sunprairie Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 Ok, here's crazy one. I scored a beautiful set of 1990, OO, Quartets at a second hand store yesterday. Wasn't in the market, but the price was just to good and they're immaculate. I'm running LaScala mains, Heresy Center, Quartet surrounds, and RC-7 rear right now and got thinking, since this system is mismatched and I'm not really happy with the dialog @ center, maybe I should buy one more set of Quartets and run them all the way around. They really are a nice little speaker. I would then sell my LaScala's, Heresy, RC-7, and buy another set and have money left over for more toys. How badly would I miss the LaScalas versus having a completely matched system?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rplace Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 Can't give you any direct advice since I have not had any of the speakers you currently have except Heresy. I did however use Chorus/Forte/Chorus as my front 3 and really really liked it. I would expect similar delight with Quartet/Quartet/Quartet up front since C/F/Q are all in the same family. All the better if you had them for surrounds as well, epically if you are into multichannel music over movies. Can't tell from your post if you picked up a 2nd set of Qs yesterday or if you only have one. I would think LaScala mains with a heresy center would be a decent match timbre wise. What don't you like about the Heresy center? I would also expect LS mains with Heresies for every other speaker would be a killer sounding system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardP Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 This will sound blasphemous to many here, but try a Quartet as your center.between the LaScalas. My original set up was Fortes front and rear with a Quartet at center. Wanting to experience other heritage speakers (caused solely by reading this forum), I bought a pair of Belles (nearly identical voice as LSs) last fall, and of course put them in as the front L&R. I am doing the reverse of your plan, from Forte/Quartet to classic heritage. Not having Heresys nor any capability to put anything larger over my TV such as a Cornwall, I have left the Quartet where it is for now. I am surprised at how well it blends with the Belles, for both movies as well as music, and that includes some DD 5.1 mixes from DVD-As and DualDiscs. I do not notice any timbre shift when sounds pan left to center to right. The Q will have more bass extension than a Heresy, so it may serve you better as a center. I took the riser off, and while still larger (~50 lbs) than most dedicated center speakers, I managed to get it on top of my RPTV. The hardest part was removing the badge from the grill so I could center it in the horizontal mode. I don't know what set up I will end up with, as I am convinced that the Forte/Quartet combination is among the best HT set ups available, short of a massive Heritage HT all around which would not be possible for many rooms. But, I do like those Belles, and because they are no longer made, I will keep them for a while at least. It is worth experimenting a little, just don't throw your back out lifting the Q to your TV. Also, keep in mind that if you go to an all Q system, you could end up wanting the rare and costly Academy center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunprairie Posted January 11, 2006 Author Share Posted January 11, 2006 Timbre match on the Heresy to the LaScala is very good, but we struggle with dialog at center. Maybe the Heresy needs to have some work done to it, like upgraded crossover? I should mention it's a Heresy II. I did pick up a second set of Q's yesterday so I now have two very nice sets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunprairie Posted January 11, 2006 Author Share Posted January 11, 2006 I know it's blasphemous, but just wanted some outside opinions. If I had room for another LaScala @ center, I think I'd resolve my dialog issues, but alas, short of room for that. I've got my Heresy standing vertically over my RPTV rather than horizontal and I like the sound dispersion better. It would be no problem to put a Q in that position. My thoughts are that 6 Q's would make a nice solid all around HT without the restrictions of size. My listening is about 90% movies or concert DVD and maybe 10% music listening. I actually bought the Q's with the intention of selling them, but after hooking them up to a reciever in another room and spending the evening listening to music, and it's going to be hard to let them go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olorin Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 Neither option is really bad. Six Quartets would make a very fine home theater. I think redoing the caps in your Heresys would improve your center channel experience with it, but then you still have the surround issue to deal with if you want to get really matched. I think if I were in your shoes I'd get the third set of Quartets, sell the RC-7, and move the La Scalas someplace for music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rplace Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 How do you have your Heresy atop the TV, tweeter on top or woofer on top? Try flipping it and see what you think if you have not already done that. I would suspect it would sound best with the tweeter down (speaker upside down) EDIT: I agree with Olorin about getting another set of Qs and move the LS to another location then dump the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunprairie Posted January 11, 2006 Author Share Posted January 11, 2006 I really think that that idea sounds very good. I really do like the sound of the Quartet. I know that I may have a number of comments on that issue alone, but they are a very good little speaker. I would go all Heresy, but I'm already well on my way with the Quartets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunprairie Posted January 11, 2006 Author Share Posted January 11, 2006 I am running the Heresy tweeter down. That definitely to me sounds the best and helps with dialog clarity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckears Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 So... when are your LaScalas going to be for sale? Finish and condition? [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunprairie Posted January 12, 2006 Author Share Posted January 12, 2006 Haven't totally made up my mind yet, but I'm running OO 89' LaScalas with Bob C.'s new AA/A crossovers. Had the crossovers in since October. I'll let everyone know hear when I and if I pull the pin on them. By the way, I live in ND, so shipping is always a consideration would love to sell them to someone that would pick them up. They are a beautiful set sonically as well as visually. I'm sorry the speaker type says: LS BLS-WAL (Walnut I assume.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwinr Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 Before you start swapping and selling speakers, especially the La Scalas! (Man are you crazy?) maybe you should look at the rest of your system. The Heresy should deliver very clear, precise dialogue. If it doesn't, then there's something wrong somewhere. Maybe your speaker is faulty or more likely the rest of your system, or even your room and speaker placement needs some work. What is the setting of your processor? Maybe you need to upgrade your receiver first... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookman Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 I ran a Heresy at center before I bought a pair of sweet Choruses from Rich Place. Dialog was never a problem. Boost your center EQ,better yet get an amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunprairie Posted January 13, 2006 Author Share Posted January 13, 2006 I may either have a speaker problem or processor setting issue. I don't know. I am running a McIntosh MHT 200 reciever and believe that it's a very good piece of equipment, but may have some settings that are causing these issues. It just seems that no matter how many times I reset my speaker levels with an SPL, the LaScalas have a tendency to overun the center. I've run an RC-7 at center, had a set of Chorus II and ran 1 at center, and have always wanted to try the Academy, but have not had success in purchasing one for what I would like to pay for one. I'm crossing @ 80hz in the processor and have tried other settings as well and noticed subtle differences, but not overwhelmingly better or worse. I may also be struggling with a room issue. The room is 16 deep from RPTV to back wall and about 22' side to side, however one side has a wall and the other side is totally open into an office area and dining area that is about the same size. I'm thinking of building a wall on the one open end. I'm not sure that I'm explaining things well enough on the dialog. I'm not sure that clarity is as much the problem as the center being overun and maybe this is due to the schematics of the room itself. I previously ran a Denon 4802 before the McIntosh and dealt with the same issues. I'm just tired of having people over to watch a movie and hear, wow, great sound, but I had a hard time hearing the speaking voices. Should I be thinking of running my center hotter than the other speakers, but then what is the purpose of the SPL measurements. I have never run a level disc, but only pink noise from my receivers, maybe I need to be going farther on my level settings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olorin Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 I've never leveled mine by any method other than listening and deciding what I like. Interestingly enough, I always end up within a db or two of the efficiency difference between the two speakers. I don't know the numbers right off the top of my head, but why don't you try something quick and dirty like setting the Scalas to (say) -4 and the Heresy to +2/3 and see what you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j-malotky Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 I run Heresys for my sides and rears with my Khorn mains. Not a problem. The Quartet is a great speaker. Dialing in the different DB's is no real problem with Heritage. 96 to 104 no problem. Just get a rat shack DB meter and run test tones. On my Lexicon it takes 5 mins to set up my whole system. JM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Ok, here's crazy one. I scored a beautiful set of 1990, OO, Quartets at a second hand store yesterday. Wasn't in the market, but the price was just to good and they're immaculate. I'm running LaScala mains, Heresy Center, Quartet surrounds, and RC-7 rear right now and got thinking, since this system is mismatched and I'm not really happy with the dialog @ center, maybe I should buy one more set of Quartets and run them all the way around. They really are a nice little speaker. I would then sell my LaScala's, Heresy, RC-7, and buy another set and have money left over for more toys. How badly would I miss the LaScalas versus having a completely matched system??I had Quartets at one time,nice set of speakers sound a little better than forte ,but if your selling the lascalas you might be sorry later.i woudnt sell lascalas to replace Quartets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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