It's like the Ms. Universe pageant of speakers. Gorgeous.
Rod - you sure that VOX center isn't big enough? If you get a chance to hear the Il Cremonese, let us know. Word of advice: bring your wallet just in case. [emoji6]
Rod - you sure that VOX center isn't big enough? If you get a chance to hear the Il Cremonese, let us know. Word of advice: bring your wallet just in case. [emoji6]
I don't think it would be, big enough that is not in a dual purpose system where multi-channel music is listened to or matrixed stereo music along with movies and a 3rd matching tower speaker can't be used, this being in a system with the larger speakers like the Il Cremonese and up. I say this from the experience I have had with my B&W's in comparison to one another. Even before I had the 800's I could clearly hear a collapse of the sound image in the center with music, the HTM-2 simply couldn't displace as much air and project as full a sound as the 802's. This was even more evident when I got my 800's. The HTM-2 is a very nice and very capable center in it's own right but when it's up against it's larger siblings it's shows it's deficiencies. Granted not having the marlan mid range head unit like the 802 and 800 contributes to this but overall cabinet size plays a part. In comparison with the 802 the bass driver size isn't all that much different, dual 7" vs dual 8" but the volume of the cabinet space is quite different.
I think like the HTM-2 was the perfect match for the 803, the Vox is probably the perfect match for the Futura.
Granted the Vox has more drivers than my HTM-2 does but fundamentally I believe cabinet size plays a large part when running in a system where other large speakers are in play.
That's a good point. The VOX is almost 33 inches wide, so by most standards, it seems quite big. Unless I'm mistaken, it was designed to pair with the Aida (and obviously now the Lilium and Il Cremonese). The Wilson center speaker (which I had and is excellent), is only 20 inches wide. Is there a bigger Wilson center?
If you're a big movie buff, the center channel is very important. Probably gets 90% of the information in a movie, agreed? So, I agree with you that the importance of a great center speaker can't be underestimated.
For those SF enthusiasts, anyone know why with the Il Cremonese the infra woofer design was changed up from the Aida and Lillium choosing to put 2 drivers in the side of the cabinet (similar to The Sous Faber approach, but that had a single driver) rather than a single unit at the top?
Looking at the Wilson dimensions, the Mezzo is 17.375" H x 29.5" W x 20.875" D and 159lbs while the Polaris is 29" H x 38.75" W x 25" D and 294 lbs
For more perspective the Polaris has a typical 1" tweeter but dual 7" mid ranges and dual 9.5" woofers.So knowing the difference larger drivers makes, the dual 8" in my 802 vs the dual 10" in my 800's, man having basically dual 10" drivers in a center must be pretty darn incredible.
Ah....Polaris! I didn't know about it. Almost 500 pounds shipping weight....Wow...now that's a center! Efficient too. Nice.
highEndguy
New member
And you can use it as Front speakers
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Space. The Aida has a a 12 inch downward firing subwoofer located below its wide cabinet. The Lilium, on the other hand, has a passive top firing woofer located at the top of the cabinet which is wide enough to accommodate this 10 inch driver.
Neither of these two woofers will fit below or on top of the somewhat narrower el cremonese cabinet, hence the side placement of the twin woofers which I believe are 8 inch drivers. What perplexes me is why the SF chose to actively power the Aida and Cremonese subwoofers while chose a passive approach for the Lilium.
Yeah it's a monster and with a monster price tag. A center of that size fascinates me as did the extinct B&W HTM1-D.
It's interesting you mention about it being used as mains. Focal does something similar with their Viva Utopia, they actually offer both horizontal and vertical versions. That's also quite a large center as well with 8" bass drivers and 125lbs
It's been a while since I looked at the Aida specs, I forgot that it's infra woofer was at the bottom not the top like the Lilium. I also didn't know the Aida's woofer was actively powered. It makes sense what you say about the Il Cremonese woofers needing to be placed differently due to size limitations. A single 8" may have fit at the top but I suspect since it has 2 that a single 8" wasn't enough for the low definition they were looking for.
surrounded by sound
New member
I heard these speakers last Friday at my dealer. I liked them.
Rscotth
Member
Rscotth
Member
I have some news to share. I just pulled the trigger on these new beauties. They will be installed on Monday/Tuesday of next week. I'm debating between my futuras and evo's as the rears for my 5.1 set-up. Currently the Evo's are fulfilling that duty very well, but the opportunity to use a full-range speaker for the rear is something I've always wanted. We will play with both to see what works best. Very excited!
Congrats!! Awesome speakers.
kzhtoo
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2014
- Messages
- 1,615
These are handsome speakers. Congrats! There's nothing like the joy you have with new speakers.
Congrats! My vote is for using the Futura's as surrounds. Having been using full range surrounds myself now through 2 setups there is no substitute especially for music. That's a killer setup. Make sure to post pics of the room once the new beauties arrive and if you move the Futura's to the surrounds. If your room is large enough for 7.1 then use the Futura's for surrounds and Evo's for rears. Keeping the more capable speaker within ear orientation will give better results vs the other way around.
highEndguy
New member
I'm jealous
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Rscotth
Member
They have arrived!
