RBH 7.1 System...T1s or 661s for LCR???

[jpterry]

Hi everyone, new guy here that has read a lot and needs some help in deciding what to purchase. I am amazed at all the knowledge on this board and would really appreciate some help.

I am building a new house with a dedicated HT that is 21x16 with 9.5ft ceilings. It wil be used mainly for SatHD and Movies and maybe 10% for music. I am trying to decide on the following system setups and would appreciate any feedback on the differences between the two, especially from a HT experience.

First Option:
(3) T1-Rs on stands for the LCR
(4) 66s or (4) 44s
JL 13" Sub

Second Option
(3) 661 SE/Rs for LCR
(4) 66s or (4) 44s
JL 13" Sub

Third Option
(2) 1266 SE/Rs for LR
(1) 661 SE/R for C
(4) 66s
JL 13" Sub or (2) EP500s/SVS/etc...

Again, my main focus is great HT experience with SATHD and Sports. Music is a distant 3rd in priorities. Are the T1's overkill for a HT? What advantage is there with 1266s vs. 661s w/ seperate Subs? Thanks for the help.

jason

 

[Tomorrow]

Welcome to the forum.

Why have you decided upon the RBH's over other brands?

 

[InTheIndustry]

I can offer you some advice regarding the RBH set ups. I'm a dealer of RBH & JLAudio products so I can speak from experience when I tell you that all three choices are excellent. However, I would eliminate choice # 3 because the added 12" side-firing woofer in the towers would not be utilized much if at all in a theatre set up. I would much rather see you appropriate that $ towards another fathom f113. 2 of those would give you a tremendous bass experience.

As far as option #1 is concerned I can tell you that the T1-R speaker is fantastic! I own the T-30LSE* theater system and the T1-R will offer a simmilar L/C/R performance while the two F113's would handle the bass.This would offer the best performance choice between the 3.

*NOTE the only reason I got the T-30LSE was for stereo listening. I added the surround & center channels to the system to round it out for a second theater. It's a great speaker and the T1-R portion of it is really nice, but there is better to be had if your main interest is theatre... read below.

If you are really looking to drop this much coin (or less, really) on a system, I would highly, highly.... repeat HIGHLY recommend the Phase Technology 525 dARTS system with two subs. Going by the cubic footage in your room your wouldn't need the larger 650 series. I have one of these systems as well and use it as my "main" theater. You'd spend under $15K retail and can do in-wall, in-room, or behind-wall versions to suit your decore. I recommend this system to anyone looking for the best theatre experince possible. @ $12 - $15K retail (includes amplification & processor) it's CHEAP compared to systems in its quality range from Meridian & JBL Synthesis. I have heard versions of all three and feel that the dARTS is superior.

I've installed dARTS in different parts of the country for clients, so please believe me when I tell you to make sure you pay attention when pre-wiring. You MUST pull 4 conductor (14/4) to the front L/R & rear channels because they are essentially bi-amped. The center MUST have one (1) 4 conductor (14/4)and one (1) two conductor (14/2) pulled to it because it is tri-amped. The subs (which just got upgraded to a phenominal 12" with 2 side firing 10" passive radiators) just need one (1) line level (RG6) each.

Hope this helps!

 

[jpterry]

Thanks for the replies and the dARTS suggestion. I will check them out. I looked at the Axioms, Rockets, B&W and JBL and decided on the RBH. They seem to be a considerable step up in quality over the Axioms, JBL 800s and Rockets and give same quality as B&W at 2/3rds the cost. I haven't seen one bad review of either the 661s or T1s from any member here or an AVS. They just seem like a great choice for a HT from all I have read.

What do you gain with the T1s over the 661s in a HT experience?

 

[jpterry]

Welcome to the forum.

Why have you decided upon the RBH's over other brands?

I wish I could tell you that I did extensive demo sessions with a ton of speakers and chose the RBH brand because I loved them the best. Unfortunately, I can't demo any brands but maybe B&W, Def Tech and Paradigms in my area. So, my decision to go with RBH is based on a lot of reading and reviews of the ID brands and RBH. They seem to be a great choice for HTs and I have not seen any bad comments or reviews of the 661s or T1s. They also seem to be a lot of speaker for the money. I am a fan of smaller, quality companies that stick behind the products. Sorry I don't have better reasons.....

 

[AVRat]

More names that may be of interest: ACI, Atlantic Tech, Dali, Dynaudio, Focal/JM Lab, KEF, Monitor Audio, PSB, Revel, Vienna Acoustics, VMPS.

 

[AVRat]

Also Snell & Aerial Acoustics. I like the idea of a couple SVS Ultra 13s. I also think 2 of their Pluses would be sufficient in your space.