#1: 532L&R+S10 

#2: 632L&R+S10

#3: 533PT L&R

I have a 20x30 living room with 50 inch plasma.  I'm trying to build a nice HT but I know nothing about audio systems.

My listening will be 70% movies and 30% musics but despite music being only 30%, I sure don't want to be missing any music quality.

I know 533PTs are the better choice but I want to keep mimalist image of my living room.

Will I be sacrificing a lot of quality by going with 632?

Also, I read somewhere that 532 sounds better than 632?

Please help this poor soul.

thanks,

CC

Hi Chris,

I'm not sure I would say the 533PT's are the better choice for a room of your size.  I'm not sure it is safe to say the 532 sounds better than the 632... it would depend on the room and what material you are listening.

Since your listening favors movies, I would go with your option #2, 632's + S10.  Music will be great as well.

Have you considered surrounds? The 532's would be nice and help you keep your minimalist image. 

Your definition of minimalist could be very different from mine.  Check out the size specs of the 632... it is quite large for a bookshelf.... over 15 inches high and over 12 deep.  If this is a problem you may want to use the 532's up front.

Part of the fun is trying to decide what to buy... good luck!

-James

chris, from both a 'minimalist' and performance (seamless bass integration while not sacraficing sound) i would recommend the 532PT's

James & Jim,

Thank you very much for your replies.

I have white tile floor, with glass dining table with silver legs, a very modern off-white fabric sofa (3 seater), and white acrylic wooden leg coffee table.  Oh and 3-legged floor lamp.  That's all I have in my living room. 

Then there's this media alcove which is 54inches wide, 75 inches high, and about 20 inches deep, with horizontal drywall dividing it.  (I'm not sure if I'm articulate in explaining that)

Anyways, so I can shove a couple of 632s in the upper alcove and keep my plasma in the bottom half.   But if you say I don't lose any quality by going with 532s, then I'll definitely pay less and get 532s.

 

And Jim, is there a 532PT?  You mean 533PT?  I would love to get them but I can't fit them in the bottom alcove.  I can in the upper alcove, but then speakers will be standing about 55 inches above the floor.  Is that okay??

 

thanks for your help!

 

chris, 533PT is what i meant. --- if you can't put the PT's on a solid flooring surface, i would go the monitor route. does your floorplan not allow the PT's to sit outside of the alcove in the main part of the room? --- if going with monitors, i think you do gain benefits with the 632s vs the 532s. the 632s ARE large, but they have a wonderfully warm sound to them and a much richer midrange compared to the 532s. they also possess deeper extension. i reviewed the 632s for aperion and compared them directly to the 522s (predecessor to the 532) i owned at the time. the only downside to the 632 IMO would be the size (if that is an issue at all?) --- sorry, written in foxfire.

I have a pair of 632s and they are tremendous speakers IMO.  This is in a small 12x14 living room.  A 20x30 room may need more speaker...have you considered the 633-T?  I think that would be a better choice for such a large room but the 632s can really belt it out.  They need lots of power though...I have 90 wpc and would not want to go below that if I had a bigger room. 

Oh yeah, I find the 632s to be VERY musical.  I first tried them out with music I have listened to for years and was amazed at the difference.  They don't care if you crank up some Metallica or chill out with some Dave Matthews- instruments and voice come out full, clean, and real.