Home Cinema and Divas !! What to use for surrounds & atmos

[DarthDiva]

Ok, my Divas will also serve as front left and right speakers. Phantom centre I think. BUT what on earth is out there to match timbre, speed and voice of the Divas for Atmos and surround speakers? Or, if there is nothing being commercially produced, what drivers out there may have a chance of working ?? Would love to hear if anyone has already been there done that.

[Graz]

Depends on budget and room size. More details?

[Zardoz]

Like Graz said, but also do you want in wall or free standing? If in wall, Martin Logan makes some with ribbon tweeters that would probably match well.

Good listening,
Z

[DarthDiva]

Thank you for the rapid response guys.

Room dimensions : 24' long, 18' wide, ceiling 8'3" high.

Many Atmos speakers are in ceiling and down firing so most do not have adequate off axis and dispersion to meet Dolby requirements. So, its best when possible to mount on the ceiling with driver array facing the seating sweet spot.

For rear surrounds I would prefer something that could go flush to the wall, or built in to the wall even if there was outward projection. Side surrounds could be floor standing or on stands .

The answer to the budget question is what sort of budget would be required to match the Divas and what would the driver compliment be ?

I've seen offerings from Monitor Audio with their proprietary AMT driver and Martin Logan Sistine 4XC, both of which are in ceiling down firing albeit with angled baffles. The only directable on ceiling mounter speakers I have seen are from Alcons Audio. They do look interesting with their proprietary ribbon design but they only work with Alcons dedicated amplifiers. I don't really have a way to listen to any of those speakers or to judge how well they may work with the Divas.

So I have considered a custom design build. The price ranges I have seen so far custom and off the shelf speakers has ranged from $1500 to $2300 USD each for Atmos and surrounds.

There is the JBL horn based Synthesis line which I have not heard but think perhaps are quite overpriced.

Perhaps a JBL alternative is something from Krix ? Horns can be dynamic and fast. Graz, Krix is down under perhaps close to you. Have you ever hear their home cinema offerings?

Thanks very much Graz and Zardox for reading my posts and your input. Much appreciated !

[Graz]

We actually make speakers here, only full panels though

From what you have said, if budget is low run some Slant 6 or *'s, Centaurs, Centaur Majors, they will have similar voicing to the classic Divas. Or if they encroach on space loo much the smaller boxes like the LCR's, all of these come up from time to time...

[DarthDiva]

Well, I am still searching for surround speakers AND in ceiling ATMOS/AURO 3d height speakers which would be the best match for Apogee Divas. I have to go with on wall or in wall for the side and rear surrounds. Something like the original Auriga , the hybrid monopole would be perfect. I have never seen used ones for sale. Virtually all the ribbon/any hybrids I have seen have high cross over points such that the cone drivers are called on to reproduce much of the midrange. Wisdoms speakers are the closest I have found so far. They cross over their planar magnetic drivers around 650 hz. Good luck playing very nice with Apogees I think. I guess the Apogee market is so small, that it is not worth anyone's while to make on wall monopole hybrid ribbons. I thought I would refresh my question. Is anyone out there using and happy with on wall in wall and in ceiling surround speakers that come close to a match for Apogees for immersive audio / home cinema applications?

All the best. DD

[Zardoz]

I'm not sure how well they would match with Diva's, but my HTS is using in wall Martin Logan ribbon and cone speakers. They are one of the few that I know of that have in wall ribbon speakers.
Good listening,
Z

[DarthDiva]

Hey Z,

Thanks for your post. I considered Martin Logan, and others that use an AMT style driver in the hope of sort of matching Apogees, but they don't and I don't think they can. Most all of the AMT drivers are tweeter only , which have a high crossover, usually around 2400 hz. So, the all important midrange is being produced by a cone driver. No way has a cone driver ever matched the magic of an Apogee ribbon, to my ears at least. The only candidates I have found so far are the Wisdom planar magnetic drivers which come in point source and quasi line source. They cross over around 650 hz which helps the midrange sound a lot. I haven't found anyone who has ever tried to pair them with an Apogee. It's easy to spend 4k to 7k per surround speaker with them. I haven't heard from anyone, at least not yet, who is using Apogee's for the front channels and was able to find something non Apogee that works really well for surround and atmos speakers. Perhaps no such speaker exists.

[Zardoz]

Seems like I remember talking with someone (on here?) that was using smaller Apogee's for surrounds. Other than that I don't know either. It's really hard to find anything that comes close to the Apogee's. Post if you find something that works.
Good listening,
Z

[Graz]

A single 26-6 unit crossed over at 500hz, 2nd order would work very well...

[Scinemaniac]

For a good WAF,
may I suggest batique hangings

[DarthDiva]

Well, I have ordered some Eminent Technology speakers, LFT8b's for surrounds and LFT 16a for Atmos/Auro 3d heights and will see how they do. Their push pull planar magnetic ribbon drivers cross over around 180 hz. Seemingly impressive design , very reasonably priced . And , I'm pondering whether the whole uber expensive processor/multi amp/ multi speaker immersive cinema thing is overhyped and really not ready for prime time. It appears that there is very little actual sound activity in the atmos height channels for most movies , surprisingly sometimes not even 2 minutes of content during an entire 2 hour movie.

[DarthDiva]

A single 26-6 unit crossed over at 500hz, 2nd order would work very well...

Thanks for posting Graz. What is " A single 26-6 unit " ??

[Graz]

The 26-6 units were the ribbons used in Centaurs, C-Minors, Slant 6's, Arch sides, and Cepheus. A great ribbon that sometimes comes up secondhand. Dynamic and realistic in it's designed band...

Take care - Graz

[DarthDiva]

Thank you Graz