LARGE Great Room..Input Requested

[UnderDug]

Hello,

I am building a new home and need to fill a very large great Room area with quality surround that will allow for LOUD music as well as TV/DVD surround at a reasonably high volume.

The room is approx. 30'x30' with 9' walls and 12/2 pitch vaulted ceiling. This will be approx 10,00 cubic feet of air space. OUCH!

The main TV viewing area is a sunken area approx 17'x20'. but the remainder of the space is kitchen/entry/dining. All with clear views to TV's (6 TV's total)

Fantasy Football junkie here that can't get info fast enough!

I want to fill the room with full sound and as of now plan to place speakers on outside walls to fill entire space and adjust surround levels to focus on smaller area in sunken portion for Movies.

Perhaps towers are needed?

I am wondering and seeking input from you all as to what I may want to do to achieve this.

Budget is always a concern but not at this point. I want Good, Clean LOUD sound.

I am looking at the Sunfire Theater Grand 3 (TGR-3) 7.1 Receiver and the Sunfire Cinema Ribbon Duo (CRM-2) 7.1 Speaker array(Likely start with 5.1 setup and grow). This setup is actually WAY BEYOND my budget but it appears to be enough power and sound quality to make it happen.

Do I need 2 Subs?

I have also considered using my own separate 2 Channel NAD - Pre/Pwr & Klipsch Forte' 2 speakers (Sweet Rock & Roll Speakers) to use for LOUD music and possibly a surround TV/Video system for watching movies & occasional Xbox360 or PS3 (for the kids )

I would rather be able to do both music and video in one system.

Any input at all concerning a less expensive way to go, different way to view this space or any thoughts you may have to accomplish this is greatly appreciated.


Thanks In Advance,

DK Spokane,WA

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

...The room is approx. 30'x30' with 9' walls...I want to fill the room with full sound...Perhaps towers are needed? Budget is always a concern but not at this point. I want Good, Clean LOUD sound...Do I need 2 Subs? I would rather be able to do both music and video in one system.

Room-Filling, Full, Loud, Clean Sound, w/ Two Subwoofers = a pair of Definitive Technology BP7000SCs for $3,600 (20 Hz - 20,000 Hz +/- 3dB). The Two built-in 1,800-watts RMS 14-inch subwoofers in this pair of SuperTowers are equivalent to 7 SuperCube I subwoofers (according to Def Tech). My music/movies volume is always less than 85 dBA (don't want hearing loss, do we?). My Current HT room is not all that big--just 15' Wide x 17' Long x 15' Ceiling. But even with my HT door closed, I can hear the thundering bass loudly across my 3,000 s.f. house. And my Subwoofer level is set at 50% only.

My goal for my next custom built HT room is for a 25' x 40' x 15' room. And I will have FOUR BP7000SCs (Front L/R, Rear L/R), one CLR3000 (Center), & four SM450s (Surrounds L/R). According to Def Tech, this will be the equivalent of 14 SuperCube I subwoofers. Some people will argue. That's okay. But I sure can feel it & believe it.

 

[InTheIndustry]

I'm a Sunfire dealer and can tell you that their new speakers are the primary reason I picked up the line. They're PHENOMINAL. I saw you replied in another thread about these speakers and I will answer with detailed impressions in that thread later this week. I can maybe provide you with a few thoughts to help you with your system. Please keep in mind that I have no idea about your esthetic needs/concerns, televison placement, etc. so I am speaking purley from a performance basis

It sounds like you're fairly open to what will suit you best which is a positive. I will tell you that I think the Sunfires are a great speaker for the $. Need loud, clean, & clear? They do that & from a very little cabinet. Keeping in mind that your area is very large I would not be 100% confident (read: not very) that those would do it with just one sub unless it was something along the lines of a JLAudio Fathom f112/113 (or two - f110) at the volume you're describing.

Save your $: I wouldn't buy the $5K Sunfire receiver to power those. No need for it. I would use something in the range of the Marantz SR8002 retailing @ $2K instead. That's easily going to power speakers in that price range's needs and it sounds fabulous.

The way you had it configured, retail on your gear would be:

- $5K for receiver
- $5.6K for 7 speakers (@ $800 each)
- ??? for sub(s)
Easily reaching the $12K+ range with sub(s)

If you subtract $3K for the difference in receivers and add a grand for a better (or another) sub you can squeak in around/under $10K retail. I'm sure you can talk a store down from full retail on a system that large. If not.... CALL ME (j/k)

As an alternative: I have sung the praises of the Phase Technology dARTS (digital audio theater referance system) a few times on here. It is, in my opinion (as well as many reviewers), one of the finest systems available @ any price. Soooooo, if you want something that is truely "world class" and don't mind ponying up the $$, you could get that system in-room &/or in-wall with a Parasound pre-pro for under $15K retail (obviously less if you can get a deal). That's a 5.2 system (you can add the 6th & 7th channel later) that will do a THX reference level SPL of 105 db in an 8000 cubic foot room. It will get LOUD without issue and sound as good/better than anything costing even multiples more up in the six figure range. These are my personal opinions in dealing with the system, but I'm not the only one. If you feel that you would be OK spending that much to acheive your goals or would just like to learn about a unique ssytem Google "Phase Technology dARTS" and read about it. Note about dARTS: It's one weakness that I can find is that it's made & set up for multichannel material. Therefore it does not image as well when playing only in stereo.

If you would like a lower cost speaker alternative, look into the new Phase Technology "PC" collection. They cost less then the Sunfires but sound great and would allow you to spend more $ on the sub portion of your system and still come in under $8K-$9K.

Hope this helps a little!

 

[gus6464]

Room-Filling, Full, Loud, Clean Sound, w/ Two Subwoofers = a pair of Definitive Technology BP7000SCs for $3,600 (20 Hz - 20,000 Hz +/- 3dB). The Two built-in 1,800-watts RMS 14-inch subwoofers in this pair of SuperTowers are equivalent to 7 SuperCube I subwoofers (according to Def Tech). My music/movies volume is always less than 85 dBA (don't want hearing loss, do we?). My Current HT room is not all that big--just 15' Wide x 17' Long x 15' Ceiling. But even with my HT door closed, I can hear the thundering bass loudly across my 3,000 s.f. house. And my Subwoofer level is set at 50% only.

My goal for my next custom built HT room is for a 25' x 40' x 15' room. And I will have FOUR BP7000SCs (Front L/R, Rear L/R), one CLR3000 (Center), & four SM450s (Surrounds L/R). According to Def Tech, this will be the equivalent of 14 SuperCube I subwoofers. Some people will argue. That's okay. But I sure can feel it & believe it.

How does that work if you have 3x BP7000SCs for fl/c/fr and the sub hookup? You have to get a 3 way splitter to connect the sub cables to the receiver for the LFE?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

How does that work if you have 3x BP7000SCs for fl/c/fr and the sub hookup? You have to get a 3 way splitter to connect the sub cables to the receiver for the LFE?

No, that's 4x BP7000SCs for Front Left, Front Right, Rear Left, & Rear Right. The Center would still be my CLR3000.
My RL-11s have two Pre-outs. Thus, I would need 2 Y-splitters for a total of 4 LFEs.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

How does that work if you have 3x BP7000SCs for fl/c/fr and the sub hookup? You have to get a 3 way splitter to connect the sub cables to the receiver for the LFE?

If I were to use the BP7000SC for FrRt/ C/ FrLt, I would send one LFE to the Center and use a Y-Splitter for the second LFE.

Do they actually make a 3-way Splitter?

 

[agarwalro]

My recommendation would be along these lines,

Budget 5.2 setup:
Axiom M60 x5 ($2120 shipped from Factory Outlet)
Emotiva DRS-1 ($999 + shipping) [no experience, but one solid looking dual sub system]
Emotiva MPS-1 ($1,899 + shipping) [7 channel amp for future expansion]
Pre/pro or Receiver with HD Audio decoding ($1000 + shipping) [pick what works for you]

Total - $5200

No holds barred 7.2 setup:
Axiom M80 x7 ($4000 shipped from Factory Outlet)
SVS PB-13 Ultra x2 ($3200 + shipping)
Emotiva MPS-1 ($1,899 + shipping)
Pre/pro or Receiver with HD Audio decoding ($1000 + shipping) [pick what works for you]

Total - $12000

 

[GlocksRock]

I say get 2 SVS PB-12 plus/2 they are on overstock for $1199 each + shipping, so two of those in piano gloss black for $2600 shipped would be really hard to beat. That would be a lot of bass.

Emotiva MPS-2 for the amp, any nice pre/pro or receiver for processing, and audition lots of speakers and get what you like best. But for bang for the buck power and bass you can't beat what I've listed above.

 

[gus6464]

I say get 2 SVS PB-12 plus/2 they are on overstock for $1199 each + shipping, so two of those in piano gloss black for $2600 shipped would be really hard to beat. That would be a lot of bass.

Yeah and also your neighbors would despise you.

 

[GlocksRock]

Yeah.... so what, we are audioholics. But honestly, he has a large room to fill, and I think 2 plus/2's would fill that room nicely, and even have a bit of headroom.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

...I am looking at the Sunfire Theater Grand 3 (TGR-3) 7.1 Receiver...

This receiver doesn't even have HDMI 1.3, TrueHD, DTS-HD MA?

I would go for the Onkyo 805 (7.1, 130 wpc) for $900:

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR805-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B000OBJW1S/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-2597208-1330328?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1193849929&sr=8-1

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Okay, another one here.
Complete system:
1) Onkyo 805: 130 wpc/ 7.1/ 3 HDMI 1.3/ TrueHD/ DTS-MA for $900
2) Def Tech BP10B x 5 (L/C/R/SL/SR): 20 Hz - 20 kHz (+/- 5dB/90 dB) for $2,250
3) Def Tech Trinity Subwoofer: 2,000 watts-RMS DUAL 14-inch subwoofers (16 Hz @ -3dB/116dB) for $2,000.

Total : $5,150

 

[GlocksRock]

Did you see the article in the latest Sound and Vision magazine about The Trinity church in NY that uses all those Def Tech speakers? It's pretty cool.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Did you see the article in the latest Sound and Vision magazine about The Trinity church in NY that uses all those Def Tech speakers? It's pretty cool.

No, but I will check it out.

 

[agarwalro]

Yeah and also your neighbors would despise you.

I'm in a condo so mine surely do .

Yeah.... so what

Exactly!

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker options

There are plenty of speaker options in your budget. First, decide on a budget for your speakers and electronics and listen to several options.

If you are considering internet direct, AV123 has some good sales running on their Onix Rocket line and they will have a new 15" sub out soon priced at 2 for $1k.