[geeks] Speaker Stands and Keyboards

[Sridhar Ayengar]

Dan Sikorski wrote:
>> This is a pretty high-budget theater (way over $5k), but even then 
>> there are significant compromises.
 >
> You and I are probably in the same league for budget, but my purchases 
> have been spread out over several years and honestly, I'm not sure I 
> really want to think about the actual total.  I have listened to some 
> dipole surround speakers, but I've never been too crazy about them.  A 
> friend of mine has a Paradigm surround setup with dipole surrounds and 
> I'm not very impressed by them.  That could just be those particular 
> speakers or a preference though.  Did you do much listening before 
> deciding on the dipoles?

Oh yes.  The setups I've found most impressive are the ones that use 
multipolar speakers at various heights and depths to create a "cloud" of 
sound for the surround channels.  I prefer it when I can't localize the 
sounds coming from the surround channels.

Right now, I'm using horn-loaded speakers for increased efficiency, 
since I can't afford to go crazy with high-watt amps, but the long-term 
goal is to go with *big* amps and MartinLogan hybrid electrostats. 
That's going to take a while, because it would put me well past $10k 
(maybe past $15k) instead of well past $5k.

I just picked up a Sunfire True Sub about a week ago, but I've sold it 
for way more than what I paid for it.  I'll see if I can get another (or 
a high-end Velodyne, or a multi-driver MartinLogan).  It would be a 
significant step up in bass reproduction over the Klipsch and Energy 
subs I'm using now.  (Going from a pair of $500 subs to one or more 
$3000 subs has that effect.)

Peace...  Sridhar