Out with the old and in with the new? (5.1 set up)

[phishphan]

Hi Folks,

I have a 5.1 start-up question. Here's my situation...

My room is 16 x 18 with 9 foot ceilings.

My ratio is 70% music and 30% movies.

After exhaustive research of home theatre in a box systems on here and other places, I am strongly leaning toward Def Tech's ProCinema 600 for the whole shebang.

That's one option.

Option #2, I currently have a pair of 12 year old Bose Acoustimas. I was thinking about using those for the rear channel and getting something else for the front, center, and sub.

I'd like to keep the budget under or around $800.

Any advice is most appreciated.

 

[zieglj01]

Scrap them both and keep looking - the satellites are not big
enouth for that room.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Is that $800 plus Tax?

I would recommend these since I've own them in the past and I think they sound awesome:

NHT SuperZero x 5 identical speakers = $495:
http://www.amazon.com/NHT-SuperZero-2-0-Monitor-Speaker/dp/B0049FA1TM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1301066455&sr=8-1

Plus one NHT Super 8 subwoofer = $349:
http://www.amazon.com/NHT-Super-110-Watt-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B0049FGP7O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1301066585&sr=1-2

Total = $844 (free shipping, no tax)

 

[phishphan]

And use the Bose for the rear?

 

[zieglj01]

And use the Bose for the rear?

I would look at buying 3 Super Zero sats and this sub
It is more flexable on the sat crossover than the B-10
subwoofer. The NHT 8" sub may strugggle in your room.
Emotiva Ultra 12
http://emotiva.com/ultra_sub12.shtm

Save up for 2 more sats and use the Bose if you want to.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

And use the Bose for the rear?

I would use the Bose for another room, like your bedroom.

 

[phishphan]

I would use the Bose for another room, like your bedroom.

I will probably sell the Bose on craigslist to offset some of the cost. Good reviews on these NHT's so far. Very interesting...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I believe the question for you is, how much "bass" do you want?

At one point I used an 8" NHT sub w/ 80watt in a 15' x 16' x 15' ceiling, and it shook the walls like crazy @ 50% on the subwoofer volume knob.

My brother now has my old 8" NHT sub in his larger 18' x 20' x 12' ceiling room, and it still rumbles pretty well.

That Emotiva sub will definitely outperform the NHT 8" sub, but the question is, how much bass do you want?

And is the aesthetics matching of the brands important to you?

That Emo sub is a good deal with free shipping.

 

[phishphan]

I don't need rap mogul levels, but I'd like it to be present. That's what I always hated about the Bose is the lack of bass.

 

[zieglj01]

I will probably sell the Bose on craigslist to offset some of the cost. Good reviews on these NHT's so far. Very interesting...

Sell the Bose and get 2 more Super Zero's. They are hard to beat
at the price. They have good resolution in the mids and highs, and
are good with music. Once you hear them - you will know.

The NHT 8" sub will beat the Bose module. It all comes down to you.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The NHT 8" sub will beat the Bose module.

Yeah, I think the NHT 8" sub will be 4 times more bass than the Bose, and the NHT will a lot tighter and cleaner than the Bose.

I'm guessing the Emo 12Ultra will be at least 1.5 times more bass than the 8" NHT sub? Possibly even close to 2 x more bass?

 

[phishphan]

I can get the NHT Super Surround 5.1 package for the exact same price ($799) as the DefTech ProCinema 600.

So it's of your expert opinions that the NHT blows the DefTech out of the water?

 

[zieglj01]

I can get the NHT Super Surround 5.1 package for the exact same price ($799) as the DefTech ProCinema 600.

So it's of your expert opinions that the NHT blows the DefTech out of the water?

Blow out of the water would be subjective - I prefer the NHT for
the music and the midrange resolution, and some what smoother
treble. I would take a 4" woofer over a 3" woofer most of the time,
and for that room size. NHT has a 30 day return policy, as well as
some other internet online stores.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think the NHT SuperZero ($99 ea) speakers that I had back then had better detail & resolution than some speakers costing $5,000/pr.

It's bigger brother the NHT Absolute Zero ($175 ea) has better frequency response (accuracy, from 200Hz - 10kHz) than any speaker I have EVER seen measured on Home Theater Magazine REGARDLESS of price.

 

[zieglj01]

I think the NHT SuperZero ($99 ea) speakers that I had back then had better detail & resolution than some speakers costing $5,000/pr.

It's bigger brother the NHT Absolute Zero ($175 ea) has better frequency response (accuracy, from 200Hz - 10kHz) than any speaker I have EVER seen measured on Home Theater Magazine REGARDLESS of price.

NHT is serious about quality and not just sales.

 

[phishphan]

BTW - I have a Sony STR DE575 receiver. It's 100 x 5. Is that enough to drive the NHT's?

 

[zieglj01]

BTW - I have a Sony STR DE575 receiver. It's 100 x 5. Is that enough to drive the NHT's?

You will be OK - the subwoofer will handle the bass load.
You may want to upgrade it, some where down the line.

 

[phishphan]

I would look at buying 3 Super Zero sats and this sub
It is more flexable on the sat crossover than the B-10
subwoofer. The NHT 8" sub may strugggle in your room.
Emotiva Ultra 12
http://emotiva.com/ultra_sub12.shtm

Save up for 2 more sats and use the Bose if you want to.

Would the Emotiva Ultra 10 be better overall than going with the NHT Super 8 included in the 5.1 set?

http://emotiva.com/ultra_sub10.shtm

 

[MinusTheBear]

I'd also recommend the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE for the front 3 (mains and center) and the HTM-200 for the rears. The Emotiva subs would be a good choice for your budget.

Ascends would do Phish recordings proud.

Both the NHT and Ascend's will be able to provide natural speech/vocals which is very critical to Trey's voice because crappy speakers will bring out sibilance in some Phish recordings.

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Here are other subwoofer althernatives:

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/549114852/jamo-sub-210?s_c=site_search

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/549694429/jamo-d6sub?s_c=site_search

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/549635206/jamo-a70-sub?s_c=site_search

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/549290471/jamo-d7-subwoofer?s_c=site_search

Which one is best for you?

I think they will all do just fine.