1. Home
  2. home-theater
  3. 1230588332

What kind of active speakers?

I am setting up a small 3/3.1 system. Due to space constraints within the room and within the TV stand, and maybe preference, I am hoping to use stand mounted active monitors. I'm aware of Paradigms older active 20 series that pops up occasionally for sale here, as well as Quad 12L and the Dynaudio BM actives. Do folks have other ideas? Also, I was planning on using a third monitor for center channel duty. Is this advisable or is there a center channel dedicated active speaker available, or maybe a set?

Thanks for the help!
sammie
Post removed 
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,333 posts
 
Musicnoise,

I have this book. It is excellent although a bit long winded for a useful reference. (Not enough math for my tastes but plenty of psychoacoustic discussions)
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,333 posts
 
A smooth off-axis response I understood to be important to obtaining a larger listening region, but I had not given any thought to its impact on reflections. That makes sense.

Especially important when you realize that we hear the energy from the room up to the first 40 msec after the first arrival - this is called Haas effect - so the intensity of reflections really do matter and the speaker placement and listener sweetspot will be much more versatile if the speaker has flat frequency response on as well as off axis (it can be of lower amplitude off axis but it should be flat and with no "midrange scoop" or other broad peaks or troughs).
More to discover