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Post by hifiaudio2 on Jan 10, 2017 17:09:13 GMT -5
I dont see the T2 specs up yet, but since the reality is that the price is very comparable between these two setups, what would be the better home theater performer?
Stealth 8 for LCR
Airmotiv 6s for side and rear surrounds
Goldenear HTR 7000 (x4) for Atmos
(existing) UPA2 and UPA200 amps for Atmos speaker
OR
Airmotiv T2 for LCR
Airmotiv B1 or E1 for side and rear surrounds
GoldenEar HTR 7000 for Atmos
New XPA gen 3 amp... would still need one more amp channel
(existing) UPA2 and UPA200 amp for Atmos
I am leaning toward the Stealth setup.. active speakers seem like such an improvement generally and I had a great experience with the Seaton active speakers, but if the Airmotiv towers have better off axis or are in some way "designed" more for home theater, vs the nearfield monitor design of the Stealth, I am open to that.
Oh... subs for either setup are four of the 15" Ultimax driver kit from parts express and a channel from the Behringer NU6000DSP amp.. subs will be in the 4 corners of the room.
Room is 17.8W x 22L x 9H. Will be an acoustically transparent screen and all speakers will be behind it.
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Post by frenchyfranky on Jan 10, 2017 18:04:45 GMT -5
I think that for the second option you must go for T2 , C2 , E2 , B2 , instead of B1 , E1
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Post by goozoo on Jan 10, 2017 20:03:07 GMT -5
Both systems will give you a great performance for HT, but I think if you go stealth you should do ALL channels as stealth 8's. The challenge with near field speakers is the off axis sound stage is narrower than a full tower three way system. The T2s will give you greater presence of sound, but will require external amplification to show off their muscle. Your bass response will also be smoother with the added drivers on the T2s. Either way, I would also suggest you look into a external DSP for the subs (like miniDSP 2x4) and a digital EQ for the center channel post DIRAC correction (like the Behringer DEQ2496). While the rest of the speakers will do well with DIRAC correction, the center channel is still prone to anomalies of being too hot, too cool, etc due to the x house curve employed by the studios during mixing. I have mine setup with 2 different settings for Dolby True HD vs. DTS-HDMA.
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Post by hifiaudio2 on Jan 10, 2017 20:21:38 GMT -5
I think that for the second option you must go for T2 , C2 , E2 , B2 , instead of B1 , E1 Note that I don't need a center, it would be another t2 in the middle. I don't think I care for dipole sides and rears. |
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Post by hifiaudio2 on Jan 10, 2017 20:23:14 GMT -5
Both systems will give you a great performance for HT, but I think if you go stealth you should do ALL channels as stealth 8's. The challenge with near field speakers is the off axis sound stage is narrower than a full tower three way system. The T2s will give you greater presence of sound, but will require external amplification to show off their muscle. Your bass response will also be smoother with the added drivers on the T2s. Either way, I would also suggest you look into a external DSP for the subs (like miniDSP 2x4) and a digital EQ for the center channel post DIRAC correction (like the Behringer DEQ2496). That Beringer nu6000dsp does have per channel ParEQ for the subs. Along with phase/delay/volume. |
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Post by copperpipe on Jan 10, 2017 20:35:48 GMT -5
Both systems will give you a great performance for HT, but I think if you go stealth you should do ALL channels as stealth 8's. The challenge with near field speakers is the off axis sound stage is narrower than a full tower three way system. The T2s will give you greater presence of sound, but will require external amplification to show off their muscle. Your bass response will also be smoother with the added drivers on the T2s. Either way, I would also suggest you look into a external DSP for the subs (like miniDSP 2x4) and a digital EQ for the center channel post DIRAC correction (like the Behringer DEQ2496). While the rest of the speakers will do well with DIRAC correction, the center channel is still prone to anomalies of being too hot, too cool, etc due to the x house curve employed by the studios during mixing. I have mine setup with 2 different settings for Dolby True HD vs. DTS-HDMA. Do you have any graphs to backup your claims that the stealth 8 would be narrower than T2? I doubt it, they are pretty much same speaker in terms of tweeter and woofers, the stealth 8 are not really "near field monitors" like (say) the airmotiv 4 would be classified as. A three way speaker just means tweeter + midrange + bass, but again that doesn't necessarily mean greater horizontal axis. Also don't overlook the massive advantage the stealth 8 has over the T2: monoblocks, and active crossovers. |
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Post by goozoo on Jan 11, 2017 0:52:34 GMT -5
Both systems will give you a great performance for HT, but I think if you go stealth you should do ALL channels as stealth 8's. The challenge with near field speakers is the off axis sound stage is narrower than a full tower three way system. The T2s will give you greater presence of sound, but will require external amplification to show off their muscle. Your bass response will also be smoother with the added drivers on the T2s. Either way, I would also suggest you look into a external DSP for the subs (like miniDSP 2x4) and a digital EQ for the center channel post DIRAC correction (like the Behringer DEQ2496). While the rest of the speakers will do well with DIRAC correction, the center channel is still prone to anomalies of being too hot, too cool, etc due to the x house curve employed by the studios during mixing. I have mine setup with 2 different settings for Dolby True HD vs. DTS-HDMA. Do you have any graphs to backup your claims that the stealth 8 would be narrower than T2? I doubt it, they are pretty much same speaker in terms of tweeter and woofers, the stealth 8 are not really "near field monitors" like (say) the airmotiv 4 would be classified as. A three way speaker just means tweeter + midrange + bass, but again that doesn't necessarily mean greater horizontal axis. Also don't overlook the massive advantage the stealth 8 has over the T2: monoblocks, and active crossovers. To answer your question, I don't have any graphs to backup that the Stealth 8 would have narrower horizontal axis than the T2 as they (T2s) are not even out yet. I believe the T2s have larger drivers and given the design of a multiway speaker and its' inherent acoustical properties as a result, you do tend to get a greater spread of sound. Once again the T2s are not even out yet and you could be completely correct. We use Stealth 8s in a lot our home studio installs and have even done a couple of theaters with them. Truly an outstanding speaker; albeit very neutral and ideal for mixing audio in a home studio environment. As for the advantages that the monoblock amps and crossovers provide the stealth, the OP will gain more from his idea of using an outboard DSP like the Behringer nu6000 iNuke, as it will provide a greater level of control that you simply cannot get with consumer audio gear. This is why we often factor in an external DSP into the overall build of the theaters we design and install. |
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Post by copperpipe on Jan 11, 2017 9:09:13 GMT -5
To answer your question, I don't have any graphs to backup that the Stealth 8 would have narrower horizontal axis than the T2 as they (T2s) are not even out yet. I believe the T2s have larger drivers and given the design of a multiway speaker and its' inherent acoustical properties as a result, you do tend to get a greater spread of sound. Once again the T2s are not even out yet and you could be completely correct. We use Stealth 8s in a lot our home studio installs and have even done a couple of theaters with them. Truly an outstanding speaker; albeit very neutral and ideal for mixing audio in a home studio environment. As for the advantages that the monoblock amps and crossovers provide the stealth, the OP will gain more from his idea of using an outboard DSP like the Behringer nu6000 iNuke, as it will provide a greater level of control that you simply cannot get with consumer audio gear. This is why we often factor in an external DSP into the overall build of the theaters we design and install. The stealth 8 and T2 both use 8 inch drivers, though of course the T2 has a second one; advantage goes to T2 there. But the DSP stuff can be applied to a stealth 8 setup as well, and still get the added advantage of monoblocks (with bi-amping) and active crossovers. Since subs are going to be used in both cases, I'm not sure the extra woofer in the T2 will even be used depending on crossover settings. I dunno, I would lean towards the stealth 8. I don't think the stealth's were ever compromised in some way to only sound good near-field and not in a more home theatre type setting. They (probably) use identical tweeters and woofers, exterior design is similar; they are a 2 way, yes, but that doesn't necessarily mean "near field" does it? Think I've seen many home theatre speakers that are 2 way. Actually the only advantage I can think of (if subs are being used in both cases) is that the T2's have grills. |
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Post by stads77 on Jan 11, 2017 11:47:00 GMT -5
Is the Stealth 8 tweeter larger too?
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Post by hifiaudio2 on Jan 11, 2017 12:18:44 GMT -5
It does have a larger tweeter. I wonder if it is crossed over lower as well (I would like that). I asked Emotiva for crossover data and they said Lonnie would call me with that, but it never happened.
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Post by ÈlTwo on Jan 11, 2017 12:55:51 GMT -5
Why no center for the center channel?
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Post by hifiaudio2 on Jan 11, 2017 14:07:29 GMT -5
Another full speaker in the center, not a "center channel speaker". So a Stealth 8 for a center.....
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Post by ÈlTwo on Jan 11, 2017 14:41:51 GMT -5
Another full speaker in the center, not a "center channel speaker". So a Stealth 8 for a center..... No, I see that for both proposed set ups, but why? |
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Post by hifiaudio2 on Jan 11, 2017 14:46:01 GMT -5
Not sure I follow your question. A regular T2 tower or identical Stealth 8 speaker would always be preferred over a compromised center channel design.
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Post by frenchyfranky on Jan 11, 2017 16:04:46 GMT -5
A good designed center channel speaker oriented especially for dialog is habitually preferred and better suited for this duty.
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Post by Axis on Jan 11, 2017 16:11:09 GMT -5
A good designed center channel speaker oriented especially for dialog is habitually preferred and better suited for this duty. have you thought about the new T2 and C2 ? I know you love your speakers and I loved them also the times I heard them in Franklin TN. Yes I have heard them. They were bad ass. I kinda think this new setup may just be a whole lot better. Don't get mad. Get new stuff !  Not meaning you Frenchy. Cheers Frenchy ! |
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Post by frenchyfranky on Jan 11, 2017 19:15:04 GMT -5
A good designed center channel speaker oriented especially for dialog is habitually preferred and better suited for this duty. have you thought about the new T2 and C2 ? I know you love your speakers and I loved them also the times I heard them in Franklin TN. Yes I have heard them. They were bad ass. I kinda think this new setup may just be a whole lot better. Don't get mad. Get new stuff ! Not meaning you Frenchy. Cheers Frenchy ! I will resist.  But I really like the new C2, I am waiting for the specs |
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Post by hifiaudio2 on Jan 11, 2017 19:24:30 GMT -5
A good designed center channel speaker oriented especially for dialog is habitually preferred and better suited for this duty. Never heard that before, but always open to learn new things. Why would it be preferred? The whole point of the design is that it fits horizontally under TVs. I obviously don't need that. |
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Post by frenchyfranky on Jan 11, 2017 21:00:25 GMT -5
A good designed center channel speaker oriented especially for dialog is habitually preferred and better suited for this duty. Never heard that before, but always open to learn new things. Why would it be preferred? The whole point of the design is that it fits horizontally under TVs. I obviously don't need that. Not only the horizontally position and the horizontal array of the speakers are better for dialog center channel but also on a well designed center speakers like the C2 you will notice that it have two good midrange drivers to properly reproducing the human voice frequencies spectrum. That's the reason why I said , "A good designed center channel speaker oriented especially for dialog"Generally center channel speaker are midrange focused without compromising the rest of frequencies. |
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Post by hifiaudio2 on Jan 11, 2017 21:15:08 GMT -5
I disagree. The horizontal array is simply the best compromise for fitting under the TV. Notice the recent trend on the "better" center channels to have a vertically oriented tweeter and midrange flanked by other drivers producing lower into the frequency range. Horizontal dispersion is best served by a vertically arranged set of drivers. Mtm and coaxial arrays of drivers are also very popular. Do you see examples of high end theaters using acoustic screens sticking a normal center channel behind it?
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