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Kharma FE 3.2 - be careful, space crucial

I have 2 systems in my house - one vastly more expensive than the other, but the cheaper one is infinitely more satisfying, due to one simple reason: I chose the wrong speakers for the space they occupy. The speakers, the much vaunted Kharma 3.2 FEs are beautiful, coherent speakers, but cannot do justice to a room that is 23' X 17' X 15ft ceilings. Even with 8" of added height through Timbernation blocks. They just dont fill the space and strain to do so. They are better with added height, but dont fill the room with the visceral, alive, palpable sound and "being there" presence of the cheaper sytem. It's like sitting in the foyer of Carnegie Hall. The cheaper system is sitting in row 4. But when I look at options, I see that it is not so easy to sell these speakers - there is a mint pair on A'gon that cost $21,000, not selling for 29 days for $8,000. Resale of these expensive speakers is not easy, as I want to try a pair of Line array speakers in this large space, but to do so I would probably have to virtually give these Kharmas away for a song. So the message is simple: Look and ask harder questions than I did before you buy such expensive speakers that are not made for such large spaces. I bought them without listening in my room (obviously) but will not make that mistake again. The problem is how to arrange an audition of line arrays in my room. If anyone in the Northeast has line arrays in a similar space, including dealers, please let me know. Thanks.
Systems: System 1: 17 X 23 X 15 height: EMM CDSD/DCC2, Sota Cosmos IV, EAR 324, Shelter 901, OL Illustrious arm, A-S MP-1, A-S MA 2.2, PAD Dominus s/c, Gabriel Gold Revelation i/c, Kharma FE 3.2, 3 ft from rear wall, on 8" blocks.
System 2: 30 X 13 X 8 height: VPI TNT Jr, JMW 10.5 arm, Sumiko Blackbird, Wright WWP 200, Aesthetix Calypso, 2 X Moscode 401 vertically biamping Mark-Daniel Maximus Monitors, 7 ft from rear wall.
springbok10
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shadorne
7,333 posts
 
Do you listen at realistic orchesttral or rock/jazz big band levels - is that the key (many speakers compress and sound dull at higher levels - even fantastic sounding ones may not be designed for realistic levels in a large space)?

You mentioned an issue of furniture blocking the speaker last thread - so I guess I am condused as to what your are really after....why the line array (which can be a tough load for an amp)?
jj2468
280 posts
 
Wow. I just bought a pair and they are crazy good in my setup. My room is about 13'w x 20'l x 9'h.

When you say its like being in the foyer, that to me means it sounds muddy and rolled off?

Would the subwoofer help to "charge" the room? They don't do ground shaking bass, but I don't believe that is their intent.

In my situation, the Kharma 3.2fe are detailed without edge, super transparent, have great natural timbre, have great prat, etc. Mine are place five feet from the short wall. The soundstage goes from wall to wall across and from floor to ceiling. When a recording includes a drum kit, you can easily hear the timbral differences between each skin and between each cymbal and that happens without any interference with the other instruments. Basically, they sound like real instruments and I cannot say that for about 97.53% of speakers I've heard.

Could there be some other factor in your setup in addition to the room or could you modify the room? You have my empathy. I know system and room matching are very important. My wish for you is that you can tweak your system or room to at least hear what these speakers can do.

Best, Jeff
springbok10 OP
708 posts
 
Shadorne, the furniture blocking issue is resolved by 8" wooden blocks as stands. But they still don't fill the room - I had blamed the chair, but even raising the speakers above the chair by 8" doesnt do it -the sound feels compressed - why a line array? because they are 6 ft tall and could fill the space better, have a bigger vertical soundstage and sound more holographic. (I am told)
Jeff, the sound is incredibly detailed and coherent and transparent - your room size sounds perfect - the volume of your room is 2340- cubic ft, mine 5865 cubic feet. That's why yours sound perfect and mine dont!No they are not muddy, the soundstage is just too low and small and sounds strained at high volumes. I listen to everything, but not rock at about 80 db. Mostly classical.
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