Suggestions for a Living Room Home Theater Setup

[lsiberian]

Annunaki,

Thank you. I will consider your suggestions.

Anybody know if KEF is still selling iQ speakers? Do they make good floorstanding speakers (as well as the center speaker?).

I missed this question.

the iQ5, iQ7s and iQ9s are all floorstanding the iQ3s and iQ1s are bookshelves.

Kef will offer more bang for the size than most brands because they put tweeters inside of the woofers. So if size is a concern you might look at that factor. The iQs are on an insane clearance and retailed much higher than their current price. I think the IQ set at accessories4less would be an amazing setup.

 

[audioholic212]

Got my APC H15 power conditioner. Love it. My VIN was 125V and VOut was 119V. The one very good thing is that I have a ONE power switch that I can turn off in the night and it will turn off the TV , DVD Player, Receiver (future), subs (future) and what not. The only thing I don't have plugged into the H15 is my ATT DVR which I don't want turned off in the night, for recording purposes.

 

[audioholic212]

Hi,

I am thinking of getting a Yamaha RX-V863 Receiver.

It has HD Radio.

Except for the fact that it's power is only 105W/Channel, I think it is a good price for $700.00. If I ever needed more power for my front speakers, then, I guess I can get an amplifier( I am guessing Emotiva) and hook up the speakers using the 'pre-out' hookups on the receiver right?

The types of speakers I am considering are PSB T65's or Aperion Intimus 5T or something.

For reference, this gives the front and back of the receiver.

http://www.onecall.com/popups/ProductImages.aspx?id=90961

Please advise.
Thank you.

 

[audioholic212]

Bob, Any update on your Axiom M80's that you got recently?

 

[audioholic212]

A single high quality sub is always nice. However, I believe that to get proper integration with a single sub, an eq such as the Behringer Feedback Destroyer or DCX2496 is necessary to work it into the room. Now some do not like to get too involved with EQ's & frequency plots and such and prefer a simpler route.

That is where two subs of good quality can come into play. Properly placing two subs can be easier than using an eq with frequency plots when trying to integrate the bass response in the room.

If I need to hookup two subs, shouldn't I get a receiver with 2 sub outputs?
Like a 5.2 or 7.2 receiver?

 

[jostenmeat]

use a splitter. Dual subs are using the same "channel", the .1

unless you go nutz and buy some crazy 10.2 receiver using some special algorithm/DSP

 

[audioholic212]

use a splitter. Dual subs are using the same "channel", the .1

That means, since, the amps are already ON the sub (usually for a decent sub), I am good? Am I even in the ballpark understanding this?

 

[DD66000]

That means, since, the amps are already ON the sub (usually for a decent sub), I am good? Am I even in the ballpark understanding this?

You don't have to use a splitter, as there are two subouts on that receiver. Which is what you would want to use if your subs are on opposite sides of the room. But if both sub were to one side you would use one coax to the first and daisy chain it to the second sub, if they have a coax out on the subs.
But generally speaking its better to have two subs setup symmetrical to the center line(Front to back) of the room.

 

[audioholic212]

What does anybody think of getting the same floorstanding speaker for center channel (and my home can do it, I plan to mount the TV on the wall), so that I get a pretty good sound?

 

[DD66000]

What does anybody think of getting the same floorstanding speaker for center channel (and my home can do it, I plan to mount the TV on the wall), so that I get a pretty good sound?

Having identical LCRs is the best way to go. I use 7 identical speakers, with the only differences being the L/R are mirror imaged (improves soundstage for stereo playback) and upgraded crossovers, compared to the other 5.

 

[jostenmeat]

What does anybody think of getting the same floorstanding speaker for center channel (and my home can do it, I plan to mount the TV on the wall), so that I get a pretty good sound?

ABSOLUTELY

 

[lsiberian]

What does anybody think of getting the same floorstanding speaker for center channel (and my home can do it, I plan to mount the TV on the wall), so that I get a pretty good sound?

This depends on the height of the speaker and the size of the display. And the goals of the setup.

In some PJ setups like mine some towers are just too tall to keep the screen at a reasonable height. In this case a center speaker may be preferred(though I think a person should just use a matching bookshelf since it's cheaper anyway(internal thinking). If you get a center get a good one because the bad ones really do stink. However if your tower is short enough then by all means get another tower. For a TV I don't think the screen height is as big of a concern.

 

[audioholic212]

Hi,

I was browsing thru 'Members Systems Gallery' for some suggestions of the setups, and I see that pretty much none of you have the TV mounted?

Is there a reason other than personal preference (or 'you don't want to mess up the wall') for not doing so?

What I mean to ask is: If I mount the TV, would there be any problem as far as the acoustics of the room go? I finally want to get a clean looking (by mounting the TV) and of course great sounding living room. Good speakers like 'Dali Lektors' or something (I haven't made up my mind yet. Kind of waiting for Tom Andry's speaker shootout).

Thank you.

 

[DD66000]

There is no problem with mounting flat screens to the wall as far a audio goes.
There would be a problem to wall mount the main speakers, while using a rptv, unless that tv is set back into a recessed wall area for that purpose.

Speakers, even ones designed for wall mounting, will sound different, onwall, compared to if they're free standing. But with either setup, you want to keep the speakers away from the corners, as much as possible.

 

[audioholic212]

Thank you for all your help people. I learnt so much in the last month and a half in these forums and your suggestions to my thread.

I decided to save some money and go with the MCM Custom Audio speaker setup that Tom Andry reviewed recently. And I just bought the Yamaha RX-V2300 from a user on this forums (plan to receive it and hook it up some time next week).

Very excited about my first foray into the home theater.

 

[Phil Taylor]

Thank you for all your help people. I learnt so much in the last month and a half in these forums and your suggestions to my thread.

I decided to save some money and go with the MCM Custom Audio speaker setup that Tom Andry reviewed recently. And I just bought the Yamaha RX-V2300 from a user on this forums (plan to receive it and hook it up some time next week).

Very excited about my first foray into the home theater.

Your fun has just begun - Good luck and let us know how things go.

 

[audioholic212]

Your fun has just begun - Good luck and let us know how things go.

I thank audioholics for all the education it has given me in the past 8 months. Now, I know even though I was using a very cheap setup for my living room, it was already a HUGE step up from the TV Speakers.

If you track my progress through out this thread, you can see the transformation. And this time, I have a question, I am about to post some pictures.

My question is:

I saw this deal at audioholics.com for EMP TEK E5Ti floorstanding speakers here:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/floorstanding/emp-tek-e5ti

And I asked a question to the customer service if I can buy three speakers for this setup, So here is their answer:

Hello,

That's a very good plan. Yes, we can sell three towers for $600. You'll need to call us at 877-246-5427 to place the order. The website currently only has them in pairs. Thanks very much for the inquiry.

Regards,

Audioholics Store
Customer Support


On Sep 3, 2009, r_puttagunta@yahoo.com wrote:
> Your question is..: a pre-sales question
>
> Your Email Address: r_puttagunta@yahoo.com
>
> Your question: I am thinking of buying these speakers:
>
> EMP Impression E5Ti Tower Speakers
>
> But, I need THREE of them because of getting the right sound I guess. This is what was suggested on my thread.
>
> http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=525505&postcount=51
>
> So, my question is:
>
> Do you sell THREE pieces for 600.00 dollars? I am looking for the BLACK ones.

So, here are the pictures:

I am hoping these pictures will give you an idea about the open space I am dealing with and I have a couple of questions.

1) The three floorstanding speakers mentioned in the post above, are they a good choice for a room this big?

2) My receiver is a 6.1 receiver which has a REAR center too. If I go the route of adding the EMP's, can I move my MCM audio center channel as a rear center channel?

3) I am planning to get two SVS PB-10 subs for this setup based on the suggestions given previously in the thread. So, do they work well with EMP's , or, it doesn't matter?

Thank you in advance for all your suggestions.

 

[AVRat]

!. They'll fill the room, no problem.
2. Yes
3. Doesn't matter.

It would be better to move the L/R a few feet to the side and out from the front wall.

 

[audioholic212]

Thank you AVRat.

I will follow your suggestions.

 

[jostenmeat]

Try, if only for kicks n giggles, getting the speakers to make an equilateral triangle with you. Tell us what you think? Even if that means pushing the seating forward (as well as moving the speakers away from front wall). This experiment will get you to understand what AVRat is getting at. Another side benefit of the experiment would mean that you would most likely be further away from the surrounds. In an ideal setup, all of the speakers would be equidistant for holographic imaging. I'm sure that only happens once in a million times, but hey.