Divorced and confused...TIA for any and all help!

[briefcandle]

Hi all,

I am brand new here and am sooo glad I found this site! That's because I...err, got custody of a home theater that I neither bought nor understand. Don't get me wrong, I love all that it does. But, I have moved and need to set this stuff up for the first time in my new place, which is alot smaller than the (ahem) marital abode.

OK, here are my questions. I have a system that does front, center, side, rear and sub. It is made by Lexicon, DC-1 is the model. It is old but (I'm told) still good. Yes? Anyway, in my new place I don't have the room (or desire) to have all those speakers. So, can I use it with just front, center, rear and sub speakers? Would it (I don't know exactly how to put this) translate the sounds well? Or would it (extending my silly analogy) sound like it was speaking with a heavy foreign accent?

FWIW, I really want to use what I have and not go to a store to buy new equipment, if possible.

Again, thanks in advance for any and all help!

 

[highfihoney]

Hi all,

I am brand new here and am sooo glad I found this site! That's because I...err, got custody of a home theater that I neither bought nor understand.

It boggels the mind

 

[evilkat]

Hi all,
So, can I use it with just front, center, rear and sub speakers?

I see no reason why you couldn't. It'll be 5.1 instead of 7.1 sound. What a way to get an HT system!!

 

[Hi-Fi ve]

I have a system that does front, center, side, rear and sub. It is made by Lexicon, DC-1 is the model. It is old but (I'm told) still good. Yes? Anyway, in my new place I don't have the room (or desire) to have all those speakers. So, can I use it with just front, center, rear and sub speakers? Would it (I don't know exactly how to put this) translate the sounds well? Or would it (extending my silly analogy) sound like it was speaking with a heavy foreign accent?

Try this link for owner's manual.

 

[briefcandle]

Thanks for the replies!

When you say it is ok, it will just be 5.1, I still am wondering if I set up the front, center and rear speakers and leave out the side ones, will it sound just like 5.1? What if instead I hooked up the front, center and side (not rear) channels? Wouldn't that sound different? If so, both can't sound just like 5.1.

Still a little confused.

Thanks!

 

[sleeper]

RTFM

That's the best advise I can give you. It stands for Read The ... ... Manual. You should have the ability to choose between a 7.1 and 5.1 set-up, like was mentioned above. The manual should tell you how to do it and which outputs from the amp to use, whether it's the side or rears. Again, RTFM.

Hi-Fi ve posted a link above where you can download the manual. It looks to be a decent unit. Good luck and... congratulations??

sleeper.

BTW, the F in RTFM stands for "Factual". Don't want to be banned.

 

[Alex2507]

Thanks for the replies!

What if instead I hooked up the front, center and side (not rear) channels? Wouldn't that sound different? If so, both can't sound just like 5.1.

What you are describing here IS 5.1 and it is what I also chose to do because of a lack of space. I call it ditching the surround rears from 7.1 and ending up with 5.1. The manual is gonna be your best friend here.

 

[briefcandle]

thanks, Alex, that's exactly what I wanted to know. And yes, I plan to read the manual. I came here first to get grounded with what I thought was a simple good faith question. I just wanted to know if I am in the right ballpark before wading through a thick user-unfriendly manual.

This RTFM stuff, I think, is uncalled for (especially in the beginners section of this forum).

just my 2 cents.

 

[captain_tinker]

This RTFM stuff, I think, is uncalled for (especially in the beginners section of this forum).

just my 2 cents.

Candle,

No worries mate. We'll do what we can to help out. I work in the data backup industry, as a phone tech support person for a very large enterprise level backup program. I am always telling customers to read the fine manual, even if it isn't really all that fine. Hopefully to help answer some of your questions and alleviate some concerns, I am not at all familiar with the exact setup you have, I have not yet taken the time to read the fine manual that Hi-Five so generously gave you. But in general, I would not worry about your setup sounding "funny" or "odd" by having less speakers. Normally there are settings in the receiver or the main unit that tells it how many speakers are actually hooked up and sometimes even what kind of speakers, like large or small etc. If there are settings of this kind, then the processor will make the music or the movie sound correctly on whatever is hooked up.
I am sure you already know this, but just in case I'll say it anyway. 5.1 is the most common surround format you will find. Most all movies and most all surround music is encoded in 5.1, which means nothing more than you have 5 speakers (front left, center, front right, surround left, surround right) and a subwoofer (the .1 in 5.1). That is usually all you will need or even want. If this is a home theater in a box type of setup, then those extra two speakers are probably not worth putting up to begin with. I wouldn't worry about it.
In any case, let us know how you like it once you get it set up, and if you have further questions, ping us.

-capT

 

[Alex2507]

bc,

What kind of speakers do you have? Evidently that is more importantant than using 5 or 7.

 

[Tom Andry]

Without knowing much about your specific setup, here are a couple of things:

1) Generally, when hooking up a 5.1 system on a 7.1 receiver, the side surrounds are used (to be verified by the manual)
2) In a small room (which is what I believe you are moving to) you more than likely won't hear a difference between 5.1 and 7.1 - you'll still hear the sounds coming from behind you if that is what you are worried about
3) Visit our setup guides for hints on speaker placement, subwoofer integration, and more
4) Rude people generally don't last very long here so I hope you don't let one bad comment turn you off our little forum here. For the most part, we are a nice bunch. I promise!

 

[briefcandle]

speakers

Hi alex,

I am thinking of getting some in-wall speakers (my ex would be shuddering right now) from either JBL or Polk. They seem to make a well reviewed product and the cost is not crazy. If you know of others I should consider, it's not too late to change my mind. In-wall, though, is what I want.

I also got custody of a several-year-old Klipsch subwoofer. I prolly got all the stuff that he wanted to dump and upgrade, but I remember it all sounding pretty good to *my* ears, anyway.

 

[briefcandle]

thank you

Thanks, Tom, Captain and High Five

You have been very very helpful. I learned long ago to just ignore rude people, especially those who use foul language and those who can't even spell ("boggel"??).

Anyway, I am here for help and that's what I am getting. Thanks for the warm welcome.

 

[captain_tinker]

Hi alex,

I am thinking of getting some in-wall speakers (my ex would be shuddering right now) from either JBL or Polk. They seem to make a well reviewed product and the cost is not crazy. If you know of others I should consider, it's not too late to change my mind. In-wall, though, is what I want.

I also got custody of a several-year-old Klipsch subwoofer. I prolly got all the stuff that he wanted to dump and upgrade, but I remember it all sounding pretty good to *my* ears, anyway.

Candle,
If you are serious about this, about getting in wall speakers, may I recommend the Martin Logan brand? They have a couple of in wall speakers that I guarantee you will love. I have heard them in the store where I get my speakers, and they are some amazing speakers. Very clear, very crisp, and powerful. The ones I listened to were the Voyages I believe.

Here is the Passage:
http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/passage.html

Here is the Voyage:
http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/voyage.html

Here is the Ticket:
http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/ticket.html

The ticket is the cheapest, but I bet they would still sound wonderful. I own several Martin Logans, the Mosaic, the Fresco, and the Grotto sub woofer. All of which are just beautiful, both in looks, and in sound.

-capT

 

[gcmarshall]

I love my wife, but why oh why can't she love home theater as much as "briefcandle"?

briefcandle, what can i tell my wife to make her understand that we need a second subwoofer in the living room?

 

[Alex2507]

Hi alex,

I am thinking of getting some in-wall speakers (my ex would be shuddering right now) from either JBL or Polk. They seem to make a well reviewed product and the cost is not crazy. If you know of others I should consider, it's not too late to change my mind. In-wall, though, is what I want.

I also got custody of a several-year-old Klipsch subwoofer. I prolly got all the stuff that he wanted to dump and upgrade, but I remember it all sounding pretty good to *my* ears, anyway.

I'm not as well versed as most of the people here . If you provide a price range the members here will be able to provide all kinds of options. I think the general opinion around here is that speaker placement is one of the primary factors on how a system sounds. There isn't a lot of fudge factor once a speaker is in the wall. Also bang for yor buck goes down hill with in wall. I think. Everybody has different priorities.

Having said all that if you go over to the loudspeaker forum there is a thread or two about in wall. I think. Martin Logan is a fine brand from what I've heard.

 

[Alex2507]

Candle,
If you are serious about this, about getting in wall speakers, may I recommend the Martin Logan brand? They have a couple of in wall speakers that I guarantee you will love. I have heard them in the store where I get my speakers, and they are some amazing speakers. Very clear, very crisp, and powerful. The ones I listened to were the Voyages I believe.

Here is the Passage:
http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/passage.html

Here is the Voyage:
http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/voyage.html

Here is the Ticket:
http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/ticket.html

The ticket is the cheapest, but I bet they would still sound wonderful. I own several Martin Logans, the Mosaic, the Fresco, and the Grotto sub woofer. All of which are just beautiful, both in looks, and in sound.

-capT

WOW! Those are beautiful!!!! Do you know how much or ...... never mind. I'm calling Tweeter now.

 

[captain_tinker]

WOW! Those are beautiful!!!! Do you know how much or ...... never mind. I'm calling Tweeter now.

Not only do they look pretty, but they really do pack a punch! I'm serious... I thought I was doing really good with my Paradigm Titans, and I still like them, but once I heard the ML in walls, and also their top of the line Summit, I was hooked. I had to get some ML's. Now I have ML's for all fronts, and I've moved my Titans to the back, and it sounds awesome! Better than the movie theater!

-capT

 

[Alex2507]

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29944

This is that thread. They have every in wall speaker ever in there.

 

[sleeper]

This RTFM stuff, I think, is uncalled for (especially in the beginners section of this forum).

just my 2 cents.

Point taken. I appologize if it came out harsh... it wasn't meant to. Basically I was stating that the manual would give you the specifics on exactly which outputs to use (sides vs. rears) and how to go about switching from a 7.1 system to a 5.1.

Again, I appologize for coming across sounding negative... it wasn't my intention. In retrospect, RTFM wasn't as witty as I thought.

My bad.


sleeper.