Which combo for music? (T3+ vs. B2+ and sub(s))

[cgramer]

Hi, all.

I'm planning to put together my new two-channel, mainly-music system soon, and I'm pretty much set on the BasX TA2 integrated amp. Due to my budget, I have to make a choice regarding speakers:

Option 1: Just get a pair of the Airmotiv T3+. For music, I don't think I'd be likely to need a subwoofer. With three 8-inch woofers per speaker, even if they don't dig as deep as a subwoofer, I think they'll have all the bass I'm likely to need for the jazz, folk, alternative, and electronic music I tend to listen to.

Option 2: Get the Airmotiv B2+ bookshelves along with a pair of the Airmotiv SE12 flex subwoofers. Maybe a bit less oomph from the speakers, but should be made up for by the subs.

Room is roughly 12 feet wide by 24-25 feet long, with 8-foot ceilings, in a basement. The speakers would be about 8 feet apart on the short (12-foot) wall, flanking my TV stand.

Would you pick option 1 or option 2, and why? And would the TA2 with its 135W/ch into 8 ohms be sufficient to power the T3+ properly?

Thanks in advance!

Chris

[KeithL]

As long as you have room for them I'd be inclined to go with the T3+ .
I think you'll also just plain find the performance of the T3+ a bit more impressive (the B2+ are really impressive for their size... but the T3+ are better).
And the T3+ will absolutely do a great job producing any of the sort of deep bass you'll ever encounter with music.
And, while it isn't necessarily a problem, that way you avoid any possible issues with "crossovers", and "smoothly integrating the speaker and the sub".
(And no fussing with stands.)

The only reason I would go the other way would be if there was a problem finding a good location for the T3+ .
(They are quite large, and very black, and do sort of "dominate the room"... which personally doesn't bother me a bit.)

And, yes, the TA2 has plenty of power to run them quite nicely...
(And, again, especially since you plan to use them mostly to listen to music.)

Sept 30, 2022 14:34:36 GMT -5 cgramer said:

Hi, all.

I'm planning to put together my new two-channel, mainly-music system soon, and I'm pretty much set on the BasX TA2 integrated amp. Due to my budget, I have to make a choice regarding speakers:

Option 1: Just get a pair of the Airmotiv T3+. For music, I don't think I'd be likely to need a subwoofer. With three 8-inch woofers per speaker, even if they don't dig as deep as a subwoofer, I think they'll have all the bass I'm likely to need for the jazz, folk, alternative, and electronic music I tend to listen to.

Option 2: Get the Airmotiv B2+ bookshelves along with a pair of the Airmotiv SE12 flex subwoofers. Maybe a bit less oomph from the speakers, but should be made up for by the subs.

Room is roughly 12 feet wide by 24-25 feet long, with 8-foot ceilings, in a basement. The speakers would be about 8 feet apart on the short (12-foot) wall, flanking my TV stand.

Would you pick option 1 or option 2, and why? And would the TA2 with its 135W/ch into 8 ohms be sufficient to power the T3+ properly?

Thanks in advance!

Chris

[cgramer]

Thanks for the reply! I also don't mind speakers that dominate the listening space, either. My current Yamahas are much the same, though not quite as big as the T3+ ("only" two 8-inch woofers per speaker on them lol).

Let's hope I can convince my wife while the Fall sale is still on!

—Chris