I've fond memories of M&K kit, by the way: I used a S-150 system for many years as reference, with two sets of SS-150 surrounds and two MX-350 subs. Not the biggest speakers in the world, but the sound.cor.
I've fond memories of M&K kit, by the way: I used a S-150 system for many years as reference, with two sets of SS-150 surrounds and two MX-350 subs. Not the biggest speakers in the world, but the sound.cor.
Floor standers with larger or more drivers can go louder with less effort from the amp, they are usually more efficient, so easier for the amp to keep under control at higher volumes than bookshelf speakers, so less likely to induce clipping. But floor standers can have more coloration than bookshelf speakers. Due to wavelengths of internal resonance in the larger cabinet these are reduced by internal baffling and acoustic dampening material but may be too long in wavelength to completely eliminate. Also the more internal crossovers and drivers the more muddy the sound because at the crossover point between two drivers the direction of the drivers change. More drivers also produce more sound waves to interact which can cause lobbing and comb filtering. Floor standers usually have lower and louder bass than bookshelf speakers. But due to placement for best sound stage imaging and needing to be well away from boundary walls, their placement is not usually the best location for bass reproduction. Depending on the amplifier due to all frequencies being driven by the amplifier and bass frequencies being the most difficult to control a floor stander bass maybe less deep or less controlled than an active sub woofers. I think the major advantage of floor standers with larger or more drivers is volume in very large rooms and bass response is fine with music and movies without a separate sub woofer.
The disadvantages of bookshelf speakers are mainly offset when used with a sub woofer. Bookshelf speakers can not produce as much bass depth or volume, and if capable of deep bass are usually low impedance - difficult for the amp to control. With an active sub woofer providing the bass an AV amplifier bass management can re-direct the frequencies to the sub woofer prior to amplification, so freeing up the amplifiers power and bookshelf speakers, making them very easy to drive and so very little distortion. An AV amplifiers bass management also makes integrating the sub woofer easier. With a stereo amp connected by high level to a sub woofer it is a lot more difficult to integrate the sub woofer and the advantage of lowering the load on the amp is lost. Active sub woofers have a dedicated amplifier so are usually capable of going deeper and being better controlled than floor stander bass, they can also be placed for best bass response in the room. But it can be difficult to integrate the sub woofer with the bookshelf speakers, if doing so by ear. So when huge amounts of volume are not needed to fill a very large room, but quality is and if you can get the active sub woofer and bookshelf speakers to integrate well they provide the best sound in my opinion.
Really small satellite speakers and so called subs, compromise sound quality for convenience. The smallest I would go are HiFi bookshelf speakers and a active sub woofer. Floor standers in my opinion are only worthwhile in a very large room where you need the volume and have the space for them to be well into the room. Bookshelf speakers without an active sub woofer when you can not have lots of bass or high volume due to neighbors, or it is a small room casual listening. Bookshelf speakers and a active sub woofer for best sound quality in all but the largest of rooms. Very small satellite speaker and sub systems when the music is incidental, background, so sort of ok with tv and movie sound tracks.
The disadvantages of bookshelf speakers are mainly offset when used with a sub woofer. Bookshelf speakers can not produce as much bass depth or volume, and if capable of deep bass are usually low impedance - difficult for the amp to control. With an active sub woofer providing the bass an AV amplifier bass management can re-direct the frequencies to the sub woofer prior to amplification, so freeing up the amplifiers power and bookshelf speakers, making them very easy to drive and so very little distortion. An AV amplifiers bass management also makes integrating the sub woofer easier. With a stereo amp connected by high level to a sub woofer it is a lot more difficult to integrate the sub woofer and the advantage of lowering the load on the amp is lost. Active sub woofers have a dedicated amplifier so are usually capable of going deeper and being better controlled than floor stander bass, they can also be placed for best bass response in the room. But it can be difficult to integrate the sub woofer with the bookshelf speakers, if doing so by ear. So when huge amounts of volume are not needed to fill a very large room, but quality is and if you can get the active sub woofer and bookshelf speakers to integrate well they provide the best sound in my opinion.
Really small satellite speakers and so called subs, compromise sound quality for convenience. The smallest I would go are HiFi bookshelf speakers and a active sub woofer. Floor standers in my opinion are only worthwhile in a very large room where you need the volume and have the space for them to be well into the room. Bookshelf speakers without an active sub woofer when you can not have lots of bass or high volume due to neighbors, or it is a small room casual listening. Bookshelf speakers and a active sub woofer for best sound quality in all but the largest of rooms. Very small satellite speaker and sub systems when the music is incidental, background, so sort of ok with tv and movie sound tracks.
have been using a Bose acustimas 2.1 speakers for nearly 10 years now , driven by my dads 30 year old meridian 101 preamp & 105*4 monobloc power amps along with a new Nad 545cd player and the sound to my ears is really excellent.The reason I chose the Bose 2.1 speakers is that the listening area I have it all sited is a smallish dining room and I didn`t want "masses" of equipment on view or were the first thing to hit you when you walked in to the room , too larger speakers would be sonically daft to put into a room of the size i listen to music
I would probably think as well that if the Bose 2.1 speakers were to be listened to in a larger room the sound would be somewhat lost and I would definately audition larger speakers plus the bose speakers arn`t too fussy where you position them.
I would probably think as well that if the Bose 2.1 speakers were to be listened to in a larger room the sound would be somewhat lost and I would definately audition larger speakers plus the bose speakers arn`t too fussy where you position them.
Frank Harvey
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As far as home cinema is concerned, movie soundtracks are mixed on sub/sat systems. These are used so that the end result is more predictable - meaning that if it is played back on another sub/sat based system, it will sound far more like what was mixed in the studio than if it was played back on a hi-fi speaker package. Also, the use of sealed cabinets cuts down the possibility of the signal wildly differing from the original.
There are no hi-fi speakers out there that have been able to pull me away from the MK S150 system as yet.....
You have to be careful not to mix up a 'lifestyle' sub/sat system with a 'real' sub/sat system.
There are no hi-fi speakers out there that have been able to pull me away from the MK S150 system as yet.....
You have to be careful not to mix up a 'lifestyle' sub/sat system with a 'real' sub/sat system.
FrankHarveyHiFi:
As far as home cinema is concerned, movie soundtracks are mixed on sub/sat systems. These are used so that the end result is more predictable - meaning that if it is played back on another sub/sat based system, it will sound far more like what was mixed in the studio than if it was played back on a hi-fi speaker package. Also, the use of sealed cabinets cuts down the possibility of the signal wildly differing from the original.
There are no hi-fi speakers out there that have been able to pull me away from the MK S150 system as yet.....
You have to be careful not to mix up a 'lifestyle' sub/sat system with a 'real' sub/sat system.
dave how much does the mk s150 retail for? i cant see it on your site! what is the ideal room size for them and what would get the best out of them reciever wise - would a yamaha z11 be the minimum or would a z7 be up to the job? thanks.
As far as home cinema is concerned, movie soundtracks are mixed on sub/sat systems. These are used so that the end result is more predictable - meaning that if it is played back on another sub/sat based system, it will sound far more like what was mixed in the studio than if it was played back on a hi-fi speaker package. Also, the use of sealed cabinets cuts down the possibility of the signal wildly differing from the original.
There are no hi-fi speakers out there that have been able to pull me away from the MK S150 system as yet.....
You have to be careful not to mix up a 'lifestyle' sub/sat system with a 'real' sub/sat system.
dave how much does the mk s150 retail for? i cant see it on your site! what is the ideal room size for them and what would get the best out of them reciever wise - would a yamaha z11 be the minimum or would a z7 be up to the job? thanks.
Frank Harvey
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fowler:dave how much does the mk s150 retail for? i cant see it on your site! what is the ideal room size for them and what would get the best out of them reciever wise - would a yamaha z11 be the minimum or would a z7 be up to the job? thanks.
The S150's are £995 each - if you search "S150" it comes up at my end.....seeing as you're trying to access them on our website, I assume it's ok for me to post a link?..... http://www.hifix.co.uk/sku.lasso?MILLER and KREISEL-S150&item=3ccf713c06a055bd3e249edb25e5b3e1
As far as room size goes, Gecko do have a formula for working out how many 150's it takes to fill a given room size - obviously this is for halls and exhibitions and so on. I use mine in a 3.5x4m room, but they're just at home in a through lounge or dedicated home cinemas, which are sometimes bigger. How well they fill those areas will depend on the amplifier. A DSPZ11 would be the ideal, along with a good quality pre/power. DSPZ7's will happily drive them to levels your neighbours won't appreciate
I used mine with a Yamaha RXV2400 for a short while, and the Z7's much better than that.
For those who don't have room for the 150's, they can try the 950's - for most people they'd be enough for the average living room at normal volume levels.
The S150's are £995 each - if you search "S150" it comes up at my end.....seeing as you're trying to access them on our website, I assume it's ok for me to post a link?..... http://www.hifix.co.uk/sku.lasso?MILLER and KREISEL-S150&item=3ccf713c06a055bd3e249edb25e5b3e1
As far as room size goes, Gecko do have a formula for working out how many 150's it takes to fill a given room size - obviously this is for halls and exhibitions and so on. I use mine in a 3.5x4m room, but they're just at home in a through lounge or dedicated home cinemas, which are sometimes bigger. How well they fill those areas will depend on the amplifier. A DSPZ11 would be the ideal, along with a good quality pre/power. DSPZ7's will happily drive them to levels your neighbours won't appreciate
I used mine with a Yamaha RXV2400 for a short while, and the Z7's much better than that.
For those who don't have room for the 150's, they can try the 950's - for most people they'd be enough for the average living room at normal volume levels.
FrankHarveyHiFi:
fowler:dave how much does the mk s150 retail for? i cant see it on your site! what is the ideal room size for them and what would get the best out of them reciever wise - would a yamaha z11 be the minimum or would a z7 be up to the job? thanks.
The S150's are £995 each - if you search "S150" it comes up at my end.....seeing as you're trying to access them on our website, I assume it's ok for me to post a link?..... http://www.hifix.co.uk/sku.lasso?MILLER and KREISEL-S150&item=3ccf713c06a055bd3e249edb25e5b3e1
As far as room size goes, Gecko do have a formula for working out how many 150's it takes to fill a given room size - obviously this is for halls and exhibitions and so on. I use mine in a 3.5x4m room, but they're just at home in a through lounge or dedicated home cinemas, which are sometimes bigger. How well they fill those areas will depend on the amplifier. A DSPZ11 would be the ideal, along with a good quality pre/power. DSPZ7's will happily drive them to levels your neighbours won't appreciate
I used mine with a Yamaha RXV2400 for a short while, and the Z7's much better than that.
For those who don't have room for the 150's, they can try the 950's - for most people they'd be enough for the average living room at normal volume levels.
thanks david.do you use a s150 for the front 3 speakers or is there a dedicated centre available? im going to be upgrading my monitor audios in the coming months - iv got the s150 pakage in mind along with atc19's fronts c3c centre and atc7 surrounds, and monitor audio pl100s the matching centre and some gsfx surrounds! in your opinion how do they compare purely for movie use? my room is around the same size as yours. thanks.
fowler:dave how much does the mk s150 retail for? i cant see it on your site! what is the ideal room size for them and what would get the best out of them reciever wise - would a yamaha z11 be the minimum or would a z7 be up to the job? thanks.
The S150's are £995 each - if you search "S150" it comes up at my end.....seeing as you're trying to access them on our website, I assume it's ok for me to post a link?..... http://www.hifix.co.uk/sku.lasso?MILLER and KREISEL-S150&item=3ccf713c06a055bd3e249edb25e5b3e1
As far as room size goes, Gecko do have a formula for working out how many 150's it takes to fill a given room size - obviously this is for halls and exhibitions and so on. I use mine in a 3.5x4m room, but they're just at home in a through lounge or dedicated home cinemas, which are sometimes bigger. How well they fill those areas will depend on the amplifier. A DSPZ11 would be the ideal, along with a good quality pre/power. DSPZ7's will happily drive them to levels your neighbours won't appreciate
I used mine with a Yamaha RXV2400 for a short while, and the Z7's much better than that.
For those who don't have room for the 150's, they can try the 950's - for most people they'd be enough for the average living room at normal volume levels.
thanks david.do you use a s150 for the front 3 speakers or is there a dedicated centre available? im going to be upgrading my monitor audios in the coming months - iv got the s150 pakage in mind along with atc19's fronts c3c centre and atc7 surrounds, and monitor audio pl100s the matching centre and some gsfx surrounds! in your opinion how do they compare purely for movie use? my room is around the same size as yours. thanks.
Frank Harvey
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- Jun 27, 2008
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fowler:thanks david.do you use a s150 for the front 3 speakers or is there a dedicated centre available? im going to be upgrading my monitor audios in the coming months - iv got the s150 pakage in mind along with atc19's fronts c3c centre and atc7 surrounds, and monitor audio pl100s the matching centre and some gsfx surrounds! in your opinion how do they compare purely for movie use? my room is around the same size as yours. thanks.
One of the differences with MK is that the front L/C/R speakers are all exactly the same - only this can guarantee an exact timbre match across the front, and give far more realistic panning effects. This is why the 950's MAY be a little easier for some people to accommodate. They're also a far wider dispersion than hi-fi speakers, which helps positioning and opens up the soundstage for those not sitting in the sweet spot.
The PL100's are great for AV - they're very detailed, nice and sweet, but will need a good sub to back them up with. Also, the end result will depend on the amplifier being used. I heard them on the Arcam AVR600.
The ATC's are one of the closest speakers I've heard to MK with regards to movies. Nice and detailed, their leaner sound is a little more like the MK presentation, and they'll be easier to set up too as they're also sealed boxes like the MK's.
This is where I'm going to sound biased
. I've not yet heard any hi-fi speakers produce the same characteristics as the MK's. Their ability to bring out tiny details which would normally be quite subtle on hi-fi speakers is pretty amazing.
To work out whether you'd be an MK convert I think is quite easy - do you want to hear the soundtrack as it's intended? Imagine someone fires a gun close by - is it smooth and easy on the ear? I find hi-fi speakers tend to soften movie soundtracks - whether this is due to them being big boxes or whether it's because hi-fi speakers generally aren't flat frequency response I'm not sure, but I have my hunches.....
One of the differences with MK is that the front L/C/R speakers are all exactly the same - only this can guarantee an exact timbre match across the front, and give far more realistic panning effects. This is why the 950's MAY be a little easier for some people to accommodate. They're also a far wider dispersion than hi-fi speakers, which helps positioning and opens up the soundstage for those not sitting in the sweet spot.
The PL100's are great for AV - they're very detailed, nice and sweet, but will need a good sub to back them up with. Also, the end result will depend on the amplifier being used. I heard them on the Arcam AVR600.
The ATC's are one of the closest speakers I've heard to MK with regards to movies. Nice and detailed, their leaner sound is a little more like the MK presentation, and they'll be easier to set up too as they're also sealed boxes like the MK's.
This is where I'm going to sound biased
To work out whether you'd be an MK convert I think is quite easy - do you want to hear the soundtrack as it's intended? Imagine someone fires a gun close by - is it smooth and easy on the ear? I find hi-fi speakers tend to soften movie soundtracks - whether this is due to them being big boxes or whether it's because hi-fi speakers generally aren't flat frequency response I'm not sure, but I have my hunches.....
FrankHarveyHiFi:
fowler:thanks david.do you use a s150 for the front 3 speakers or is there a dedicated centre available? im going to be upgrading my monitor audios in the coming months - iv got the s150 pakage in mind along with atc19's fronts c3c centre and atc7 surrounds, and monitor audio pl100s the matching centre and some gsfx surrounds! in your opinion how do they compare purely for movie use? my room is around the same size as yours. thanks.
One of the differences with MK is that the front L/C/R speakers are all exactly the same - only this can guarantee an exact timbre match across the front, and give far more realistic panning effects. This is why the 950's MAY be a little easier for some people to accommodate. They're also a far wider dispersion than hi-fi speakers, which helps positioning and opens up the soundstage for those not sitting in the sweet spot.
The PL100's are great for AV - they're very detailed, nice and sweet, but will need a good sub to back them up with. Also, the end result will depend on the amplifier being used. I heard them on the Arcam AVR600.
The ATC's are one of the closest speakers I've heard to MK with regards to movies. Nice and detailed, their leaner sound is a little more like the MK presentation, and they'll be easier to set up too as they're also sealed boxes like the MK's.
This is where I'm going to sound biased
. I've not yet heard any hi-fi speakers produce the same characteristics as the MK's. Their ability to bring out tiny details which would normally be quite subtle on hi-fi speakers is pretty amazing.
To work out whether you'd be an MK convert I think is quite easy - do you want to hear the soundtrack as it's intended? Imagine someone fires a gun close by - is it smooth and easy on the ear? I find hi-fi speakers tend to soften movie soundtracks - whether this is due to them being big boxes or whether it's because hi-fi speakers generally aren't flat frequency response I'm not sure, but I have my hunches.....
thanks again david. the mk's sound great, i certainly do want to hear the movie soundtrack as the director intended, what stands do you use for the 150's? and what kind of speaker wire would be suitable? would keeping my rsw12 be a total mismatch with the mk's and atc's
fowler:thanks david.do you use a s150 for the front 3 speakers or is there a dedicated centre available? im going to be upgrading my monitor audios in the coming months - iv got the s150 pakage in mind along with atc19's fronts c3c centre and atc7 surrounds, and monitor audio pl100s the matching centre and some gsfx surrounds! in your opinion how do they compare purely for movie use? my room is around the same size as yours. thanks.
One of the differences with MK is that the front L/C/R speakers are all exactly the same - only this can guarantee an exact timbre match across the front, and give far more realistic panning effects. This is why the 950's MAY be a little easier for some people to accommodate. They're also a far wider dispersion than hi-fi speakers, which helps positioning and opens up the soundstage for those not sitting in the sweet spot.
The PL100's are great for AV - they're very detailed, nice and sweet, but will need a good sub to back them up with. Also, the end result will depend on the amplifier being used. I heard them on the Arcam AVR600.
The ATC's are one of the closest speakers I've heard to MK with regards to movies. Nice and detailed, their leaner sound is a little more like the MK presentation, and they'll be easier to set up too as they're also sealed boxes like the MK's.
This is where I'm going to sound biased
To work out whether you'd be an MK convert I think is quite easy - do you want to hear the soundtrack as it's intended? Imagine someone fires a gun close by - is it smooth and easy on the ear? I find hi-fi speakers tend to soften movie soundtracks - whether this is due to them being big boxes or whether it's because hi-fi speakers generally aren't flat frequency response I'm not sure, but I have my hunches.....
thanks again david. the mk's sound great, i certainly do want to hear the movie soundtrack as the director intended, what stands do you use for the 150's? and what kind of speaker wire would be suitable? would keeping my rsw12 be a total mismatch with the mk's and atc's
FrankHarveyHiFi:
fowler:thanks david.do you use a s150 for the front 3 speakers or is there a dedicated centre available? im going to be upgrading my monitor audios in the coming months - iv got the s150 pakage in mind along with atc19's fronts c3c centre and atc7 surrounds, and monitor audio pl100s the matching centre and some gsfx surrounds! in your opinion how do they compare purely for movie use? my room is around the same size as yours. thanks.
One of the differences with MK is that the front L/C/R speakers are all exactly the same - only this can guarantee an exact timbre match across the front, and give far more realistic panning effects. This is why the 950's MAY be a little easier for some people to accommodate. They're also a far wider dispersion than hi-fi speakers, which helps positioning and opens up the soundstage for those not sitting in the sweet spot.
The PL100's are great for AV - they're very detailed, nice and sweet, but will need a good sub to back them up with. Also, the end result will depend on the amplifier being used. I heard them on the Arcam AVR600.
The ATC's are one of the closest speakers I've heard to MK with regards to movies. Nice and detailed, their leaner sound is a little more like the MK presentation, and they'll be easier to set up too as they're also sealed boxes like the MK's.
This is where I'm going to sound biased
. I've not yet heard any hi-fi speakers produce the same characteristics as the MK's. Their ability to bring out tiny details which would normally be quite subtle on hi-fi speakers is pretty amazing.
To work out whether you'd be an MK convert I think is quite easy - do you want to hear the soundtrack as it's intended? Imagine someone fires a gun close by - is it smooth and easy on the ear? I find hi-fi speakers tend to soften movie soundtracks - whether this is due to them being big boxes or whether it's because hi-fi speakers generally aren't flat frequency response I'm not sure, but I have my hunches.....
I can imagine the MK's are like you say good with movies, you say they let you hear the soundtrack as it's intended. But they aren't as good with music as some hifi speakers?? I'm not saying this could not be true, but how can a speakers sound as it should be with movies and not with music?? I like to hear the sound to be as intended, movies or music, both are sound are they?
fowler:thanks david.do you use a s150 for the front 3 speakers or is there a dedicated centre available? im going to be upgrading my monitor audios in the coming months - iv got the s150 pakage in mind along with atc19's fronts c3c centre and atc7 surrounds, and monitor audio pl100s the matching centre and some gsfx surrounds! in your opinion how do they compare purely for movie use? my room is around the same size as yours. thanks.
One of the differences with MK is that the front L/C/R speakers are all exactly the same - only this can guarantee an exact timbre match across the front, and give far more realistic panning effects. This is why the 950's MAY be a little easier for some people to accommodate. They're also a far wider dispersion than hi-fi speakers, which helps positioning and opens up the soundstage for those not sitting in the sweet spot.
The PL100's are great for AV - they're very detailed, nice and sweet, but will need a good sub to back them up with. Also, the end result will depend on the amplifier being used. I heard them on the Arcam AVR600.
The ATC's are one of the closest speakers I've heard to MK with regards to movies. Nice and detailed, their leaner sound is a little more like the MK presentation, and they'll be easier to set up too as they're also sealed boxes like the MK's.
This is where I'm going to sound biased
To work out whether you'd be an MK convert I think is quite easy - do you want to hear the soundtrack as it's intended? Imagine someone fires a gun close by - is it smooth and easy on the ear? I find hi-fi speakers tend to soften movie soundtracks - whether this is due to them being big boxes or whether it's because hi-fi speakers generally aren't flat frequency response I'm not sure, but I have my hunches.....
I can imagine the MK's are like you say good with movies, you say they let you hear the soundtrack as it's intended. But they aren't as good with music as some hifi speakers?? I'm not saying this could not be true, but how can a speakers sound as it should be with movies and not with music?? I like to hear the sound to be as intended, movies or music, both are sound are they?
Frank Harvey
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- Jun 27, 2008
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fowler:thanks again david. the mk's sound great, i certainly do want to hear the movie soundtrack as the director intended, what stands do you use for the 150's? and what kind of speaker wire would be suitable? would keeping my rsw12 be a total mismatch with the mk's and atc's
At the moment they're on Apollo AZ's, but Atacama's HMS2's are great for them, with their larger top and bottom plate - more stable. I use Chord Rumour with mine, mainly because I was limited on the size of cable I could use (and I needed 50m!), so Rumour was ideal for me. Some people have used the Carnival Silver Screen which works fine too. If the amp is down the front under the TV, the front 2 speakers are generally short runs - I'd just get the best you can.
The Monitor Audio will work fine - although their subs are recommended to get the full benefit of them. I can explain that further if needed - I hope the OP doesn't feel we've hijacked the thread....
At the moment they're on Apollo AZ's, but Atacama's HMS2's are great for them, with their larger top and bottom plate - more stable. I use Chord Rumour with mine, mainly because I was limited on the size of cable I could use (and I needed 50m!), so Rumour was ideal for me. Some people have used the Carnival Silver Screen which works fine too. If the amp is down the front under the TV, the front 2 speakers are generally short runs - I'd just get the best you can.
The Monitor Audio will work fine - although their subs are recommended to get the full benefit of them. I can explain that further if needed - I hope the OP doesn't feel we've hijacked the thread....
Frank Harvey
Well-known member
- Jun 27, 2008
- 567
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- 18,890
RCduck7:I can imagine the MK's are like you say good with movies, you say they let you hear the soundtrack as it's intended. But they aren't as good with music as some hifi speakers?? I'm not saying this could not be true, but how can a speakers sound as it should be with movies and not with music?? I like to hear the sound to be as intended, movies or music, both are sound are they?
I think the main reason they're not so good with music is because of the fact they're a sub sat system. They don't have the warmth (or should I say, colouration) of a hi-fi speaker, so don't sound quite as 'nice', and to get the best from them for music they need to be set up very carefully. Having said that, their leanness can probably be put down to them being a sealed cabinet just as much as it can be put down to them being a sub/sat package, which will naturally sound a little different to a normal full range speaker. Many people who have purchased MK have done so purely for movies, but some do also buy with a view to using them for music as well. As far as I recall, I don't think anybody has not been impressed with their musical abilities, and many are actually quite surprised to hear how good they are. I listen to a lot of internet radio on mine, mostly chill out stuff, but they sound great.
However, taking into account a pair of S150's are just short of £2k, and the recommended subs to go with them are around £1,600 and £2,200, that's not cheap, and a pair of £3,600 hi-fi speakers will outperform them with music. Having said that, there are some people who have bought S150's purely for a 2.1 channel audio system, as they feel hi-fi speakers don't sound as good. I suppose you could say they're more like a studio monitor than a hi-fi speaker.
I've covered the "good with music, good with movies" thing many times on another forum. Many people can't get their head round it, but once you hear the difference in presentation between MK and normal hi-fi speakers, it becomes a little easier to understand. Mind you, that's relying on the user being able to get what the MK's are al about. That might sound weird, but they just don't do anything for some people, but for many others it's a point of no return.
I think the main reason they're not so good with music is because of the fact they're a sub sat system. They don't have the warmth (or should I say, colouration) of a hi-fi speaker, so don't sound quite as 'nice', and to get the best from them for music they need to be set up very carefully. Having said that, their leanness can probably be put down to them being a sealed cabinet just as much as it can be put down to them being a sub/sat package, which will naturally sound a little different to a normal full range speaker. Many people who have purchased MK have done so purely for movies, but some do also buy with a view to using them for music as well. As far as I recall, I don't think anybody has not been impressed with their musical abilities, and many are actually quite surprised to hear how good they are. I listen to a lot of internet radio on mine, mostly chill out stuff, but they sound great.
However, taking into account a pair of S150's are just short of £2k, and the recommended subs to go with them are around £1,600 and £2,200, that's not cheap, and a pair of £3,600 hi-fi speakers will outperform them with music. Having said that, there are some people who have bought S150's purely for a 2.1 channel audio system, as they feel hi-fi speakers don't sound as good. I suppose you could say they're more like a studio monitor than a hi-fi speaker.
I've covered the "good with music, good with movies" thing many times on another forum. Many people can't get their head round it, but once you hear the difference in presentation between MK and normal hi-fi speakers, it becomes a little easier to understand. Mind you, that's relying on the user being able to get what the MK's are al about. That might sound weird, but they just don't do anything for some people, but for many others it's a point of no return.
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