CM10 speakers

[bombayteddy]

I am considering purchasing a pair of CM10 speakers along with the CM-C center-channel, for use in my home-theater which is located in a dedicated, acoustically-treated room. I was told by the designer that I needed a speaker with strong low frequencies, for the bass to register in this room. I wont be using a subwoofer but bi-amping the front L/R speakers and sending ALL the low-frequency info to them. The receiver I am considering is a Cambridge Audio 751R (120 x 7) as an upgrade to my current Denon 2310.
The room's dimensions (net, after treatment) are approximately 15'6" x 11' x 9'6" (ht) with the speakers placed in front of the 11' wall which is panelled with 4" thick foam. There is a false-ceiling made of a gypsum/Tecsound sandwich, lined above with 3" glasswool and suspended 4" below the real ceiling...which will create a basstrap. This is unavoidable, as I need to insulate the room from my neighbours! The walls are similarly sound-proofed but without an air-gap. The room will be carpeted wall-to-wall.
My question is: would the three 6.5" woofers in the CM10 go down low with enough power for full orchestra, opera and home-theater? I am NOT a basshead but I do enjoy a solid underpinning to music and movies. Would I be better served by, say, the Revel Performa F208 which has two 8" woofers in a larger cabinet?

[Dmantis]

The F208's are by far an amazing speaker and IMO a better sounding lower end digging deeper speaker then the 10's. The 10's like the rest of the CM line are a magical speaker. You will need a subwoofer with the music you want to listen to. Not needed with the F208's.

[bombayteddy]

Thanks for your response! I have yet to hear both....will schedule auditions soon with their respective dealers.
Good to know the Revels have a solid, deep low-end and dont need a subwoofer. How are the mids and highs, in comparison with the CM10? I am a little concerned because I have read somewhere they are not particularly "refined". Hope their aluminium drivers dont have a metallic "ring", especially on voices.
Another alternative is the new Monitor Audio Silver 10, a 3-way floor-stander with two 8" woofers. Yet to be imported here....

[dan87951]

It's a toss up really. It all depends on how much bass you like. The CM9's that I had did wonderfully well but I like balanced sound that isn't bass heavy on music. On movies the speakers were lacking serious bass or punch though! I tend to like to feel stuff that blows up than just hear it. If you are speaking of needing bass for movies than I can definitely tell you the CM10's probably won't cut it. Why can't you use a sub? They do wonders in situations like this. Is a 803 Diamond out of your budget?

[TomScrut]

Second hand 803S or 803D could be an option? I can't tell when my sub is on in my room with my 803Ss except on extremely low stuff

[bombayteddy]

Thanks for your response, Dan. I have never used a subwoofer and am not sure I would have the space for one....or where to put it! My old B&W 640i's certainly didnt need one for music or movies; and could reproduce (for example) the famous dance with drums from "House of Flying Daggers" with authority. However, those tweeters got ragged on top as they aged; and so the speakers were sold.
I guess my primary need would be for a MUSICAL sound; and a (very) brief audition of the CM10 showed they have that....but at the expense of some treble air and detail, which are there in the 800D series in spades! I guess an alternative would be to go for the 805D with the matching centre and a sub. I really need to audition both properly to determine if the much cheaper CM10/CM-C combo cuts it in terms of bass weight and treble sweetness.
Any thoughts on the Revel F208 and how it would compare to the CM10?

[bombayteddy]

Thats a good idea Tom....though I find the 803D rather too plummy in the mid-bass. I might be able to find a 2nd-hand 803S though....if thats the one with 2 bass-units (instead of 3) its a lovely speaker.

[TomScrut]

Thats a good idea Tom....though I find the 803D rather too plummy in the mid-bass. I might be able to find a 2nd-hand 803S though....if thats the one with 2 bass-units (instead of 3) its a lovely speaker.

My dealer who sold me the 803Ss suggested to me that the 803Ds were far too expensive for the price difference

[bombayteddy]

The entire 800D range is exorbitantly-priced in this country, owing to our currency's poor exchange rate AND the excessive import duties and local taxes.

[Dmantis]

If your not going to add a sub then the choice is the Revel F208's. They are truly amazing at the low end.

[bombayteddy]

Thanks....but how do they compare in the midrange and treble?