Entry level 5.1 setup and my center channel woes...

[jjlee138]

Hello gentlemen, this will be my 1st time putting together a home audio system. I've been reading up and looking around for about 3 months and here's what I've put together so far. I have some restrictions that are making this really hard though...

1. Wife and I just built our 1st house and we spent prob more than we should to have in ceiling speaker runs (Yes, I see the error of my ways now) made for the front and rears and an in wall cable for a mantle center located just under the TV over the fireplace. (Sub is run to the rear behind the couch). I did this while making 101 other home decisions and now I've found out that in-ceiling is far from optimal. BUT, my wife will kill me if I don't use these! Sooo, must make do.... No options here lol

2. Center channel is run to the mantle as I mentioned above and I'm dealing with a depth of 7.5in here... The Center that should go with the Polk RC80i's is the Polk CS2 which is 11 1/8in deep! Way too deep for my mantle! So now I'm looking for a shallow center and have been reading all this talk about timber match etc and am really scared about how this shallow Klipsch I found will fit (sound wise)...

3. I have a $1000 FIRM total budget that I'm all ready over here. We're a young new couple working on our 1st house with a thousand other start up costs and just absolutely have to stay in this range.

Ok, all that being said, any idea how bad this center channel thing is going to throw me off? I just don't have frame of reference as to how bad this "timber match" issue is going to be. I'm far from an audiophile and really don't know what I'm getting into here. It seems that all of these threads on any board on any topic result in people chiming in saying that for $300 more here, $400 more there you can really have a perfect system, but I just can't do that. I guess I just want to know if my marriage is in danger here after I bring this Frankensystem to life lol. Any changes you'd make while staying relatively within budget? Thank you for taking the time to read this. Any input would be Greatly appreciated!



Reciever: Onkyo TX-NR509 5.1 $230
Amazon.com: Onkyo TX-NR509 5.1 Channel Network A/V Receiver: Electronics

In Ceiling Front/Rear Speakers: Polk Audio RC80i 2-Way In-Ceiling Speakers $142 (Pair) Total = $284
Amazon.com: Polk Audio RC80i 2-Way In-Ceiling Speakers (Pair, White): Electronics

Sub: Polk Audio PSW Series PSW505 12" $229 (Really hoping for wall shaking bass and this seems to be the sub for my budget.)
Newegg.com - Polk Audio PSW Series PSW505 12" Powered Subwoofer Each

Center Channel? : Klipsch WC24 2-Way Center Channel Loudspeaker $329
http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Center-Channel-Loudspeaker-Cabernet/dp/tags-on-product/B001C57WEE

Total $1,072

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

First, welcome to the Forum, JJ!

Not sure if you’ve already picked this up from your research, but timbre-matching refers to different speakers having the same sonic signature. The idea is that pans from say, the left to center to right speakers be seamless – i.e., it sounds exactly the same as the sound moves from one speaker to the next, and not be distracting is it would be if say, the left and right speakers sound “smooth” and the center has a “honky” quality.

But since you’re using in-ceiling speakers for the other two front speakers as well as the rears, the “timbre-matching” ship has sailed. You aren’t going to find any free-standing center-channel speaker that will timbre-match a ceiling speaker, even if they’re all from the same brand. So, go ahead and go with the center channel speaker that physically meets your requirements.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[lsiberian]

Can you return the in-ceilings? I don't see why your wife would kill you over not using them. Why not simply do a 2 channel stereo setup with the sub? It would be more economical give you far better sound and be simpler to setup. in-ceilings are really better for a school or some venue like that.

If your marriage is in danger over a stereo system then you have much bigger problems.

 

[ACsGreens]

Rear sub?

Since you cannot change what you have the first thing I would address is the subwoofer behind the couch. The subwoofer belongs on the front wall if at all possible as that is where all the the action is. Some may tell you otherwise, but in a Lucas theater the sub(s) is on the front. Having a sub in the rear will distract from front action and sound artificial.

 

[ACsGreens]

the problem....

This is a big problem in the CI world. People try to save $ by reading on the internet, where any a$$ can post (guess that's me), and then attempt to do this themselves. Worse yet, they let their builder or electrician "wire" which often leads to reconstruction or a crappy audio/visual experience. Consult a local (no box stores) audio/video store and allow them to do this for you. People, for some reason, think that they can do this themselves. Do I work on my transmition, no, could I, yes, would I destroy it, yes.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I say get the center that fits and enjoy it. Are in-ceilings the best...nope but what you have here is 1,000x better than just using your TV speakers. I use in-celings for my surrounds and they are fine. I use them in a 2 channel set up in my bedroom and they are great for background music.

Timber matching is more important if you are listening to multi-channel music, for TV and movies you will be just fine.

The sub is fine in the rear. Mine actually works best there(less standing waves) even though I have it in the front now.

Now, the most important thing that you can do is get off here and never look at this forum again. I popped on here to "show off" my little system many years ago and now, several years later, I am missing $30,000 if not a lot more.

The system that started it all:

Things got crazy for awhile:

Even spread into the office:

And the bedroom:

And outside:

I finally got over it and just have a basic TV set up in the bedroom, nothing in the office and I sold one sub. This leaves me with a good place for movies and music and now my wife doesn't think I'm crazy.(other than my bike obsession)

 

[lsiberian]

now my wife doesn't think I'm crazy.

You sure about that?

 

[Rickster71]

With all the expenses facing a new couple in a new home.....I'd put a HT setup on the back burner until you have your priorities dealt with.

Just a thought for the future: If there is an attic above that room.
You should be able to get access to the wires and extend them down into the front wall.
Good Luck, enjoy your new home.

 

[Rickster71]

Wife and I just built our 1st house and we spent prob more than we should to have in ceiling speaker runs ....... I did this while making 101 other home decisions .....

We're a young new couple working on our 1st house with a thousand other start up costs and just absolutely have to stay in this $1,000 range.

I've re-read my first reply to the OP and realized I sounded a bit too preachy.
My thoughts were speaking to somethings you mentioned, that I've quoted above^
My advice is the same. Take your time and plan a full system later, when you have more time & money. Why do a system you won't be happy with a year from now?
Maybe you can salvage the in ceiling wires & speakers for background music.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Don't listen to the Dawg. This forum/hobby is not contagious at all. I still have my Bose speakers.

 

[its phillip]

I still have my Bose speakers.

I still have mine too. In a closet. For the last few years.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I still have mine too. In a closet. For the last few years.

Do you think the Bose sounds better than the Polk ceiling speakers?

Oops, sorry, didn't mean to cause any feelings of "upgraditis"