I am upgrading my Onkyo HT-R500 system to a new Sony 4400ES receiver. This means that I'm moving from 5.1 to 7.1, and from 100w to 120w.

Basically, I now need 2 additional speakers. I've never heard of Aperion prior to this moment, but the reviews seem spectacular, so I made up my mind to get a pair of 4Ts to add to my setup. I was disappointed to see that I would have to wait until 2/11/09 for the 4Ts to ship, so I sprang for the 5Ts, but am a little worried that they might overpower the rest of my system, and my little living room. What do you folks think?

My listening position will be about 10' from the front speakers, 5 feet from each side, and 10' from the rear speakers, and I plan on rotating my existing fronts to the rear (the existing sides will stay where they are).

My room is basically 15'x20', but there is a dining table in the very back of the room, so the couch must stay in the exact middle of the room. I considered chucking the table, sliding the couch back, and making the wife and kid eat outside, but I would prefer to stay married. I have open beam ceilings, maybe that will help disperse the overkilled sound?

Mike

Well, I can tell you that my room is 16' x 23'.  The couch/TV are on the short side and is about 13' apart.  I bought the 6C and 6Ts are on transit right now.  From my research on this forum, basically, you will get fuller sound with better bass from the 5Ts to the 4Ts.  And even more with the 6Ts.  So, I don't think it will be overkill and in fact, you should enjoy them even more than the 4Ts.  But since you've already ordered them, please let us know how they sound when you get them and let us know how they sound in your room size.

My room is 13' x 23', with my listening position around 10 feet from the TV.  Behind my theater seats, I have a card table filling the back of the room (my cave).  I have the 5Ts with a 7.1 system (5Ts,5C,5DB,6IC,Bravus10D x 2).  You will love the 5Ts.  They will be a great match given your listening position.  They have a wonderful sound at low-mid volumes, with more than enough headroom if you like to listen at "reference" levels.  I have a 130Wx7 receiver, and I can push the 5Ts all day.  I have absolutely nothing negative to save about the 5Ts.  The price, sound, size and looks are just about perfect for midsize rooms.  The same applies to the 5C.

With that said, I'm in a transition myself.  I purchased another Bravus 10D to give me "full" bass throughout the room, and it was achieved!!  I still owe a review of the two subs, but that will come later.  Anyway, I'm in the design phase of replacing my 60" SXRD Sony rear projection with a front projector.  I'm not all the familiar with front projectors, so going slow and steady.  Since my screen size will increase from 60" to 96"-104", I'm moving my listening position back a few feet, and I'm considering upgrading to the 6Ts and 6C.  I'm more interested in the center upgrade as opposed to the fronts.  Having the two subs, I doubt the extra bass from the 6Ts will offer me much benefit.  If it helps, I have no reservations the 5Ts would handle that space wonderfully.  But moving the listening position back a few feet, upgrading the center seems logical.

I do have a question for you...  You mentioned your rear speakers are 10' back from the listening position.  Do you have to really crank those puppies up to be effective as rear speakers?  I'm opening that question up to everyone.  I installed a pair of 6 in-ceiling speakers for rear speakers a few feet behind my listening position, and they worked fine, especially considering the lack of available 7.1 content.  I know there's not a huge dramatic difference between 5.1 and 7.1 (honestly a bit disappointed), but I've always thought about replacing my in-ceilings with a pair of 5Bs, placed about 8 feet behind the listening position.  I'm concerned about rear speakers so far from the listening position.  Of course I can simply increase the level to those speakers, but not sure this will provide a better listening environment than my in-ceilings placed closer in.  Anyone with a similar dilemma, or just want to offer their $.02?

 

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Speakers: Aperion 6T, 6C, 5DB, 6IC, Bravus 10Dx2
Monitor: JVC RS20U front projector with Stewart Velux 100" screen
Receiver: Yamaha RX-V1800
Blu-ray: Yamaha BD-S2900
Amplifier: Emotiva UPA-7
Conditioner: Panamax M5300PM

Well, you know what?  You can purchase the 5Bs, put them as your surround backs and then still use your in-ceilings when 9.1 or 11.1 arrive.  In the 11.1 configuration, there will be two in-ceilings just above the listening area and two above the front speaker area.  When you will get content is another story, but you'll be ready. 

Good suggestion.  I'm going to do that, order the 5Bs and give them a listen.  You can never have enough in-ceilings, so that's no a problem.  I had to google on 11.1, thanks for the info.  Now that would be cool... 

 

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Speakers: Aperion 6T, 6C, 5DB, 6IC, Bravus 10Dx2
Monitor: JVC RS20U front projector with Stewart Velux 100" screen
Receiver: Yamaha RX-V1800
Blu-ray: Yamaha BD-S2900
Amplifier: Emotiva UPA-7
Conditioner: Panamax M5300PM

Hey Mike,

I think you will love you some 5T's, especially if you are doing more music listening. For movies, since the front left and rights play a more supportive role, the differences will be a bit more subtle. Larger soundstage, and a bit more fullness from these speakers. If you are doing more focused, 2 channel listening, then you will REALLY notice the differences between the two. The 5T's have a more open, fuller midrange which gives you a more natural, and lifelike sound from the towers. It is really nice for more detail oriented music...Jazz, classical, folk, rock music...

Just great towers. And they are atill pretty small and svelte, so you should be able to get a thumbs up as far as the wife approval goes...

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David Bolt
Aperion Audio Guru
www.aperionaudio.com

Couple of things, ya'll:

JoeZ,  in reference to your question about surround back speakers. You can expect a more dramatic effect from surround back speakers if they are placed well behind you and more or less aimed at your listening position. As convenient as the in-ceiling speakers are (I use 'em!) the one thing you just can't get around is that they are shooting the bulk of their sound down toward the ground. There's this cone of covereage that you need to be located under in order to really get the most out of them. This is why I enthusiastically recommend them as surround speakers, but rarely as rear surround. The distance needed between the listener and surround back speakers to really add depth to the presentation really puts an in-ceiling speaker too far back to be as effective as most of us would like it to be.

 JonL, as for height speakers, it may interest peeps to know that the use of in-ceilings isn't actually being suggested by Dolby and DTS. At least, not in this quote from DTS' R&D VP, Paul Smith:

In an 11.1-channel DTS setup, the left and right height speakers would be placed above the left and right main speakers. The distance between a height speaker and main speaker would be the same as the distance between the main speaker and center-channel speaker, said Smith. The six surround speakers would be arrayed like this: On the right, one speaker would be placed at 90 degrees from the listener, with another at 120 degrees and the third at 150 degrees. The left-side surrounds would be likewise positioned.

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Caleb Denison

Caleb Denison:

Couple of things, ya'll:

JoeZ,  in reference to your question about surround back speakers. You can expect a more dramatic effect from surround back speakers if they are placed well behind you and more or less aimed at your listening position. As convenient as the in-ceiling speakers are (I use 'em!) the one thing you just can't get around is that they are shooting the bulk of their sound down toward the ground. There's this cone of covereage that you need to be located under in order to really get the most out of them. This is why I enthusiastically recommend them as surround speakers, but rarely as rear surround. The distance needed between the listener and surround back speakers to really add depth to the presentation really puts an in-ceiling speaker too far back to be as effective as most of us would like it to be.

 

Thanks Caleb.  If I purchase the 5Bs, is the cost of removing my in-ceilings, patching the drywall, painting my ceiling black (way cool), running additional speaker wire and attaching some 5Bs to the wall included in the price  

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Speakers: Aperion 6T, 6C, 5DB, 6IC, Bravus 10Dx2
Monitor: JVC RS20U front projector with Stewart Velux 100" screen
Receiver: Yamaha RX-V1800
Blu-ray: Yamaha BD-S2900
Amplifier: Emotiva UPA-7
Conditioner: Panamax M5300PM

I have the 5T's with a 6C in a smallish room and I love it.  Great sound at any volume so its not overkill even if you cant crank them (but do every chance you get!). Also they are the perfect size, my old Polk towers were bulkier in size but smaller in sound.

Thanks for the great response everyone, I feel alot more confident with my purchase now.

I will let you all know how everything sounds once I get it all delivered here to Hawaii.

Mike