Help with speaker selection and setup

[evo97]

I'm trying to arrange the speakers I have for a 7.1 or 7.2 setup. Could use a little advice . I have a set of Cerwin vegas VS150 (4ohms) I have been using them for my fronts , They always sound great and can handle just about anything I send to them. I also have a set of Boss 901 series Vl and have used for the front, but prefer the VS150's.
For the center I'm using a Bose VSC100 which is ok but was getting better sound from my old "Infinity Sterling" 150w center, This does fit in the current location that why I using the smaller Boss center. For my LS , RS and rear speakers I'm using the Bose 161's For the sub I'm using a Yamaha Yst sw315 . My current AV is the HK AVR354, I have a new Onko TX-809 coming in a few days. Also I have a set of the Bose acoustimac 5 series ll w/sub that I was going to used for the rear but haven't tried to hook them up yet. figured I would have a better ballanced system just using the 161's for now.. The video part of the system is the Mitsubishi WD82740 ,I would like to have a decent surround set up but also want to be able to power up the VS150's or 901's when I choose , My main question is , with the current speakers I have which would be best to hook up or should I prepare to purchase a matched set of speakers for a 7.2 hook up ? I have a cpl amps available if needed.

 

[JerryLove]

That's a pretty complicated setup you've got there.

Disclaimer: Try all the options and see which you like best. Anything I say should at best give you ideas of things to make sure you try.

Firstly: I don't think you will get good results (poor timbre' matching) using an unmatched set of front speakers. If you are going to run CVs in that set-up: consider phantoming the center.

The acoustimass system is designed to work as a unit. You will get poor results trying to integrate that into another setup.

The 901's are designed to work with their frequency-adjuster in-line. To use those: you would want to have a "pre-amp out"-"Amp In" for the channel being used.

You would do best with matched components. The most important sets to match together are
- Front 3
- Sub pair
- Rear 4

Matching between these is generally not necessary as long as there are no sub integration problems.

In your shoes: I'd sell all but my favorite pair (perhaps keep the sub and get a second to match); and then replace the rest on what budget I had from there (Perhaps Infinity Primus surrounds).

Further: I would recommend (if you are buying), focusing on building the best 5.1 setup you can with an eye for expanding to 7.2 as money permits.

 

[evo97]

What do you think about getting another set of the Bose acoustimacs and using these for my rear 4, they are rated at 200w max, would it be possible to hook these up with out there sub and just set the crossover where needed, and then just get another sub to match the other ? What would you recommend for a center spkr If I choose to keep the CV150's?
Thank you for your imput,

 

[manwithnocape]

uhhhh. all i have to say is wow, you are an ambitious person. it has been my experience that bose doesn't like anything but bose. you will always have phasing issues with an acoustimas system being integrated as a secondary system. ie. speakers will work against each other and you will have an odd sounding theater, loud, but odd.

bose acoustics are difficult to match...... with anything on the planet. my personal suggestion (and this is just preference), is to sell everything and purchase a matching, heart stopping, adrenaline pumping, scare-you-half-to-death 5.1 or 5.2, and in that realm... i would go with the Focal Electra series (leave out the sub and go with a Funk Audio), or Funk Audio 8.2 fronts, 8.1 rears and center, 18.3 powered sub or 2 - 18.0 powered, with a Emotiva xpa5 power plant with a umc1 processor.

so check out funk audio, focal, and emotiva. if you call funk audio, he is wicked helpful with this stuff, and uber smart.

its a big jump, but ive never looked back. good luck dude.

keep in mind that most movies (90% or better) are only recorded in 5.1, so a 7.anything is kind of a waste.

 

[evo97]

I'm coming to the same conclusion, might be time to move on and stop tryn to use what I've accumulated over the years, I'm not a big fan of Bose anyway, Those CV150's I know have a few years on them but damn if they don't thump the house !! Never knew the 5.1 issue on the movie sounds, thanks for the input..

 

[manwithnocape]

PRAISE ALLAH, JESUS, BUDDA, OR WHOEVER YOUR GOD IS!! let me hit you with some knowledge my new found friend:

emotiva has a great sale on right now, you can save some great cash.

funk audio has a 18.0 on discount right now (check out the specials page on their site)... and a little bird told me that they got some crazy deals happening in the new year... oh ya, you can test his gear for free, just a deposit and a full refund when you return it.

focal is wonderful, but the price is a little bit on the high side, but i have never regretted my focal system (it might be in my car, but the drive-in theater never sounded so good)

 

[GranteedEV]

I have a set of Cerwin vegas VS150 (4ohms) I have been using them for my fronts , They always sound great and can handle just about anything I send to them.

If they sound great then you should get a good return off craig's list for them

I also have a set of Boss 901 series Vl and have used for the front, but prefer the VS150's.For the center I'm using a Bose VSC100 which is ok but was getting better sound from my old "Infinity Sterling" 150w center, This does fit in the current location that why I using the smaller Boss center. For my LS , RS and rear speakers I'm using the Bose 161's

Bose sounds like a good match.. for craig's list.

For the sub I'm using a Yamaha Yst sw315

ebay or craigs list.

My current AV is the HK AVR354, I have a new Onko TX-809 coming in a few days.

That's definitely somewhere to start.

Also I have a set of the Bose acoustimac 5 series ll w/sub that I was going to used for the rear but haven't tried to hook them up yet.

Hook other people up with them

My main question is , with the current speakers I have which would be best to hook up or should I prepare to purchase a matched set of speakers for a 7.2 hook up ? I have a cpl amps available if needed.

My advice is, start with new stereo fronts. I much like the previous Funkywaves 8.2 suggestion if it fits your budget. See if good stereo mains satisfy you without a center (if they do, hey, that's money saved!).

Get four inexpensive, but good surround speakers. These KEFs:

KEF Q300 Q Series 6-1/2 inch Black Bookshelf Speakers, pair | Accessories4less

Should make a wicked choice. Being coaxial they should have optimal radiation of sound into the room. No need to spend a world on surrounds IMO.

Get multiple subs to have smooth in room frequency response and adequate headroom. Figure out how deep you wish to go. Under 30hz, things can get pricey quickly.