Not sure where to start...

[StefanH]

Hi Everyone,

Hoping to get some advice on how to actually get a home theater system that I will think sounds fantastic.

I've got a friend who has a Bose acoustimass surround system. I also listen to the Bose demo at best buy whenever I'm there. I am just amazed at how viberant and...well..."room filling" it sounds. I've decided that I'm going to, one way or another get a home theater that impresses me.

I almost just bought the Bose system, but then started doing some reading and have seen alot of negative stuff posted about them, things like the systems not covering substantial portions of the audio spectrum, etc. And also read that you can get even more impressive sound by going other routes.

So now I've decided to look for some advice, and find out what of my current equipment I should keep, and what should get replaced, with the end goal of getting rich room filling sound. As far as speakers go, I know the center and surrounds should get replaced, but no idea if the Polks are particularly good speakers...

Receiver: Sony STRDE997
(Note: I will be replacing the receiver, I want more HDMI capability)

Fronts: Polk RT1000i At the time, I bought these because the sales guy recommended them, and because they had good reviews on the internet

Sub: Polk PSW450 12" I bought this because Polks website said it was the matching sub for my fronts. It does seem to bottom out once in a while unless I keep it's volume down.

Center: A really old radio shack optimus brand speaker I bought when in college and poor

Surrounds: Same, old radio shack optimus brand


My budget: Hey, less is always better, but I want quality equipment that will last a long time. Including the receiver, I would be willing to spend up to $1500 at the moment, which is what going the Bose route would have cost. I'm also interested in going to 7.1.

Thanks for any advice!

Stefan

 

[engtaz]

Staying away from Bose was the right thing. Take your time and buy what you can afford. What you have is a start. If you like your Polk's then match the center and surround to timber match. Talk to Polk customer service if you need advice. Just buy as your budget allows.

 

[StefanH]

I guess that's part of my problem. I don't know if I like my Polks. I do know that I'm not impressed with my system, but don't know if it's because of the receiver, speakers, speaker placement, etc. etc.

 

[Davemcc]

From your description, it looks to me like the weak spots in your current system are the center and sub. If the current Polks are in good shape and you like them, I would look to upgrade the center to a similar sounding Polk model. Then upgrade the sub to an SVS, Hsu or one of the other models that might be suggested for your specific room and requirements.

If you are not happy with your current speakers, it really means starting over almost from scratch.

 

[alexwakelin]

From your description, it looks to me like the weak spots in your current system are the center and sub.

I agree, a good center channel and sub are essential for movie watching. Your RT100 speakers seem capable from what I have read about them, a new sub and center channel would probably breathe new life into your system. You can probably find a center channel that will match your current speakers for ~$200. The SVS PB12 is a very good subwoofer: http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb12nsd.cfm

If you want a receiver that has HDMI capability, the Yamaha RX-V565 is a good choice. http://store.audioholics.com/product/2362/69/yamaha-rx-v565-surround-receiver

I would also suggest spending a little bit of money on an SPL meter and a setup disk. There are some very good articles on this site about properly setting up and calibrating your system. A new center, sub and receiver along with some calibration should get you a system that will blow away the Bose systems you listened to.

Edit: I don't know what center channel matches your speakers, but someone over at the Polk forums can tell you what to get.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/
A sales rep at Crutchfield can recommend something as well. Crutchfield does not always have the best prices, but they have very good customer service.
http://www.crutchfield.com/

 

[AVRat]

If it were me, I'd do a total revamp of your system. The RT1000is may be ok for 2-channel alone, but for HT their design seems a little awkward. See their specs, especially x-over to 6.5" bass driver. http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/specs/recent/rt1000i/

You might look at some PSB Image T45/55/C40 for starters. http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PBIMT45

 

[Sounds Good]

"no highs, no lows, must be bose"

the HTIB have gotten a lot better over the years...

 

[alexwakelin]

If it were me, I'd do a total revamp of your system. The RT1000is may be ok for 2-channel alone, but for HT their design seems a little awkward. See their specs, especially x-over to 6.5" bass driver. http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/specs/recent/rt1000i/

You might look at some PSB Image T45/55/C40 for starters. http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PBIMT45

If you consider a total revamp, you might want to look at the SVS 5.1 system as well.

 

[StefanH]

Can someone explain why the fronts are awkward or not great for home theater? After reading up and listening to comments, I had been strongly leaning towards keeping the, and getting matching center/surround, as well as a new sub.

Thanks!

 

[engtaz]

I don't thank you would have a problem with them as front left and right. Call Polk and ask what center & surround would be a good matched for them.
Polk Customer Service & Tech Support:
1-800-377-POLK (7655)
9AM-5:30PM EST Mon-Fri

 

[alexwakelin]

Can someone explain why the fronts are awkward or not great for home theater? After reading up and listening to comments, I had been strongly leaning towards keeping the, and getting matching center/surround, as well as a new sub.

Thanks!

After looking up some specs for your towers, it looks like they have a built in subwoofer. The frequency response of your towers goes down to 36hz, which isn't that great for a subwoofer. A good home theater sub will go down to 20hz. Your towers might be better suited for music listening, not much music goes down to 20hz like you would find in explosions and such in movies. Also, most people set their receivers to send frequencies under 80hz to their subwoofer. In doing so, the subwoofers in your towers are probably just sitting there doing nothing. You paid extra for the sub in the tower, and if it's just sitting there doing nothing, that money could have been spent on higher quality speakers without a built in sub.

If you are willing to give your towers another chance, I have a suggestion. Your current sub is still a weak point in your system, as is your center channel. Get a new sub, such as the SVS PB12, it is a very nice sub, your current one does not even come close to the SVS. Disconnect your center channel, and turn that speaker to off in your receiver's settings. Any sound that was supposed to go to that speaker will be redirected to the left and right speakers. With this setup, you will be able to decide if you like your Polks enough to invest in a matching center channel. If you still feel they are lacking, you aren't out the money for the center channel, and you now have a very nice sub to build a new system around.

The Yamaha receiver I linked earlier as well as the SVS sub are both excellent starting points to build a new system around.

 

[jliedeka]

I would say the two weak points are the sub and the receiver. If dialogue is clear in the center channel, then you could live with that while you work on the rest.

There are several decent choices for subs that go low. SVS and HSU come to mind because a lot of people here use them.

Once you have a good sub, the bass extension in your towers is superfluous. If you could get something for selling them, you could buy something newer for the front 3. Monitor size speakers that can go below 80Hz are all that you need because the sub will fill in the rest. There are lots of choices available for whatever budget. I'd consider something you can get matching surrounds for down the road. It really helps to have matching surrounds, especially for multichannel music but I would make them a lower priority.

I don't know what your budget is for a new receiver. At the lower end, Onkyo and Yamaha are probably your best bets. If you can spend a little more, consider Denon or Marantz. You can still spend more but I'll stop there.

There's probably nothing wrong with your main speakers. If you can find a center that matches reasonable closely, you don't have to be in any hurry to replace them. It just seems a waste to have nearly full range speakers in a home theater system. There's also the issue of placing your bass sources to minimize peaks and nulls in your room but that's a whole other discussion. I think it simplifies things to have one or two decent subs and monitor sized speakers or smaller towers.

Jim

 

[Davemcc]

Can someone explain why the fronts are awkward or not great for home theater? After reading up and listening to comments, I had been strongly leaning towards keeping the, and getting matching center/surround, as well as a new sub.

Thanks!

I kind of think that this is the first decision you need to make, whether to keep the speakers or not. Now that I think about it, I built my current system around the bones of the old system that needed to be replaced. I ordered the sub first, replaced the receiver then went speaker shopping only to find that the speakers I liked were too difficult to be driven by the receiver I bought.

It's a safe bet to go out and buy a really good sub in any case. They will work with any speaker or receiver choice because they have their own built in amps. But when it comes to receivers, you should have an idea which speakers you will be using first so that you can choose a suitable receiver or amp to drive them properly. If you are going to keep the speakers you have, by all means go shopping for a center channel that best matches their sound. But if you are going to replace them, look for a good matching set of three across the front then look for a receiver or amp according to the new speaker's specs.

 

[lsiberian]

After looking up some specs for your towers, it looks like they have a built in subwoofer. The frequency response of your towers goes down to 36hz, which isn't that great for a subwoofer. A good home theater sub will go down to 20hz. Your towers might be better suited for music listening, not much music goes down to 20hz like you would find in explosions and such in movies. Also, most people set their receivers to send frequencies under 80hz to their subwoofer. In doing so, the subwoofers in your towers are probably just sitting there doing nothing. You paid extra for the sub in the tower, and if it's just sitting there doing nothing, that money could have been spent on higher quality speakers without a built in sub.

If you are willing to give your towers another chance, I have a suggestion. Your current sub is still a weak point in your system, as is your center channel. Get a new sub, such as the SVS PB12, it is a very nice sub, your current one does not even come close to the SVS. Disconnect your center channel, and turn that speaker to off in your receiver's settings. Any sound that was supposed to go to that speaker will be redirected to the left and right speakers. With this setup, you will be able to decide if you like your Polks enough to invest in a matching center channel. If you still feel they are lacking, you aren't out the money for the center channel, and you now have a very nice sub to build a new system around.

The Yamaha receiver I linked earlier as well as the SVS sub are both excellent starting points to build a new system around.

Alex that's not necessarily the case and in a ported design 36hz is probably just f3. Which in a speaker means he should probably crossover at 70 hz or more.


Most commercial subs don't have an f3 of 20hz especially in his budget range. A DIY option fits in your budget and even a

If your seating is on axis with the tv. Then you don't even need a center. I'm of the belief that skipping the center channel and getting the best 2 speakers and subs you can will net you more longterm potential.

Since you have a nice pair of towers already. I suggest we look at maybe an EQ system for them and potentially modding them to sound better. Many cabinets are poorly braced and filled. Even simply adding braces and switching to rockwool can make a nice difference. Another option is picking up the Behringer 2030p. With a few mods Wmax says it becomes a hifi solution. They go for 150 a pair.

Of course by far the most fun/rewarding way to put a system together is by building the speaker/subwoofer boxes yourself. Doing this will net you the best system IMO. You will look up and see your own speakers. both Madisound and Parts-express have very good kits. All you need to do is build the boxes.

For a subwoofer it all depends on how complex you want it to be.

 

[alexwakelin]

Alex that's not necessarily the case and in a ported design 36hz is probably just f3. Which in a speaker means he should probably crossover at 70 hz or more.


Most commercial subs don't have an f3 of 20hz especially in his budget range. A DIY option fits in your budget and even a

Agreed, but I was trying to give an explanation as to why AVRat said his towers were "awkward" for home theater use. With room gain, the polk towers will extend lower then 36hz, but that's still not ideal for HT use, and is just wasted when crossed over with a sub.

Yes, most commercial subwoofers have an f3 of ~25hz, but for the stated budget of $1500, that's more than enough to get a sub that will extend to 20.

The SVS PB12 is flat to about 18hz, but of course it won't have the SPL level that a diy would.

 

[lsiberian]

Agreed, but I was trying to give an explanation as to why AVRat said his towers were "awkward" for home theater use. With room gain, the polk towers will extend lower then 36hz, but that's still not ideal for HT use, and is just wasted when crossed over with a sub.

Yes, most commercial subwoofers have an f3 of ~25hz, but for the stated budget of $1500, that's more than enough to get a sub that will extend to 20.

The SVS PB12 is flat to about 18hz, but of course it won't have the SPL level that a diy would.

In his favor is the extension though. It allows him to get one deep LFE sub. And cross over at 60.

It will still sound better than Bose.

 

[StefanH]

OK, I've decided to keep my fronts. I've spent alot of time listening to them over the last couple days, and think they sound really good. It seems to me that its the rest of the speakers that are causing me to not be impressed when using it for home theaters.

I just got a great deal on ebay for a set of the recommended surrounds, Polk f/x300i. I plan on replacing the center with something recommended by Polk unless I can find a used CS400i

I'm strongly leaning towards the SVS sub that everyone is recommending. /Would there be any reason at all to use my current sub as a 2nd? Or should I just sell it, and later add a matching second SVS. I'm going to guess that eventually I'll want a 2nd sub, as the space is 26ft x 26+ft (Open concept home)

As for the receiver, there I'm having alot of difficulty. It's important to me to be able to connect all of my equipment to the receiver with only HDMI cables, and be able to get all of the surround formats up to 7.1 to work. From what I'm reading here, that means I'm looking for a receiver with 1.3 or above HDMI repeating capability, since I'm quite sure at least of of my components (Popcorn Hour NMT) doesn't have built in decoding. The HDMI repeating thread was tough on me. It seems like the recommended Yamaha receiver doesn't have this capability though. Any recommendations on a receiver that will accomplish what I'm looking for on the HDMI side? Any opinions on the Onkyo TX-SR706? (won't let me link it, not enough posts yet)



Also not sure I understood what was being suggest as far a changing a crossover to make something better for the fronts...crossover in the sub?

Thanks!

 

[alexwakelin]

/Would there be any reason at all to use my current sub as a 2nd? Or should I just sell it, and later add a matching second SVS. I'm going to guess that eventually I'll want a 2nd sub, as the space is 26ft x 26+ft (Open concept home).....................

Also not sure I understood what was being suggest as far a changing a crossover to make something better for the fronts...crossover in the sub?

Thanks!

If you think you might want dual subs, you would be better off selling the old one. It is best that they match.

There is a crossover in your sub as well as receiver. It is best that you set the crossover in the receiver, and turn it all the way up on the subwoofer.

 

[WmAx]

OK, I've decided to keep my fronts. I've spent alot of time listening to them over the last couple days, and think they sound really good. It seems to me that its the rest of the speakers that are causing me to not be impressed when using it for home theaters.

I just got a great deal on ebay for a set of the recommended surrounds, Polk f/x300i. I plan on replacing the center with something recommended by Polk unless I can find a used CS400i

I'm strongly leaning towards the SVS sub that everyone is recommending. /Would there be any reason at all to use my current sub as a 2nd? Or should I just sell it, and later add a matching second SVS. I'm going to guess that eventually I'll want a 2nd sub, as the space is 26ft x 26+ft (Open concept home)

As for the receiver, there I'm having alot of difficulty. It's important to me to be able to connect all of my equipment to the receiver with only HDMI cables, and be able to get all of the surround formats up to 7.1 to work. From what I'm reading here, that means I'm looking for a receiver with 1.3 or above HDMI repeating capability, since I'm quite sure at least of of my components (Popcorn Hour NMT) doesn't have built in decoding. The HDMI repeating thread was tough on me. It seems like the recommended Yamaha receiver doesn't have this capability though. Any recommendations on a receiver that will accomplish what I'm looking for on the HDMI side? Any opinions on the Onkyo TX-SR706? (won't let me link it, not enough posts yet)



Also not sure I understood what was being suggest as far a changing a crossover to make something better for the fronts...crossover in the sub?

Thanks!

Instead of buying the retail subwoofer, you should strongly consider putting together one. I don't mean actual DIY. You can purchase a pre-made/pre-finished sealed cabinet. You only need to cut a couple of holes in it with a jig saw. If you don't have a jig saw, you can buy one cheap, for about $20-$30. You would use a 3 cubic foot cabinet from www.partsexpress.com, an Eclipse SW8200 driver and an O Audio BASH500 watt plate amplifier. This solution costs about $700-$800 total and will exceed the quality of any retail subwoofer for the same price. This is due to the extraordinary driver I have specified which uses the LMS technology from TC Sounds/Audiopluse, the designers of the highest quality subwoofer drivers in the world (measurably). If you were to actually consider building your own cabinet, I can recommend other options that can exceed even this in performance (as you are limited to a sealed cabinet for the pre-made cabinet system).

-Chris

 

[jamie2112]

Instead of buying the retail subwoofer, you should strongly consider putting together one. I don't mean actual DIY. You can purchase a pre-made/pre-finished sealed cabinet. You only need to cut a couple of holes in it with a jig saw. If you don't have a jig saw, you can buy one cheap, for about $20-$30. You would use a 3 cubic foot cabinet from www.partsexpress.com, an Eclipse SW8200 driver and an O Audio BASH500 watt plate amplifier. This solution costs about $700-$800 total and will exceed the quality of any retail subwoofer for the same price. This is due to the extraordinary driver I have specified which uses the LMS technology from TC Sounds/Audiopluse, the designers of the highest quality subwoofer drivers in the world (measurably). If you were to actually consider building your own cabinet, I can recommend other options that can exceed even this in performance (as you are limited to a sealed cabinet for the pre-made cabinet system).

-Chris

I can tell you for sure without any hesitation that Chris KNOWS what he is talking about and his suggestion is a great one......Stefan you should check out his sub offering..I have built 2 of Chris's subs not the PE ones but ones from scratch and they smoke anything I have heard......