Gentlemen: all valid questions and points. Main issue (which actually prompted this necessity for change) is hearing related. I'm 72, and was recently afflicted with what the 'specialists' brilliantly refer to as SLH (Sudden Loss of Hearing), and massive 24/7 Tinnitus in my left ear. Cause unknown; "probably a virus", but am told it could be just about anything. I've regained about 50% of my hearing in my left ear -- but only in the low frequencies. Over 4KHz is practically zilch on the port side. As a result dialogue intelligibility is now seriously impeded. I could be wrong, but I feel the sub in the Deftech center speaker, coupled with its passive radiator, is only adding to the overall 'woolliness'. I thought the Paradigm 5C might obviate this potential cause by making things a little more crispy (even though I've always felt Paradigms, the ones I've heard, can, in certain settings, be a tad too bright).
Insofar as the Paradigm's general similarity to the Deftech: yes and no. The 55C has two more 5.25" drivers, which, I'd hoped, might a) boost midrange intelligibility, and b) also avail a greater spread, which, in concert, might also help? Re the Anthem's output: thanks, Flint. Makes sense. So no changes needed there, which is good.
Now, why is the Revel in the running? Curses, my RIGHT ear, too, has its own issues. Not easy to explain, so please bear with me. I'm a retired pilot; some 40 years ago, I happened to be in close proximity to a JATO bottle when it fired, which momentarily inflicted searing pain in my right ear. Hearing quickly returned to normal, and I've happily enjoyed the bliss of audiophilia for decades. But following the recent "SLH" debacle, my right ear is now, suddenly, acutely sensitivel to high VOLUME (over ~75dB) AND hypersensitive to HF (cymbal crashes actually cause pain). If this isn't Audiophile Hell, I don't know what would be. [But get this: I've visited numberless ENT specialists and Otiologists (on both coasts), had two MRIs and a CT scans -- and they've all declared my hearing on the Right side to be "perfect." Go figure. Personally, I suspect that my 50-year audiophile hobby definitely contributed to this calamity. I listened at 85dB+ in well-treated rooms for years. My (unsolicited) advice to you young chaps reading this dismal litany of woes: Keep that volume knob turned down to sane levels. There might be a heavy price to pay later in life if you don't.]
Which all now brings me to the Revel 208C. My thinking is that the two 8" drivers might, overall, be easier on both my ears than four beaming 5.25" cones. The eights might, I think, be more diffuse and gentle. I currently do narration/vo work, and have a professionally treated and kitted recording studio upstairs. The Neumann KH310 nearfields I have sound glorious even at low volume and are easy on my ears, as well as being supremely intelligible (I suppose being in the nearfield, this isn't really surprising). And the 3-way Neumanns have 8" woofers. This is why I've been wondering -- all things considered -- whether the Revels with their 8" drivers might be the way to go.
And yes, I do appreciate the potential complexities mentioned about the driver mismatch between the Revels/Paradigms and the Deftech towers. But for the time being, this is something I cannot change (WAF). Besides, given my appalling hearing issues, my discriminating high-end 2-channel days are, alas, clearly over -- which is why I now listen pretty much across the board in Dolby PLIIx. This mode gives the center channel a real workout, since it seems to be doing a good 60% of the lifting. Which is why I'm focusing on obtaining first-rate C-channel performance.
Thanks to both of you or all your help.
Cheers
Insofar as the Paradigm's general similarity to the Deftech: yes and no. The 55C has two more 5.25" drivers, which, I'd hoped, might a) boost midrange intelligibility, and b) also avail a greater spread, which, in concert, might also help? Re the Anthem's output: thanks, Flint. Makes sense. So no changes needed there, which is good.
Now, why is the Revel in the running? Curses, my RIGHT ear, too, has its own issues. Not easy to explain, so please bear with me. I'm a retired pilot; some 40 years ago, I happened to be in close proximity to a JATO bottle when it fired, which momentarily inflicted searing pain in my right ear. Hearing quickly returned to normal, and I've happily enjoyed the bliss of audiophilia for decades. But following the recent "SLH" debacle, my right ear is now, suddenly, acutely sensitivel to high VOLUME (over ~75dB) AND hypersensitive to HF (cymbal crashes actually cause pain). If this isn't Audiophile Hell, I don't know what would be. [But get this: I've visited numberless ENT specialists and Otiologists (on both coasts), had two MRIs and a CT scans -- and they've all declared my hearing on the Right side to be "perfect." Go figure. Personally, I suspect that my 50-year audiophile hobby definitely contributed to this calamity. I listened at 85dB+ in well-treated rooms for years. My (unsolicited) advice to you young chaps reading this dismal litany of woes: Keep that volume knob turned down to sane levels. There might be a heavy price to pay later in life if you don't.]
Which all now brings me to the Revel 208C. My thinking is that the two 8" drivers might, overall, be easier on both my ears than four beaming 5.25" cones. The eights might, I think, be more diffuse and gentle. I currently do narration/vo work, and have a professionally treated and kitted recording studio upstairs. The Neumann KH310 nearfields I have sound glorious even at low volume and are easy on my ears, as well as being supremely intelligible (I suppose being in the nearfield, this isn't really surprising). And the 3-way Neumanns have 8" woofers. This is why I've been wondering -- all things considered -- whether the Revels with their 8" drivers might be the way to go.
And yes, I do appreciate the potential complexities mentioned about the driver mismatch between the Revels/Paradigms and the Deftech towers. But for the time being, this is something I cannot change (WAF). Besides, given my appalling hearing issues, my discriminating high-end 2-channel days are, alas, clearly over -- which is why I now listen pretty much across the board in Dolby PLIIx. This mode gives the center channel a real workout, since it seems to be doing a good 60% of the lifting. Which is why I'm focusing on obtaining first-rate C-channel performance.
Thanks to both of you or all your help.
Cheers
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