To Doug Schneider,
I just read your review [of the Atom Monitor v.7 on SoundStage! Hi-Fi] and was very impressed. I was wondering: for a family room that is very open (three stairs down from kitchen nook that overlooks into the family room that’s 20’ x 25’), would you recommend the Monitor 9 ($1200/pair) or Monitor 11 ($1600/pair) for the fronts and using two Atoms as rears [behind the] couch against the back wall that is approximately 6’ from the back of couch that faces a fireplace straight on?
How do the new Monitor 9 and/or 11 sound compared to the competition in those price points: MartinLogan Motion 12, B&W, etc.?
I was also thinking of a Denon AVR-3312CI. Does that match well with the Monitor Series 7 or should I look at another brand in the same $1000 to $1200 range, such as Integra, etc.?
[I am using this system] primarily for family movies and sports (75%), then music (25%).
Thanks,
David O.
The Monitor 9 and Monitor 11 models share the same general sonic character. What the 11 gives you over the 9 is primarily deeper bass and higher output capability. For the size of your room, the bigger 11 might be beneficial, particularly if you want to play them very loud. I heard the 11s at the TAVES event held recently and was very impressed. On the other hand, I bet the 9s are no slouches for bass and output, so they could work well too. It really depends on what your needs are.
I probably wouldn’t use the Atom Monitors for rears; instead, I’d opt for the Surround 1 or Surround 3 speakers, which are designed specifically for rear-speaker use and are part of the same series as the 9 and 11. Furthermore, if you’re setting up a full surround system, definitely get either the Center 1 or Center 3. It’s imperative that you not only buy all your speakers from the same manufacturer, but that you also get them in the same series, since they’re all designed to have the same sonic signature and will work better together.
I can’t tell you how the Paradigms would compare with speakers from MartinLogan or B&W because I haven’t made that comparison.
Insofar as receivers go, Denon and Integra generally make excellent products, so I don’t think you could go wrong with either brand providing you get something powerful enough. There’s nothing worse than putting together a system with pretty big speakers and not having enough power to drive them well. One brand I would add to that list is Anthem. They are a sister company to Paradigm and their new MRX-series receivers have gotten very good reviews, primarily for their high power output and sound quality. Wes Marshall reviewed the big MRX 700 model on this site. Vince Hanada reviewed the MRX 500 on GoodSound!, a sister publication. Anthem MRX receivers also have the Anthem Room Correction (ARC) system built in that can help you maximize sound quality in your room. Paradigm used an Anthem receiver at the TAVES event to drive the Monitors. . . . Doug Schneider
