FNG HERE, need some experienced advice...

[ImcLoud]

Hey fellas,
When I purchased my house it had a multi room audio setup but no amplifier, its 12 speakers {3 inside and 3 outside sets of 2}, each set of 2 has its own volume control. All the wires go down to a impedance matching distribution box in the basement and just 2 sets of wires come up stairs to the audio cabinet {them are the inputs from the amp}...

So rite now I have a 150w dayton audio powering the multi room system and a "theater in a box" yamaha 5.1 in the living room... I want to change it all except the distribution box, volume controls, and multi room speakers {they are decent yamaha speakers, and some are 22 feet in the air}...

Here's what I am thinking...
an Emotiva UMC-1 Preamp
with a Emotive UPA-200 powering the hole house system.
and an Emotiva UPA-500 powering a 5.1 speaker package {the Energy 5.1 classic fits my budget}
that will cost me around $1650 does anyone have any feedback or better ideas... The parlor the 5.1 goes in is pretty small but I do need a preamp with hdmi hookups..

Thanks for your help

 

[Scumfrog]

Congrats on your new home. Hope you enjoy it! Friends of mine installed a whole house audio system and its a good thing! Given the expensses of a new home let's take things slowly. First thing to do would be to check the connections. Look at and clean all your connections.. Some times a less than tight wire can degrade the sound. So spend a day inspecting, cleaning and tightening all wires. Total cost: time. Now that everything is tight and right, live with it for a few weeks. Enjoy your system! By doing so you will determine its strengths and weaknesses. A power upgrade to the whole house portion will probably yield significant, audible results. When my nfriends replaced their Rotel amp with a more powerful amp the results were more than obvious. The Emotiva, even though I ve never heard it, sounds like a nice choice. Go for it! Hook it up and enjoy. Then proceed to the home theater portion of your home. The reason I suggest this order is because you will pobably be using the whole house portion of your system more than the dedicated theater. Now, assuming you are happy, work on the theater. Energy mkes fine products and im sure you will be happy. With additional Emotiva gear, you will be happy Im sure. Remember that you can repurpose any amp as you see fit. Good luck and better listening!
Mike

 

[zieglj01]

So rite now I have a 150w dayton audio powering the multi room system and a "theater in a box" yamaha 5.1 in the living room... I want to change it all except the distribution box, volume controls, and multi room speakers {they are decent yamaha speakers, and some are 22 feet in the air}...

Here's what I am thinking...
an Emotiva UMC-1 Preamp
with a Emotive UPA-200 powering the hole house system.
and an Emotiva UPA-500 powering a 5.1 speaker package {the Energy 5.1 classic fits my budget}
that will cost me around $1650 does anyone have any feedback or better ideas... The parlor the 5.1 goes in is pretty small but I do need a preamp with hdmi hookups..

That does not balance out to me, and is some-what backwards.
The Energy Take is not much better than a HTIB system. That
is a lot of money for a pre-amp and amps, for speakers that can
be driven by budget receivers, and/or more budget friendly amps.

 

[ImcLoud]

That does not balance out to me, and is some-what backwards.
The Energy Take is not much better than a HTIB system. That
is a lot of money for a pre-amp and amps, for speakers that can
be driven by budget receivers, and/or more budget friendly amps.

So what do you recommend, I listened to a yamaha htib system that was around $800, and I wasnt very impressed, on the other hand I heard the energy system with a cheap onkyo receiver that sounded very clean, so I figured them speakers with a better foundation would be a good start, so when I do upgrade Im not upgrading everything at once, I will all ready have a decent pro and amp just get better speakers...
So 800 on a htib or 500 more for the pre/amp/and 5.1 set...

Is there a better speaker choice for around $400??? I could go as high as $600, maybe even a better receiver choice??? Just looking for the most bang for my buck...

 

[zieglj01]

So what do you recommend, I listened to a yamaha htib system that was around $800, and I wasnt very impressed, on the other hand I heard the energy system with a cheap onkyo receiver that sounded very clean, so I figured them speakers with a better foundation would be a good start, so when I do upgrade Im not upgrading everything at once, I will all ready have a decent pro and amp just get better speakers...
So 800 on a htib or 500 more for the pre/amp/and 5.1 set...

Is there a better speaker choice for around $400??? I could go as high as $600, maybe even a better receiver choice??? Just looking for the most bang for my buck...

The hardware foundation that you are looking at, will not raise the
performace of the Energy Takes to a higher level > The Fact, that
you stated, the Energy sounded very clean with the Onkyo, is a key
point. A decent receiver with HDMI, can be a good performer.

Do you have any real complaints with your Dayton amp?

If you are looking to get the best bang for the buck, then I would
build around a speaker system and not the hardware system. Then
build around the speakers, if you feel more is needed later. While
the Energy is budget friendly, there are some better options, that
can step-up the sound experience.

Speakers with bigger woofers that can cross-over better (lower) to a
subwoofer, can bring a nice listening experience with better balance
performace. You can also build the 5.1 in sections, depending on the
quality that you desire.

If you wish to analyze all this again, and desire to build around a
different speaker system, and build off the speakers - then what
is the maxium budget that you want to work with? If you want to
go with the way you are thinking now > then I will give you some
more speaker options to consider. You option and choice.

 

[ImcLoud]

The hardware foundation that you are looking at, will not raise the
performace of the Energy Takes to a higher level > The Fact, that
you stated, the Energy sounded very clean with the Onkyo, is a key
point. A decent receiver with HDMI, can be a good performer.

Do you have any real complaints with your Dayton amp?

If you are looking to get the best bang for the buck, then I would
build around a speaker system and not the hardware system. Then
build around the speakers, if you feel more is needed later. While
the Energy is budget friendly, there are some better options, that
can step-up the sound experience.

Speakers with bigger woofers that can cross-over better (lower) to a
subwoofer, can bring a nice listening experience with better balance
performace. You can also build the 5.1 in sections, depending on the
quality that you desire.

If you wish to analyze all this again, and desire to build around a
different speaker system, and build off the speakers - then what
is the maxium budget that you want to work with? If you want to
go with the way you are thinking now > then I will give you some
more speaker options to consider. You option and choice.

I would appreciate more speaker options, I would like an upgradable system and it seems that speakers are replaced while I can upgrade my emotiva system with larger amps and new preamps...