New to Site - Rookie

[shubox56]

For openers, Happy Holidays!

I'm embarrassed to post here being an AV rookie. I'm not looking for high-end AV gear, but I would like to greatly improve the sound quality in my home hotrod shop. A few details:

1. Room size: 20'X20' with a 9' ceiling.
2. Current Receiver: Denon AVR 1912
3. Current Speakers:
   1. Center: Energy CB-5
   2. Front: Energy CB-5
   3. Surround (rear): Mirage AVS-200
4. Sub: Polk PSW 250

My space is muti-functional -- a balance between hotrod shop and open air entertainment. It's an awesome climate controlled (68* to 78*) space that is decked out with black & white tiled flooring and hotrod gear. It's as much of an indoor space as my living room, there just happens to be a 56 Chevy parked in the middle. ;-)

My AV gear is used as a home theater, but more times than not, it's for music. I want to keep my Denon AVR -- I'm looking for a solid speaker(s) recommendation to improve the sound in my 400 sq foot space (not factoring in ceiling volume). Something that would pair well with the 1912? The collection of speakers I have are mismatched and older, but do a decent job overall -- at least to my novice (tinnitus) ears. Any help upgrading the speakers would be much appreciated.

Also, would it help to add some sound panels? Nothing crazy expensive, just a few on the side walls (top portion of walls)?

I look forward to your thoughts. Thanks!

 

[mazersteven]

I don't believe you about the 56 Chevy only photos

What budget are we working in and what exactly do you need just main towers you looking for a whole 5.1 7.1

 

[lovinthehd]

I'd think about larger speakers than the CB5s for the LRC speakers for a space that size, and that sub is hard to call a sub. The avr can work with a variety of speakers, tho. What's your budget? Glad to help you spend money Maybe some pics to comment on acoustics/ideas.

 

[shubox56]

What, you don't me --- here's a pick before adding audio stuff. And floor space is valuable real estate, so I'm looking for bookshelf speakers (primary front) to sit on each end of my 8' front bench.

 

[mazersteven]

Looks like a nice 56. Still don't know a budget but these would work in a larger room

This would be perfect for your budget

CMT-340SE MINI-TOWER PAIR

Uncompromising Performance, Our Best Value! "These speakers’ levels of design, capability, and refinement far exceed what could previously be expected from this price range. Those considering buying far more expensive speakers would be well advised not to ignore the Ascends simply because of...

www.ascendacoustics.com

CBM-170SE BOOKSHELF MONITOR PAIR

The Benchmark Bookshelf Loudspeaker Black Friday Sale! "The State Of The Art Of Budget Loudspeakers" -Jeff Van Dyne, GoodSound Setting new performance standards for affordable accurate sound reproduction for two channel stereo reproduction and multi-channel home theater. Signature Edition...

www.ascendacoustics.com

 

[lovinthehd]

Yeah in my workshop the only things on the floor are subs and they're in areas where the floor space is relatively useless anyways.....but I have all my speakers up high (7ch), both wall mounted and on shelves for the larger ones (JBL 4311Bs). Any way to move your speaker mounting up further? Bookshelves are only going to do so much in larger spaces and the ones you have are fairly reasonable for small bookshelf speakers. How big a speaker cabinet are you thinking about?

 

[shubox56]

I'd think about larger speakers than the CB5s for the LRC speakers for a space that size, and that sub is hard to call a sub. The avr can work with a variety of speakers, tho. What's your budget? Glad to help you spend money Maybe some pics to comment on acoustics/ideas.

Good question: can substantial improvements be had with $1000 to $1500? If there's any deals out there to put me at less, then great. I know, I'm a piker on a small budget. LOL

 

[lovinthehd]

My workshop gear is based on used gear purchases and older gear from my other setups, and don't think I have that much into my whole garage setup accordingly.....but I'd be looking at used speakers/subs to save money....and you seem to have a sufficient budget (but will depend where you live/what's available).

 

[shubox56]

Yeah in my workshop the only things on the floor are subs and they're in areas where the floor space is relatively useless anyways.....but I have all my speakers up high (7ch), both wall mounted and on shelves for the larger ones (JBL 4311Bs). Any way to move your speaker mounting up further? Bookshelves are only going to do so much in larger spaces and the ones you have are fairly reasonable for small bookshelf speakers. How big a speaker cabinet are you thinking about?

I would prefer to avoid wall mounting anything other then the rear surrounds. I was hoping to flank each end of the 8' workbench with the bookshelf speakers, but I could widen out the plain a bit by placing the right speaker on the bench and the left speaker on a stand. Something bigger than the CB-5's will not overcrowd the bench.

 

[shubox56]

Looks like a nice 56. Still don't know a budget but these would work in a larger room

This would be perfect for your budget

CMT-340SE MINI-TOWER PAIR

Uncompromising Performance, Our Best Value! "These speakers’ levels of design, capability, and refinement far exceed what could previously be expected from this price range. Those considering buying far more expensive speakers would be well advised not to ignore the Ascends simply because of...

www.ascendacoustics.com

CBM-170SE BOOKSHELF MONITOR PAIR

The Benchmark Bookshelf Loudspeaker Black Friday Sale! "The State Of The Art Of Budget Loudspeakers" -Jeff Van Dyne, GoodSound Setting new performance standards for affordable accurate sound reproduction for two channel stereo reproduction and multi-channel home theater. Signature Edition...

www.ascendacoustics.com

I'm not familiar with this brand, but that's not surprising. So this recommendation is for front (340's) and rears (170's)? Or 2 different options for the front speakers?

 

[lovinthehd]

I can vouch for Ascend, have several of their speakers (the surrounds in my workshop are 200SEs, my 5ch bedroom system uses Sierra-1 NrTs with170SE surrounds). I don't have experience with the 340SE particularly, but they're good choices if buying new. Good company to deal with but you won't find dealers for auditions, they're internet direct (altho do have a decent return policy, but not without cost to you if you return).

 

[shubox56]

Not being audio-minded, will my Denon 1912 easily drive a speaker like the Ascend CMT340?

 

[ski2xblack]

Good question: can substantial improvements be had with $1000 to $1500? If there's any deals out there to put me at less, then great. I know, I'm a piker on a small budget. LOL

Something pretty bangin' (higher sensitivity, higher output capability) would be good for such a large space. Something like the Hsu CCB-8 perhaps.

 

[mazersteven]

Not being audio-minded, will my Denon 1912 easily drive a speaker like the Ascend CMT340?

Your receiver will drive them. You won't turn the garbage into a concert hall. But it will perform well

 

[lovinthehd]

Not being audio-minded, will my Denon 1912 easily drive a speaker like the Ascend CMT340?

Yes, the 340SEs are fairly sensitive and avr friendly, slightly more so than your CB5s (which are fairly sensitive for that size speaker). Keep in mind larger speakers tend to be more sensitive than smaller ones, and larger ones will also push more air in your largish room too....the CB-5s are kinda tiny with their 4.5" driver.

 

[shubox56]

Yes, the 340SEs are fairly sensitive and avr friendly, slightly more so than your CB5s (which are fairly sensitive for that size speaker). Keep in mind larger speakers tend to be more sensitive than smaller ones, and larger ones will also push more air in your largish room too....the CB-5s are kinda tiny with their 4.5" driver.

"Fairly sensitive", can you explain that? See, I told you I was a rookie! ;-)

 

[mazersteven]

The higher a speakers sensitivity rating the easier for a receiver or amp to drive. Speaker sensitivity also is used to calculate volume levels

 

[shubox56]

The higher a speakers sensitivity rating the easier for a receiver or amp to drive. Speaker sensitivity also is used to calculate volume levels

Interesting, because reading Lovinthehd last post, I intuitively assumed that bigger speakers were LESS friendly, required a more powerful app to drive. What causes a smaller speaker to be less sensitive and harder to drive?

 

[lovinthehd]

"Fairly sensitive", can you explain that? See, I told you I was a rookie! ;-)

Sensitivity is a specific expression of the efficiency of the speaker.....i.e. how loud it gets with how much power. Hopefully expressed as "x" dB with 2.83V at one meter distance (2.83V at 8 ohms is one watt). The further away you are from the speaker the more power you need and you can use an spl calculator like this to figure things out somewhat as to your needs http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html

Here's an article/video on sensitivity and the other important aspect of a speaker's spec in relation to amplifiers, the impedance https://www.audioholics.com/loudspeaker-design/loudspeaker-sensitivity

Your CB-5s have a spec of 89dB sensitivity (but not real specific about how they came to that on what I saw on Energy's spec sheet but believe they tended to stick to accepted standards). The 340SE has a spec'd sensitivity of 90dB but also a 92dB in-room spec.

 

[lovinthehd]

Interesting, because reading Lovinthehd last post, I intuitively assumed that bigger speakers were LESS friendly, required a more powerful app to drive. What causes a smaller speaker to be less sensitive and harder to drive?

Hoffman's Iron Law. https://sites.psu.edu/speakerdesign/2013/01/24/hoffmans-iron-laws-of-speaker-building/