First HT setup in 20+ years

[briankiser]

Hello.

I am putting together a new home theater setup (probably 5.1 initially, but may expand to 7.1). My receiver on order is the Onkyo RZ50 (replacing a Marantz 1403, the newest item in my current system). I am looking at replacing my SVS SBS-01 system with either the ASCILAB C6B or the Arendal 1961 Monitors. A distant third and fourth place speakers might be the Super Dentons and the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1-V2. My sub will remain the same--an SVS 20-39PC-Plus.

My room is 11 wide x 17 long, with 8 foot ceilings. I prefer to overbuild (when it's within my budget).

Looking for any advice that anyone is willing to give. Really concerned about the RZ50 not being able to power those Arendal 4 ohm speakers. Also interested in any thoughts from people who have heard the ASCILABs.

Thanks, everyone.

-Brian

 

[Matt34]

If you don't want to add an external amp, I would pony up for the Ascend LX's. easier to drive, more output/less compression/distortion, and much more bass.

I had them and they are my favorite 2 way bookshelf I've had to date.
1. LX
2. C6b
3. Revel M106

 

[lovinthehd]

Try the avr on its own, it has pre-outs in case you think you're short on power.....but depends on how far away you are from speakers and listening levels....

 

[briankiser]

If you don't want to add an external amp, I would pony up for the Ascend LX's. easier to drive, more output/less compression/distortion, and much more bass.

I had them and they are my favorite 2 way bookshelf I've had to date.
1. LX
2. C6b
3. Revel M106

Thanks, Matt. The Sierra-1 V2 sounded good, and it was a top choice for me, but wasn't even aware of the LX until your post. I am doing some research on it now. Seems like not too much is out there right now.

 

[briankiser]

Try the avr on its own, it has pre-outs in case you think you're short on power.....but depends on how far away you are from speakers and listening levels....

Will do. I'll be reasonably close--probably about 10 feet away. I'm just afraid of burning up my receiver due to the 4 ohms.

 

[lovinthehd]

Will do. I'll be reasonably close--probably about 10 feet away. I'm just afraid of burning up my receiver due to the 4 ohms.

I highly doubt it will "burn up" Unless you try really hard, of course.

 

[briankiser]

I highly doubt it will "burn up" Unless you try really hard, of course.

lol I hope not. I just keep reading that the Arendals will fry my receiver. Apparently, 4 ohms is hard on a mid/low end receiver. I'm a novice with home theater, so beats me, but I've read it several times online so it worries me.

 

[lovinthehd]

lol I hope not. I just keep reading that the Arendals will fry my receiver. Apparently, 4 ohms is hard on a mid/low end receiver. I'm a novice with home theater, so beats me, but I've read it several times online so it worries me.

Yeah that sort of thing is pervasive on the interwebs, but again depends how hard you push it....generally not an issue in most people's use. Use one of these to help sort things out perhaps http://www.hometheaterengineering.com/splcalculator.html

 

[briankiser]

Yeah that sort of thing is pervasive on the interwebs, but again depends how hard you push it....generally not an issue in most people's use. Use one of these to help sort things out perhaps http://www.hometheaterengineering.com/splcalculator.html

Hey, thanks. I plugged in the numbers for the Arendal and my RZ50, and got these results, but I'm not sure what to make of them:

 

[lovinthehd]

Hey, thanks. I plugged in the numbers for the Arendal and my RZ50, and got these results, but I'm not sure what to make of them:

View attachment 74480

I'd not use the setting for reflected sound just to stay more on the conservative side. Plus, sensitivity specs without 3rd party measurements can be odd (especially someone like Klipsch and their method). Reference level is 105dB peaks (plus 10dB for LFE channel). I simply don't listen that loud these days myself, but if you want to listen at reference levels maybe use an external amp on the front three....

 

[rajsingh]

I’ve worked on similar home theater setups and queries while working as an AV system integrator. As a result, I have experience with various speaker configurations.
For your Onkyo RZ50, it should handle 4-ohm speakers like the Arendal 1961 Monitors. But ensure you set the receiver to accommodate lower impedance. The RZ50 offers around 120 watts per channel at 8 ohms. Thus, it can deliver more power to 4-ohm loads, potentially around 180 watts per channel.
The ASCILAB C6B is famous for impressive clarity and dynamic range. Hence, it is a solid choice for your room size (11’ x 17’). You must ensure that they are correctly positioned. The ideal distance will be 1-2 feet from walls. This distance will provide the least boundary interference and the most bass response.
For your sub, the SVS 20-39PC-Plus pairs well with either speaker option, providing robust low-end support. You must keep a mental note of the room’s acoustics. You can do acoustic treatments in the room to improve sound quality.
In short, both speaker options are excellent. At the end, it may come down to personal preference in sound signature.

 

[lovinthehd]

I’ve worked on similar home theater setups and queries while working as an AV system integrator. As a result, I have experience with various speaker configurations.
For your Onkyo RZ50, it should handle 4-ohm speakers like the Arendal 1961 Monitors. But ensure you set the receiver to accommodate lower impedance. The RZ50 offers around 120 watts per channel at 8 ohms. Thus, it can deliver more power to 4-ohm loads, potentially around 180 watts per channel.
The ASCILAB C6B is famous for impressive clarity and dynamic range. Hence, it is a solid choice for your room size (11’ x 17’). You must ensure that they are correctly positioned. The ideal distance will be 1-2 feet from walls. This distance will provide the least boundary interference and the most bass response.
For your sub, the SVS 20-39PC-Plus pairs well with either speaker option, providing robust low-end support. You must keep a mental note of the room’s acoustics. You can do acoustic treatments in the room to improve sound quality.
In short, both speaker options are excellent. At the end, it may come down to personal preference in sound signature.

We usually don't recommend setting the impedance switch to 4 ohm on the avr....try this https://www.audioholics.com/audio-amplifier/impedance-selector-switch-1