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Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room?

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Hi guys I have a rare opportunity to purchase a pair of Spectra 22s. My current listening area is 10.5 feet wide and 14 feet deep. Speakers would be 7 feet apart 1 and a half feet from sidewalls 3.5 feet from front wall 8 feet from listening seat.
I've always lusted after these.but am I fooling myself to think it can work? Anyone try these or other big panels in small rooms? Amp would be Rogue Audio stereo 90.
Thanks for any info.

Follow Ups:

RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - blgtrio 17:15:30 03/12/25 (0)
One of my listening rooms is 11' by 13'. I have a pair of model 3's in this room. I really like the nearfield listening experience. Mine are 8 feet apart, 1 foot from side wall and 3 feet from back wall. They sit 8 feet from my listening chair. My VTL 85 watt integrated sounds incredible with them. I hope you get the sound you are looking for!

Edits: 03/12/25
Should work ok - E-Stat 13:22:52 01/12/15 (2)
If you have any discretion on the listening position, I've found you get the most linear bass response by placing the speakers and your listening position roughly into thirds of the room's length.

Sitting closer to them won't be a problem since they are single panel full range speakers. As such, there is no need for "driver blending" distance.
- You only live once! - Mendel 15:05:44 01/12/15 (1)
  Ok I've decided to give it a try. I pick the speakers up tomorrow,very excited.
  The gentleman is the second owner and has used them for 11years and describes them as in perfect working order.
  The current set up has Totem Hawks. Should be in for a change in presentation that's for sure.
  I am going to have a lot of questions for the Acoustat owners out there.
  - Acoustat owners groups - dogwan 16:44:21 01/12/15 (0)
    FWIW I just found an Acoustat Speakers group over on Facebook. Easy to join.
    
    Also, check out DIYAudio.com, there's a former Acoustat employee who spends a lot of time answering questions in a long running thread.
My space... - dogwan 13:21:59 01/11/15 (0)
I'm running model X's (3 panels wide) in a 10' x 12' room. Speakers are set up similar to how you would. About a foot off side walls (76" center to center) , almost 3' from back wall, and about 10 degree toe-in. Not ideal, but I love it. Getting acoustic panels on the 1st point reflections made a huge difference. Also, I hung thick wool rugs on the rear wall and that helped a lot too. My single listening chair is pretty close to that wall.

Oh yeah, I should mention that my ceiling is vaulted and sloped from 10' to 8' towards the speakers. I think that is also to my benefit.
Could work - morricab 13:03:18 01/10/15 (0)
I had the Spectra 2200 (later version but same speaker) and it worked amazingly well in a smallish room. I have very flat even frequency response even though one speaker was only inches from a side wall.

A seriously good speaker
RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - Satie 10:28:11 01/10/15 (25)
First, make sure you have the headroom to the ceiling. These are unusually tall speakers.

I listened to Accoustat 2+2 with updates but in a larger space. They needed a subwoofer to fill out the bottom end there, but should be just perfect for the smaller space you have.

They also do well in a Limage type setup pulled well away from the front wall (appx 6' in your room) and 1' or so from the sidewalls, minimal toe in, with the listening seat close to the back wall ( <2' in your room, leaving you with nearly the same 6-8' from the plane of the speakers)..
- RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - morricab 13:01:30 01/10/15 (24)
  Satie, the Spectra 22 are not so tall, 1.7 meters.
  - RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - Satie 14:07:05 01/10/15 (23)
    Why were the 2+2 so tall?
    - RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - john65b 07:01:29 01/11/15 (21)
      The Spectra 22 was 2 panels side by side like a Model 2, and the 2+2 was two stacked on top of two wide for a total of four panels. Same width (2 panels).
      
      Regarding the 2 wide models - model 2 was a real disappointment, while the Spectra 22 was very very good. I really liked mine...The Spectra 3 and 33 and 3300 I expect to be even better....never heard these tho.
      
      The only "Stacked" Spectras were the Spectra 6600 (maybe teh Spectra 8800 if it exists?)
      I VOID WARRANTIES
      - RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - morricab 15:06:01 01/12/15 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by john65b on January 11, 2015 at 07:01:29
        
        Almost right. There was also a Spectra 4400, which I also owned, that was essentially a 2+2 with Spectra technology.
        
        I had three different ones, the Spectra 2200, Spectra 4400 and the 1+1. Great loudspeakers all of them. I also owned Stax ELS F81s and Audiostatic RS100s. For planar magnetics I have had Apogee Caliper Signatures, Infinity IRS Betas, Infinity Modulus (planar tweeter).
      - RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - Satie 07:37:19 01/11/15 (19)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by john65b on January 11, 2015 at 07:01:29
        
        Yes thanks. I should remember this as I have been through this "catalog": many times before, but I still confuse the 2+2 with the spectra 22, 2200.
        
        I really loved the 2+2, but they are too tall to fit in my basement listening room.
        
        RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - E-Stat 12:53:39 01/12/15 (16)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by Satie on January 11, 2015 at 07:37:19
        
        I really loved the 2+2, but they are too tall to fit in my basement listening room.
        
        My wife and I had our previous home built and designed a dedicated space in the basement for the music system. I specified no less than an eight foot ceiling in the contract for that very reason. Once complete, I discovered much to my dismay the dumb a$$ contractor didn't follow the builder's instructions. The contractor told me that it would cost more to raise the ceiling. I showed him the contract and pointed out that it wasn't going to cost me a cent to get what I specified.
        
        I accepted a compromise with a trayed ceiling. Here's a shot from 2003:
        
        More recently, I purchased a pair of 1+1s for the garage system. While they require more power and have less bass output than the 2+2s, I find the 1+1s image much better and don't share the head-in-a-vise challenge. And I definitely prefer the line source nature of the stacked models over the side-by-side models (I began with the Model X and upgraded that to Monitor 4s).
        
        I solved the 2+2s imaging issue by moving to Sound Lab U-1s. With their uniform radiation over a 90 degree arc, you can pretty much walk around the room, stand up or sit down and not hear much difference in front of or behind the speakers. They're really spooky in that regard.
        
        RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - morricab 01:31:17 01/13/15 (15)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by E-Stat on January 12, 2015 at 12:53:39
        
        Yes the 1+1 image nicely, I really liked mine.
        
        The Spectra series also imaged very well because they did the trick of having the highs only coming from a narrow region of the speaker. The Spectras were also more transparent than the earlier series...they had better transformer design I guess because the panel construction was the same. The Spetras solved electrically what Soundlab and Martin Logan try to solve mechanically.
        
        RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - E-Stat 07:22:04 01/13/15 (14)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by morricab on January 13, 2015 at 01:31:17
        
        The Spetras solved electrically what Soundlab and Martin Logan try to solve mechanically.
        
        That solved the extreme sweet spot situation, but not to the extent you will find with SLs as they radiate uniform directivity over a much wider area with the angled facets. You can be significantly off axis and still have a full range result.
        
        I almost purchased a pair of Spectra 66s that were for sale near where I used to live. They were more neutral sounding than the 2+2s but do not have the transparency and imaging of the U-1s. There were, however, a great deal for the money!
        
        RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - morricab 13:28:02 01/13/15 (13)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by E-Stat on January 13, 2015 at 07:22:04
        
        My smaller 2200s were more transparent than my big 4400s for whatever reason.
        
        RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - E-Stat 13:56:59 01/13/15 (12)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by morricab on January 13, 2015 at 13:28:02
        
        They used the same panels so I suspect the difference had to do with component changes in the interfaces - as has occurred frequently in the past. I had ex-Acoustat technician Roy Esposito completely rebuild the interfaces in my 1+1s making a pretty significant sonic difference. I opted for the "air" mod which offer switchable bypass to the tweeter level control. Old vs new:
        
        Speaking of panels, the Acoustats - old and new alike - have 17 micron diaphragms. The Sound Lab panels (along with the latter Quads) use 3 micron diaphragms.
        
        RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - Mendel 19:20:52 01/13/15 (11)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by E-Stat on January 13, 2015 at 13:56:59
        
        The Spectras are in house. I have them hooked up with no name speaker cable as I must reterminate my Kimber from bi wiring to the single binding posts of the Acoustats.
        I am amazed by the sound in this small room. So different from the Totems! A wall of sound with real bass. Bass is strong but tuneful in this small room. Can't imaging the need for a sub but I am coming from 5 3/4 inch woofers.
        I appear to have lucked out so far no noises, rattles or distortion just beautiful music. They do dominate the room that's for sure. If I knew how to post a picture I would.
        Appreciate the advice guys, glad I went for it. Biggest upgrade I have ever made in my system.
        
        RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - morricab 14:07:48 01/15/15 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by Mendel on January 13, 2015 at 19:20:52
        
        Super now what you will find is that this speaker will get better as you improve everything behind it, source, amps cables etc.
        
        I still miss mine sometimes...sniff!
        
        Awesome! - Sondek 07:57:38 01/14/15 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by Mendel on January 13, 2015 at 19:20:52
        
        I have an idea you're at the beginning of a long love affair.
        
        Great news - E-Stat 05:53:02 01/14/15 (7)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by Mendel on January 13, 2015 at 19:20:52
        
        You should have fun going through your musical library to hear the beauty and coherency of stats.
        
        If I knew how to post a picture I would.
        
        Place a copy on your computer. Click the "Browse" button beside the "Upload Image" link in the Post a Message! box and locate the file.
        
        RE: Great news - Mendel 15:33:08 01/15/15 (6)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Great news posted by E-Stat on January 14, 2015 at 05:53:02
        
        Thanks guys. Been a blast so far. E-stat I have a picture on my IPad. How could I post that?
        Been experimenting with position. So far the closer I move them to me (further from the wall behind) the better they sound. Getting so close it is like giant electrostatic headphones! They are about 4 feet out from the front wall, 7.5 feet from the listening position and just about as far as I can spread them out, less than a foot from the side walls angled in towards my listening position.
        Some quick questions. The floor in my man cave is not even so the wood bases don't sit flat so they rock a little. How do people couple them to the floor? Spikes, sorbothane pucks?
        I intend to have the interfaces looked at but have read that the power supply bias level is key to performance. Apparently later versions had a pot on the circuit board to set this, but the guy I got these from says there is none on the Spectra 22 (but his Spectra 33 do have the control). Can anybody shed some light on this?
        Ok, I would like to do some routine maintenance on these, can any body shed some light on "vacuuming" the panels? Do you do it with the grill cloth on or do you remove them? Ok how do you remove them? What tool do you use on the vacuum (brush?) , how much suction is safe? Not ready to talk about the hair dry treatment yet.
        
        RE: Great news - E-Stat 16:09:07 01/15/15 (5)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Great news posted by Mendel on January 15, 2015 at 15:33:08
        
        E-stat I have a picture on my IPad. How could I post that?
        
        Don't know if the upload works with pad devices. Do you have a PC where you could copy the file?
        
        I intend to have the interfaces looked at but have read that the power supply bias level is key to performance.
        
        In the Acoustat world, the bias is fixed. There are no adjustments. My Sound Lab backplates, however, do have bias level controls since they run at much higher voltages.
        
        Ok, I would like to do some routine maintenance on these, can any body shed some light on "vacuuming" the panels?
        
        Vacuuming isn't needed so much as periodic re-tensioning of the diaphragms via a high output hair dryer or heat gun. Search the forum and you'll find lots of posts about that.
        
        Do you do it with the grill cloth on or do you remove them? Ok how do you remove them?
        
        The grill socks are stapled at the top and bottom. In time, you will want to replace the heavy weave cloth with tightly stretched spandex. The factory cloth tends to muffle the top end.
        
        Sit back and enjoy them for a while. And experiment with placement. I might not have them spread as far apart. And precise symmetry will give you the best imaging. I'm talking using string and laser pointers for the best results.
        
        RE: Great news - Mendel 10:53:31 01/18/15 (4)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Great news posted by E-Stat on January 15, 2015 at 16:09:07
        
        They really are not to big at all!
        
        RE: Great news - Mendel 20:53:43 03/11/25 (3)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Great news posted by Mendel on January 18, 2015 at 09:53:31
        
        Found this thread when I was looking around trying to get the sensitivity of the Spectra 22. Here we are 10 years later and I still love these speakers! Had the interfaces rebuilt by the late, great Dan Santoni about 8 years ago, who juiced the bias current up to 6000Kv. I play them mainly naked with the socks pulled down, and just added two Martin Logan Dynamo (2024) 10 inch subwoofers ( crossed over at 100 hertz using the switch on the back of the interface and the speaker level subwoofer out posts) and Aperion Audio dipole super tweeters crossed over at 14,000 hertz. Not looking to change anything.
        
        RE: Great news - atom666 13:43:56 03/13/25 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Great news posted by Mendel on March 11, 2025 at 20:53:43
        
        At least your wearing socks;> )
        
        Love listening to panels nearfield...-...-. - Mendel 14:15:50 03/13/25 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Great news posted by atom666 on March 13, 2025 at 13:43:56
        
        Like a giant set of Stax headphones but better! I still use my modified Rogue Audio Stereo 90 to run them (I'm not much of a gear flipper) and lately have been using triode mode more often, which is why I was wondering about their sensitivity. 40 or so triode watts (just scored two quads of new in the box 1970s vintage GE 6550s which sound so nice in triode) seems to be plenty for them in my small room.
        Long Live Acoustat!
        
        RE: Love listening to panels nearfield...-...-. - bald2 16:12:48 03/20/25 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Love listening to panels nearfield...-...-. posted by Mendel on March 13, 2025 at 14:15:50
        
        Fantastic speakers. I've had a couple of pairs and really enjoyed them. Glad to hear that you took the plunge!
        
        Harry Z
        
        Congrats!!! - Satie 00:35:55 01/14/15 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by Mendel on January 13, 2015 at 19:20:52
        
        These should be a fit for you.
        
        Enjoy them.
        
        RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - john65b 07:53:47 01/11/15 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by Satie on January 11, 2015 at 07:37:19
        
        I still have two pairs of 2+2, (and a pair of Model 3) and when I had a pair of 2+2 set up, I had to remove the ceiling tiles (my ceiling is 7' 10")...
        I VOID WARRANTIES
        
        RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - Sondek 08:20:59 01/11/15 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? posted by john65b on January 11, 2015 at 07:53:47
        
        I've toyed with the idea of stacking my Monitor 4's like Mike Savuto has, but it was enough of a challenge with my sigot to get the 4's allowed in the house. Not to mention the expense involved. As it is, I have them aimed dead level directly at the listening position, and there is a big difference in sound from a standing position to the seated sweet-spot position, but oh what a sound in that spot.
    - RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - blgtrio 16:07:22 01/10/15 (0)
      Hi Satie, The 2+2's were designed to help eliminate the vertical beaming effect that the side by side 5' panels were known for. Also those of us lucky enough to have 8' ceilings allowed the 2+2's to recreate the acoustic space of a cathedral or large hall with greater accuracy. The slimline series of Acoustat speakers (1+1's and 2+2's), also fit easier in a smaller to midsize room utilizing a much smaller footprint.
RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - Sondek 19:32:55 01/09/15 (1)
So, I got no personal experience with Spectras. I do have experience with the Monitor 4's. My room is 14.5' x 19' x 10'. A bit larger than yours, but my listening triangle is almost identical. Mine are 6' on center, 38" from front wall and 9' to the listening seat. The sound is amazing from the listening position. Near-field listening to large stats is kind of like being dipped in the music. That wall of sound effect on large-scale orchestral pieces can be very convincing. I say go for 'em and don't look back.
- RE: Acoustat Spectra 22 in a small room? - vinnie2 04:40:00 01/10/15 (0)
  Don't know squat about those speakers, but I just got through setting my Altecs up in a near field mode and it has blown me away. I think you probably can do the same as per post above.
  
  Edits: 01/10/15

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