Modernizing home theater setup from the 1970's

[jaxwithanx]

Hey all, I recently purchased my first home here in Houston, TX. It's a Spanish Revival that was built by a guy who built drive-in movie theaters. He originally had a reel-to-reel built into a closet that powered four 12" speakers mounted in boxes in the ceiling and 4 small outdoor speakers (2 in the courtyard and 2 in the garage). The equipment was abandoned long ago (found reel-to-reel in attic) but now I'm trying to build it back on a budget. I'm not, in any way, an audiophile and never really imagined I would care to build or own a "home theater" but it seems like a fun project that could have some cool results. I don't know much about sound system setups other than that I don't really care about a component system setup for surround sound so I can watch the newest blu ray movies in auditory bliss. I just watch sports on TV and listen to music throughout the day at reasonable levels. I plan on putting an extra touchscreen PC I have laying around and a receiver in the original reel-to-reel closet to work from.

To start, this is the receiver I will be working with - https://www.amazon.com/Sony-STRDH750-7-2-Channel-Receiver/dp/B00J356C0K

I also scored 4 of this earlier this year for $25 and their just sitting in their boxes, I plan to use them on the patio and garage - https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Round-Ceiling-Speakers-System/dp/B00GEE9F84

That leaves me looking for some reasonably "full-range" 12" speakers. I came across these and think they might work reasonable well - https://www.amazon.com/Eminence-American-Standard-Replacement-Speaker/dp/B0002VRP00

Am I just completely off base here? I realize it looks like the receiver is underpowered for the speakers but like I said, we aren't talking club levels of output here. Will this be OK as long as I keep the volume reasonable? What about the ohm levels? I know that's a thing but not really sure how it all works together. These seem to all be in a adequate range for each other though. How would I go about intelligently wiring up these 8 total speakers (four 12" in the living room ceiling and four 6.5" in outdoor areas) to the receiver in a way that makes sense?

Thanks in advance for any help provided!

 

[jcparks]

Looked at your room... IMO it isnt worth doing a home theater in that room on a small budget. You just arent going to be able to get a sub that will fill that room for under 800 dollars, and that is just one piece of the pie. That is a gorgeous room and really isn't worth a home theater. If you have a smaller guest bedroom, the receiver you have is a great start and you can probably do something decent on a budget. That room however is huge and beautiful . In order to get speakers that are a) going to fill that room with sound and b) fit the decor and not look out of place, you will have to spend a lot of money. I know i didn't answer your question at all, but IMO that just isn't a home theater room unless you want to spend alot of money.

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[jcparks]

This is my living room, mind you this is some ehat budget equipment, that I spent more then a couple of years shopping for to get the best deals on, and I am over 3 grand in...

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[jaxwithanx]

I would agree that the room is much too large to call a true "home theater" room without a lot more money involved.

Is it however, technologically adequate enough to push more sound than a soundbar under my TV. Because essentially, that's the only other option for this room at this time. I'm just trying to make use of extra equipment I have and find a few 12" full-range speakers to fill those old speaker boxes in the ceiling.

 

[jcparks]

Another thing I noticed is, those eminence speakers are not full range, the upper end of their frequency response is 3200 hz which is still midrange frequencies. Im pretty sure those drivers are designed for a electric guitar amp. They will not work for your needs.

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[jaxwithanx]

Another thing I noticed is, those eminence speakers are not full range, the upper end of their frequency response is 3200 hz which is still midrange frequencies. Im pretty sure those drivers are designed for a electric guitar amp. They will not work for your needs.

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Thanks. I had a feeling that might be the case. Do you know of any reasonable 12" speakers that are full range? I don't know if you can see the speaker box picture on your phone but it seems like at the bottom their could potentially be space there for tweeters of some type? Or was that left their for air flow reasons?

 

[jcparks]

Found these. https://www.parts-express.com/celestion-k12h-200tc-12-200-watt-full-range-professional-woofer-driver-8-ohm--294-2082
If you need to do full range 12s these will play the higher frequency that you need. I'm not sure about mounting them in the ceiling, but if you are dead set on fill the boxes that are up there i would use these. Just see if you can build a backer box to their specs so they sound right. Im really not sure though, this really isn't in my scope of knowledge.

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[jaxwithanx]

Found these. https://www.parts-express.com/celestion-k12h-200tc-12-200-watt-full-range-professional-woofer-driver-8-ohm--294-2082
If you need to do full range 12s these will play the higher frequency that you need. I'm not sure about mounting them in the ceiling, but if you are dead set on fill the boxes that are up there i would use these. Just see if you can build a backer box to their specs so they sound right. Im really not sure though, this really isn't in my scope of knowledge.

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I actually had come across these while doing my very rudimentary searches. Will look into appropriate backer box. I don't know if you can see but there are wooden surround boxes built recessed INTO the ceiling as well. Obviously, not to spec in this case but they are there to provide some help I suppose.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I also scored 4 of this earlier this year for $25 and their just sitting in their boxes, I plan to use them on the patio and garage - https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Round-Ceiling-Speakers-System/dp/B00GEE9F84

These are not full range, but a 2 way (with "fancy" xover - ie single cap on tweeter)

That leaves me looking for some reasonably "full-range" 12" speakers. I came across these and think they might work reasonable well - https://www.amazon.com/Eminence-American-Standard-Replacement-Speaker/dp/B0002VRP00

These are not full-range speakers. 43hz-3.8khz is usable range
http://www.eminence.com/pdf/Beta_12A-2.pdf

TBH: Both terrible choices. Going with in-ceiling only system - including fronts is a huge mistake.
Just Use the Sony AVR you bought (rated at 90W clean power into 6ohm, lets say 60w clean into 8, still plenty) - get a pair of towers which easy to power and enjoy the 2 or 2.1 with one/two good subs.
One option is a pair of these on stands:
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/ccb-8.html
Assuming near wall placement, 12ft distance (guessing here) and 60w/2ch (again estimation) you could get about 106.5dB SPL at listening position. Just enough for full THX reference level
Pair it with HSU sub and you'd be happy - I guarantee you - remove/sell old speakers and patch the holes.

Stop throwing away money on crap

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Found these. https://www.parts-express.com/celestion-k12h-200tc-12-200-watt-full-range-professional-woofer-driver-8-ohm--294-2082

these only play up to 10khz. Now I know a 40yo is lucky to hear 16khz, but there's a lot of content between 10 and 16khz.

What op needs is not 12" full range drivers, but dedicated in-ceiling speakers like these:
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-cs820c-8-2-way-ceiling-speaker-pair--300-404

If my idea of 2.1 is not acceptable

 

[jaxwithanx]

These are not full range, but a 2 way (with "fancy" xover - ie single cap on tweeter)


These are not full-range speakers. 43hz-3.8khz is usable range
http://www.eminence.com/pdf/Beta_12A-2.pdf

TBH: Both terrible choices. Going with in-ceiling only system - including fronts is a huge mistake.
Just Use the Sony AVR you bought (rated at 90W clean power into 6ohm, lets say 60w clean into 8, still plenty) - get a pair of towers which easy to power and enjoy the 2 or 2.1 with one/two good subs.
One option is a pair of these on stands:
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/ccb-8.html
Assuming near wall placement, 12ft distance (guessing here) and 60w/2ch (again estimation) you could get about 106.5dB SPL at listening position. Just enough for full THX reference level
Pair it with HSU sub and you'd be happy - I guarantee you - remove/sell old speakers and patch the holes.

Stop throwing away money on crap

That's where the quotations around 'full range' and disclaimers from the very beginning about not knowing anything about this stuff comes into play.

So essentially you are telling me those 4 crappy budget 6.5" speakers I got for $25 are so bad that they aren't worth installing into patio and garage, pre-wired, locations. That essentially, no sound, would be better than their sound?

So far, I've spent $25 on 'crap'. I'd be more than happy to hear more about your sound design suggestions if you'd lay off on the condescension.

I'm OK with being educated. OK with recommendations. Not into being reprimanded.

 

[jcparks]

Honestly you can do what ever. I really think that you will be disappointed though. Maybe get an attractive pair of stereo speakers for your fronts, and use the ceiling for surround effects. It will be better then a sound bar for sure. But you gotta invest some in to speakers that will look good in this room for the front stereo pair. Again gorgeous room.. You have to do it right. https://rbhsound.com/r55ti.php
Run these two with your ceiling speakers and no sub. Your sony will power them fine. They are awesome for music, they will be way better then a sound bar, and they are beautiful.


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[jaxwithanx]

these only play up to 10khz. Now I know a 40yo is lucky to hear 16khz, but there's a lot of content between 10 and 16khz.

What op needs is not 12" full range drivers, but dedicated in-ceiling speakers like these:
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-cs820c-8-2-way-ceiling-speaker-pair--300-404

If my idea of 2.1 is not acceptable

You may have pointed towards something more full range, but they aren't 12" either. So essentially, of no help in regards to utilizing speaker boxes.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

It's almost 1am here and I appologize for me tone. these 2 way pyle speakers could be used for garage etc.. I won't recommend using them for HT

 

[jaxwithanx]

Honestly you can do what ever. I really think that you will be disappointed though. Maybe get an attractive pair of stereo speakers for your fronts, and use the ceiling for surround effects. It will be better then a sound bar for sure. But you gotta invest some in to speakers that will look good in this room for the front stereo pair. Again gorgeous room.. You have to do it right. https://rbhsound.com/r55ti.php
Run these two with your ceiling speakers and no sub. Your sony will power them fine. They are awesome for music, they will be way better then a sound bar, and they are beautiful.


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Thanks. Will keep this in mind and it just might be where I go for this room.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

You may have pointed towards something more full range, but they aren't 12" either. So essentially, of no help in regards to utilizing speaker boxes.

Hold on and again it's late here - are you saying that you can't possibly use 8" 2 way driver in larger boxes? Is the only problem is cutting new speaker baffle from mdf?

 

[jcparks]

Run those in stereo with a phantom center. Boredsysadmin is right about the fact that 12s i suggested only play up to 10k, which is still low, however of you just using as surround speakers and aren't expecting magic, I'm sure this will be fine. Only buy 2 of the 12s and run them in the back two boxes. Just cover the front two and dont run anything in them. This isn't going to be an ideal home theater, bit the RBHs up front are amazing sounding and beautiful for the money you spend, and you are getting some rear effects from the ceiling. All in you come in at under a grand and your room is still beautiful. If you want later you can add a sub.

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[jcparks]

Just noticed the 8 inch coax that boredsys recommend... He is right, it shouldn't be super complicated to modify your existing boxes to fit those. They will be better then the 12s i recommended and they cost less as well...

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[Pogre]

BSA might have been a little terse, but I completely agree with him. In my opinion it would be a travesty to put a system in that beautiful home that will sound mediocre at best. If you're just going for some background music, in ceiling can work, but I would never (never) go with that setup for a main source of music listening or watching movies.

Dig around the Web or even right here to get some opinions on in ceiling vs a standard 2.1 or 5.1 setup. You can find some nice looking towers or bookshelf speakers that would compliment that room and it will sound so much better than in ceiling. I'd patch the holes in the ceiling and forget they're there.

 

[zieglj01]

Dig around the Web or even right here to get some opinions on in ceiling vs a standard 2.1 or 5.1 setup. You can find some nice looking towers or bookshelf speakers that would compliment that room and it will sound so much better than in ceiling. I'd patch the holes in the ceiling and forget they're there.

Bingo -- a better way to start