What to buy for $5000 or so

[ChrisR]

OK, Let's see if this sounds like a decent setup:
B&K Reference 125.5 amp
B&K Reference 50 pre-amp
Paradigm Studio 60's mains
Paradigm Studio cc-470 center
Paradigm Studio ADP 470 rears

Do I need a Sub? Which one?

What cables would you suggest I use?

[zonik]

You need a pair of Klipschorns to go in your high ceiling box. An RC-7 Center and maybe some RB-75 rears. You won't need or want a sub. The B&Ks are perfect.

[ChrisR]

You need a pair of Klipschorns to go in your high ceiling box. An RC-7 Center and maybe some RB-75 rears. You won't need or want a sub. The B&Ks are perfect.

The Room is actually much larger than 20 x20, it opens up on one side to my dinning room and kitchen, has an open stairway that comes down from the main entry, and a large hallway on the other side that come to my office and quest bedrooms. Additionally, one wall completely opens to the outside patio and pool area. In other words it is not a box, so to speak, lots of angles breaking up the acoustics. There is only one wall that is a solid 20 feet across by 18 feet high.

[Buzz Roll]

The B&K/Magnepan set up will sound AMAZING. Maggies are in another league than the mass market stuff like Paradigm. From the description of your home, the Magnepans will look really nice too.


Stay away from receivers.

[Mash]

Mr ChrisR
It is a bit unfortunate that your original request for input did not reflect the actual nature of your intended "room'. That has rendered most of the initial responses moot.

Given the size of the area I now understand you to have (esentially communicating to the outdoors ?) there would seem to be only two viable choices simply because a cones-in-a-box direct radiator will be a point source (SPL drops with distance SQUARED for a point source) and they will lack sufficient compensating efficiency (typically 90 to 95 dB at 10W at one metre). Pushing such a speaker as the Paradigm Studio 60's in your location to satisfying levels of sound will require a large amp and the speaker will run at higher distortion levels.

So I see two choices for you:

1. Klispch-horns (K-horns), IF you also have two full-wall corners to place them into. K-horns are not my cup of tea, but they have the very high efficiency required to easily handle a space as large and open as you now describe.

2. Large Magnepans / Magneplanars. The Maggies will measure 84 dB at 10 watts at one metre but they also operate as planar sources (SPL is constant with distance for a planar source) that, at a sufficient distance, will then transition into line sources ( SPL drops with distance LINEARLY for a line source) and consequently Maggies will handle a large open area such as you describe very, very well. Andre Segovia once said "The guitar plays not loud, but far". The large Maggies will play BOTH loud AND far. Note that the MMG at $550 a pair would make fantastic rear speakers with Large Magnepans , but with Maggies I fail to see their real need........

3. A Velodyne Servo-18 would likely be required to generate deep, clean bass in the space your now describe (I have used two Servo-15's in as-large an area with great success), but your budget will be killed. So consider the larger Maggies with their extremely clear and fairly deep bass extension, or the K-horns, and skip the sub.

[zonik]

have some quick dig pics of the room ? Can we visit after the install. I'm on my way to Loreto on Saturday.....

[topspeed]

Maggies are terrific speakers and while they aren't my personal cup 'o tea, there are a few objective issues with Maggies you should consider. First, they aren't the most efficient speakers. Second, they can be challenging to drive and will require proper amplification. And third, Maggie's require a fair amount of space around and behind them for proper set-up. This last one is a biggie if you have WAF issues to work around because most won't cotton to a pair of imposing monoliths sitting way out in the living room.

Khorns are also terrific speakers but as Mash noted, you'll need two corners to put them in and if you think Maggies are big, wait'll you get a load of these! Petite they ain't. Fun to listen to though and supremely efficient. You could comfortably drive them with the flea watt SET amps the hi-end crowd slobbers over. If you like rock, these are your boys.

The Paradigms are also very nice speakers, although I've only listened to the 100's and 20's. On paper, the B&K/Paradigm rig should sound really nice as B&K's have a tendency to roll off the highs and soften the edges. I mention this because some people feel the Studio's can be a bit aggressive and a more euphonic amp might complement this trait. You might also consider Rotel (a bit more neutral), Audio Refinement (smooooth), Parasound Halo's (neutral), and Anthem (somewhat like B&K).

Again, it's difficult to recommend speakers because we don't have your ears, your taste, or your room acoustics. Being unable to do much, if any, auditioning puts you in a tough spot. You may want to start looking at some of the internet companies that have 30 day trial periods. At least this way you can compare them side to side and just send back what you don't like. It's going to cost you the return shipping but at least you'll know which one sounds best to your ears. av123.com (Rocket), Axiom, Swan, SVS, and Hsu Research seem to be the most mentioned around here.

Good luck.