Len44
Well-known member
What is the expert opinion regarding minimum room size needed for this speaker? Also, how big an upgrade compared to the original Summits? Considering both the 13A and the 15A speakers.
Yeah rear wall distance seems improtant. You also dont want them too close. Ive not had any issues in my room with my Prodigy speakers. They sit between 3 and 4 feet from the wall.My room is 945 sq ft with 7'7 ceilings so a little over 7000 cu ft. I bought 13As speakers but probably should have gone for 15A.
I was advised by others on this forum that 13As would be good. Unfortunately the MLs disappointed but not because of their size. They were placed mid-room and MLs don't like this. They need to have a rear wall behind them rather than the open space of my room. I sold the MLs and kept my ancient horns. In a "normal" room of the size of mine, the 15A would be better but the 13A perfectly up to the job of providing excellent sound. Just be aware that their location relative to the rear wall is more important with MLs than probably any other brand.
Yes, probably up to about 6 ft is fine. My speakers are 12 ft and 15 ft in front of a curved floor-to-ceiling glazed wall. Far from good for electrostatics but fine for horns!Yeah rear wall distance seems improtant. You also dont want them too close. Ive not had any issues in my room with my Prodigy speakers. They sit between 3 and 4 feet from the wall.
I think your wife has probably made the right decision! How did the Summits perform in your room? I suspect you may have wanted a bit more oomph. I bought 13As but probably should have gone for the 15As, although the additional cost is excessive. The 15A stands upright compared with the laid back attitude of the 11A and 13A. I found this backward tilt far too great unless I was listening from a bar stool. In fact, I'm pleased I went for the 13As as it was very difficult to re-sell them after a few months (even at a lower price than 11As) so selling the 15A may have been even more difficult and costly. This may be just a UK thing but MLs are very difficult to sell on the used market.I faced the exact same decision as I also upgraded from a pair of Summits, and debated about whether to move to the 13A or the 15A's. Also, while my main room is roughly 425 sq ft, there is another room that is open into it that adds another 300 sq ft. All ceilings are 8 ft. This gives me an overall volume of about 5800 sq ft. It's kind of a weird space as both rooms basically form a big L, with a couple of smaller alcoves off of each room. The guys at Audio Advice recommended the 15A's based on my floor plan/room volume.
That said, I 'was' going to go with the 13A's figuring that would be a big upgrade from my Summits (and I really didn't want to spend the extra money to go all the way to 15A's). However, my wife stepped in and her vote was we go with the 15A's... and who was I to argue with her! Let's just put it this way... SHE is very happy with HER decision!!
I too considered the Revel Studio 2s when I decided to upgrade from 2002 Avantgarde Unos. I didn't mainly because I thought they were possibly rather long in the tooth and I should be looking at newer designs. Also, having successfully tried Quad 2905s (with 2912 mods), I thought that electrostatics may be the way forward.Len, I'm starting year four with my Revel Studio2's and could not be happier with my decision four years ago and have zero interest in making any more changes save for component failure. Now, with that being said and having auditioned the 13a's a little while after I got my Revels I will admit that if I had to choose between the two today it would be a coin flip.
Also, for the record I listened extensively to the Salon2's and while I loved them given my room size (14'6" x 24'4") the Studio2's work to perfection.
I don't have experience with the amps you mention with my 13As, but I did buy a Sanders Magtech specifically for the MLs. I also had a Gamut D200 Mk III. Both seemed to be good matches with the 13As but I decided to sell the Sanders (no good with Avantgardes) and the 13As (no good in my particular room). The Gamut sold too only because it is bad-mannered in that it's start-up (and shut-down) was not protected by relays so it caused a potentially damaging thump through my 107 dB sensitivity AGs.Update to my previous post-
I just auditioned the Mcintosh MC1502(very nice!) with the 11A's at our local dealer -sounded like a completely different speaker to me. Much more fleshed out, engaging, 3D, etc. I initially heard them with big Pass monos in July-wonderful but different.
My VTL's play nicely with the CLS but not so well with the 11A.
My impressionsso far...