magnetically shielded speakers

[xshen]

Hi:

I am going to purchase Rotel preamp 1068 + amp 1075 in next few weeks. I still need to decide what speakers to match them. I have a little problem with my room size. Due to the limited length of the wall that I am going to put both TV, AV rack, and two speakers, either I have to put speaker close to TV so it look like "Speaker TV Speaker Rack" or create an asymmetric location of my two speakers like "Speaker TV Rack Speaker" (in other words, I cannot get my TV in the center position).

So, my question is: what are those high-end main speakers that are magnetically shielded?

Your suggestion is greatly appreciated.

[John Styrnol]

For RPTV you will not need magnetic shielding, if you have a Direct View there's a good chance you will. Monitor Audio makes magnetic shielding speakers and they work great. I also own some B&Ws (nice speakers), but not sure if their magnetic shielding. You will just have to check them out.

[Bam!]

Welcome bud!

Most dedicated Home Theater speakers are shielded....I did say most.....find the one`s that sing with your amp and then ask if they are shielded....I wouldn`t buy a speaker that is shielded but sounds like poop.


Hope this helps...keep us in touch....you are well on your way to a great set up!!!

:T

[aud19]

Bam is correct. (for once.. Kidding Bam! ) Something like 90% of speakers are magnetically shielded so find a few brands/models you like and confirm they're shielded. Personally I vote for "Speaker/TV/Stand/Speaker" because if you put the speakers too close together you'll get CRAPPY imaging.

Jason

[ThomasW]

Sort of depends on your definition of 'high-end' speakers. Looking at the lunatic fringe most of those actually aren't shielded. Perhaps the mfgr's assume that they'll only be used for music or wth FPTV.

And if one looks at some of the high-end DIY drivers, many aren't available with shielding. Proper cabinet design (layers of heavy gauge sheet metal) combined with bucking magnets added to the drivers will usually solve the problem.

If one's tastes are for 'planars' (Maggies, ESL, etc, ) those either have no magnets, or are inherently 'self-shielding'.

[xshen]

So far, what I found is that Revel F32 and M22 are shielded, but F32, at $4000 a pair, is over my budget. B&W series are not shielded in general (of course excluding center speaker). The only exception is theri Nautilus 805 bookshelf speakers.

I am still searching. A sales person suggested me to buy a bigger TV stand to hold all my components so that I don't need an extra rack. I am also exploring this option, but this means that my Sony matched stand which costed me $350 becomes useless.

[ThomasW]

If you find a speaker you like and it's not shielded; we can probably create enough shielding with various DIY methods, if that's ok with you. It would of course require popping out the drivers and gluing bucking magnets on them. Then putting a piece of steel between the side of the cabinet and the TV.

Another option is to put the steel on the sides of the TV itself.

Frequently the 'magic' distance for non-shielded speakers is 24" from the sides of the TV.