Please help me, I'm overwhelmed

[fuzz092888]

Eh, nothing to be ashamed of I'm not coming from anything better and I'm practicing what I preach right now. I'm updating my front towers, just got a new receiver, an amp here an amp there, and I'm about half way there. Next step is to (hopefully) build a sub this summer.

Any of the mentioned receivers will handle whatever you're looking to do just fine, unless you want 3D. Then you'll need something a bit more updated.

I'd read that the YPAO is adequate but that the audessey is a bit better, especially the newest version of it. I've also read that the ARC system offered in the anthem receivers is just as good as the audessey, but gives more customization options and has more detail.

It seems to me like the Marantz 5006 will be exactly what you need, again I have one so I'm very familiar with it, but any of the choices above would do.

The real deal is and will always be the speakers and maybe the amps, but thats a debate for another day.

 

[fuzz092888]

Just another thought, its just a guess because who knows how you're room will react without doing a proper bass crawl, but my guess would be that at least one of your subs is going to need to be somewhere left to get even bass response over your whole area.

 

[Grador]

I've used YPAO and it's........really mediocre. It distanced and leveled my speakers just fine but the equalization failed miserably and it failed to inform me that one of my speakers was reverse polarity.

 

[runswithscisors]

Thanks for the replies. Anybody own the Aperion Versus Grand towers? They look like they are worth a try. But, they say they work better 3' away from the wall with those rear ports. I can go 2' from the wall, but not 3'.

 

[fuzz092888]

I don't own, but I would hazard a guess that one inch won't make a huge difference. Plus the optimal distance in your specific room may or may not differ from the recommendations. If you were to buy those speakers you would start with them butted up to the wall, pick a song or a movie clip and play it. Move the speakers out a half inch or an inch and play it again. Rinse, repeat, until you find the optimal distance from the wall in YOUR room

 

[fuzz092888]

I forget if anyone said this already, and quite honestly I'm feeling too lazy to look, but you also want the front of the speakers either level with, or slightly in front of the entertainment center.

 

[runswithscisors]

I don't own, but I would hazard a guess that one inch won't make a huge difference.

That's one foot

 

[fuzz092888]

Ah-ha, yes my mistake same reasoning still applies though

 

[runswithscisors]

I forget if anyone said this already, and quite honestly I'm feeling too lazy to look, but you also want the front of the speakers either level with, or slightly in front of the entertainment center.

Kind of what I was planning on, front of entertainment center is 22" inches from wall, speakers slightly forward at 24" inches from wall. 36" from wall puts them a full 14" in front of the entertainment center.

Will toeing them in help?

 

[fuzz092888]

Toeing them in can help, how far from the side walls were you planning on putting them? Placing the speakers right in the middle of the space between the entertainment center and the sidewalls, bringing them to 24-28" from the back wall and toeing in slightly should get you similar results to having them the full 3' I think. Again, it's all in the experimentation.

 

[runswithscisors]

Do all speakers require this much room or just rear ported towers?

 

[fuzz092888]

Rear ported speakers and open back speakers usually need a lot more space from the front wall than sealed or front ported speakers. That being said, you never know how much space you'll need until you get them in room and try placing them. Sometimes distance from the side walls can end up being more important, but it differs from room to room.

 

[GranteedEV]

Do all speakers require this much room or just rear ported towers?

even front ported or sealed speakers are rarely great-sounding neat boundaries. my speakers have a very shallow rolloff towards their relatively higher port tuning so even though they are rear ported they don't get boomy when placed near walls, but still don't sound their best in the midrange.

 

[zieglj01]

Do all speakers require this much room or just rear ported towers?

I have owned front ported, rear ported and sealed speakers - they
have always sounded the best, away from the back walls and the
side/corner walls. For the most part, that tends to give me better
results in bass, imaging/soundstaging - and a nice sense of depth.

 

[runswithscisors]

I'm looking at the EMP Tek 55Ti towers and the Aperion Versus Grand towers to try side by side, since both have a 30 day return policy with return shipping paid. Any other suggestions?

 

[fuzz092888]

Sierra Tower Bamboo Loudspeaker

They don't pay return shipping, but they are awesome speakers and may be worth your trouble since theres a pretty good chance you won't' be returning them

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

NHT speakers also offers 30 day free returns.

You have to pay for returns on Ascend speakers.

Also call Amazon 206-266-2335 or 800-201-7575. They may also allow you 30-day returns on speakers from KEF, Martin Logan, and others.

 

[runswithscisors]

So, these NHT Classic Four towers have built in subs, so could I get away with a single sub with these?

 

[runswithscisors]

Or would these Absolute towers with dual subs be better?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So, these NHT Classic Four towers have built in subs, so could I get away with a single sub with these?

Those built-in subs are passive subs unless you buy the extra amp/crossover.

I think I would prefer the NHT Absolute Zero towers and get dual Rythmik subs (FV12 is $500 each for example). Unless you also want to try out the NHT subs for 30 days.

They even give you a Free absolute Center speaker if you get the Absolute tower:
http://www.nhthifi.com/Absolute-Tower-Speaker?sc=12&category=3773

So NHT, Aperion, and EMP are 3 companies that offer free 30-day trial (including shipping).