So, I tried a variety of speakers in the new apartment since moving here just under a year ago. It wasn't that I was "unhappy" with the sound I was hearing, I just wanted to get the "best" I could within my budget (~ $600 - $700).
I started out with the Polk Signature Series S60 floorstanding speakers. By far, these were the best overall in this listening space.
Figuring that the LSiM series would be an improvement on the Signature Series, I jumped on a crazy good deal from Adorama to get the LSiM 705's. This was the 2d best pair of speakers in this listening space. I ended up selling the 705's to a fellow Polkie for what I paid for them and he is thoroughly enjoying them. I went back to the S60's and was very happy with them.
You can call it upgraditis if you like, but when the highly regarded and revered Usher CP-6311's were available somewhat locally, I had to try them out. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the results I wanted/expected out of these in my listening space.
Currently, I have a pair of KEF Q150 bookshelf speakers on Trans Decco 31" speaker stands. I tried these by themselves and they sound pretty good but there is a bit of a suckout in the midbass (around 100 Hz). I realized this after checking out some posts on the AVS forum as there is a lot of chatter now that these are available for only $299. I used an online frequency sweep generator along with my Radio Shack analog sound level meter at my listening position. Sure enough, I'm experiencing major dropouts and peaks at different frequencies as measured at my listening position. I was hoping that the concentric mid/tweeter design would provide a wide and detailed soundstage superior to that of the S60's but it doesn't seem to be the case here.
I tried adding a sub, but with the placement just outside of the left speaker, I still get the same results at the listening position. Elsewhere in the apartment, the sub is digging much deeper and picking up where the bookies leave off. at least, to my ears, as I haven't run REW room correction ware to nail down, exactly, where the peaks and valleys (nulls/nodes) occur.
So if I do buy a proper room measurement mic and utilize the REW software, I'll know where the issues are in the room. Then, I'll have to consult GIK for room treatments to solve the problems that bother me the most or to try and get as flat a frequency response at the listening position as possible. However, the addition of the GIK treatments will eat into the budget so, I have 2 choices as far as I can tell.
First, go back to the S60's as they seemed to work well in this listening space (far from perfect but better than anything else I've tried). Second, bring the Polk S15's I have in the basement storage upstairs, mate them with the sub. I may have to do the sub crawl but my positioning of the sub, overall, is somewhat limited due to WAF. The S60's seemed to provide a pretty decent sound from top to bottom with some dropouts in the bass as did the LSim 705's and I attribute this to the bottom power ports on the Polk speakers making room placement easier. The Ushers are the pickiest followed by the KEFs. Strangely, the Ushers and KEFs sound better at higher listening levels (not good for apartment living) while the Polk speakers were fairly uniform at low levels and high(er) listening levels.
I have played with the placement of the speakers as well as toe-in. The Ushers have been 3' from the front wall (and closer) while toed in with no noticeable difference in bass response (by ear) at the listening position. The KEFs are 2' away and toed in for their "best" sound at the listening position.
Both of the Polk speakers were facing forward, no toe in, and had the best results as far as a very wide soundstage/wall of sound that was immersive and enjoyable. They were, IIRC, between 18" - 20" from the front wall.
The measurement on the sound level meter at the listening position shows that the bass doesn't start to move the needle until I hit ~ 50 Hz. I know the sub goes lower than that but, whether the sub is on or off, the bass doesn't register at the listening position until ~ 50 Hz. As I said earlier, there's a big dip ~ 100 Hz - 130 Hz. This is with me eyeballing the needle and the frequency generator simultaneously. Obviously, a dedicated mic and REW software would tell me exactly what's happening.
I cannot move the speakers too far forward as I'll be listening near field due to all the furniture that occupies the apartment. I'm kinda stuck where I'm at in the listening position.
The right speaker is a little over 3' from the side wall with the exposed brick and tall windows (converted industrial space to a loft apartment). The left speaker has no sidewall anywhere near it as that side leads down a small "hall" to the outside door.
Sorry about the novel length post folks. I'm just wondering if anyone may have insight or suggestions. All of this experimentation is reminding me of what
@erniejade went through trying to find speakers that would play well with his room.
