Audiophile Needed

[SDA1C]

I'd go 3.1 if it were me. HDMI capable receiver, descent speaker wire and be done with it. Any HDMI receiver will be at least 5.1 and can add a set of surrounds when you get the 10" off the back wall thing figured out. It will certainly rock for music and football will be in your lap. Just my.02.

Good luck and have fun. That's the most important part.

Be sure to try accessories for less . com and Newegg . com before making a final decision. They have some seriously awesome deals on refurb or closeout items with full factory warranty.

 

[SDA1C]

General consensus is that stereo subwoofers are of no benefit. The reason you can move the bass frequencies onto a single dedicated driver is that it's very difficult (to impossible) to localize sound that deep. The benefit of adding a second subwoofer is evening out the response throughout the room and increasing output.

For $800 if you want a 5.1 system I think it would be fairly difficult to do better than a HTIB, though I don't generally recommend going that rout if you really want a good quality system.

though I agree with the dual sub fiasco I must disagree with the idea of doing better with any HTiB for 8 hun. I would go with a mismatched component system before an HTiB, but as the OP stated he has not the time to inform himself as to what will gel and what won't. Two subs is often a nightmare to get tuned. Not so much in a square room but certainly dependent on placement. a good set of front towers placed the proper distance from the wall can really put out the bass. One small sub as a compliment to a good set of front towers can really sound nice.

 

[erlewine]

Rear speakers

Does that kill the surround sound effect having no room behind me? Thanks guys for the advise

 

[zieglj01]

Does that kill the surround sound effect having no room behind me? Thanks guys for the advise

Look here
- Speaker Placement for Home Theater

 

[ImcLoud]

seems like a lot of people enjoy 5.1, I know I do...

 

[Grador]

Does that kill the surround sound effect having no room behind me? Thanks guys for the advise

Having no room behind you is suboptimal for a few reasons, one of them being surround. I also have my setup in a small space and consiquently have my couch backed up to a wall. The surround effect is not quite what it should be, but is by no means killed. Going with surround back speakers though would probably be completely pointless, and at worse somewhat detrimental when they are that close to you.

 

[erlewine]

Room pics

http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b521/erlewines1/DSC00829.jpg http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b521/erlewines1/DSC00826.jpg

 

[erlewine]

Ok thats the room pretend all the baby stuff is gone lol as her room is finished and we are working on getting her stuff in there. The couch is about 10 inches from the back wall and there is almost 3 feet to the right of the Entertainment Unit and 5 feet and a door to the left, with the couch to your back the right wall is solid and no windows and the left wall well there is none but the front left has a kickout of 6 feet also from the corner to my seat is 4 feet or so and I could do the same on the left or further if its better. I had plans on the center channel going dead center eye level in front of the tv there is room for a soundbar and a kinect there now. I am gonna hold off till the end of the week to get anything so I can take what is told to me here and educate myself further with what time I can. Can you get the surround sound effect from a 3.1? Also I noticed in the link that was posted above in reference to speaker placement that they were firing almost directly toward your ear and on the same plane as your head?

 

[Grador]

You can make it work. Surrounds can be wall mounted [though decent brackets aren't super cheap]. You will have a little trouble with the right speaker if you put it beside the entertainment center (which is very nice looking i might add). It'll be a little to close to the wall (will have some issues with reflections off the wall) and the couch will get in the way a little. The effects shouldn't be that bad.

 

[ImcLoud]

Now I see what you are talking about, there are some real placement pros on here so they will figure that out easily..

If it were me...

I would set it up normally, heres what I figure when you are watching tv you will be sitting in front of it...

I would put the 2 towers in the front on the left and right of the entertainment-center, a sub behind them on the sides of the center, the center in the middle {in cabinet above tv with the face a little closer to you than the tv}, the first surround on the wall a couple feet over the seating area and the other surround on a stand to the left of the couch facing the other surround... It will sound good... Ive seen worse that worked...
For $800 run and buy them sale items, that big room will sound just fine...

The surrounds are rear ported so I would test a few things, plug them, or use an Omni mount on the wall mounted oneto give it a little room, Im sure it will be fine... This isnt a critical listening room, you want a decent theater, you will have a pretty impressive setup..

 

[erlewine]

Ok that sounds simple which way do you fire the one on the right facing the couch? I assume the r will be firing foward and the L toward the R? Also would you guys think a sub would work good in the corner behind the couch, there is a nice little void where the lamp is? Last of all all the receivers say they have a setup that helps with all this what exactly does it do tell you to move the speaker or put like a delay in place or something to that nature?

 

[ImcLoud]

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Get to work... SALE ENDS AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT .... If you want to save a little money there are 5.1 receivers for $120+ or another 7.2 Onkyo for $230 or so...

 

[Grador]

Ok that sounds simple which way do you fire the one on the right facing the couch? I assume the r will be firing foward and the L toward the R? Also would you guys think a sub would work good in the corner behind the couch, there is a nice little void where the lamp is? Last of all all the receivers say they have a setup that helps with all this what exactly does it do tell you to move the speaker or put like a delay in place or something to that nature?

I probably wouldn't put a sub in that corner, but it could work? Receiver autosetup will automatically set the sound level for each speaker so that it is even at the listening position and set delays so that each speaker plays at the proper time for said position. They also set some equalization curves specifically for your speakers, some receivers do a better job than others and some people just don't like this at all. Overall I've found this equalization to be extremely hit and miss, but the distancing and delaying usually works well enough.

 

[ImcLoud]

Ok that sounds simple which way do you fire the one on the right facing the couch? I assume the r will be firing foward and the L toward the R? Also would you guys think a sub would work good in the corner behind the couch, there is a nice little void where the lamp is? Last of all all the receivers say they have a setup that helps with all this what exactly does it do tell you to move the speaker or put like a delay in place or something to that nature?

angle them slightly towards each other with the center couch seat in the middle of them, this will be just moving them around and feeling it out, but your room isnt that bad..
My bedrrom was tough, because the bed is in the center and the tv is on left of the bed, so the center and left right are there but when you mount the surrounds one had to be above the bed and one on the opposite side of the room, Itryed it that way first and I was surprised it worked, so I tryed 4 or 5 other places and went back to my first instinct... works good...

I know some people dont care for dual subs, but Im betting its because they didnt spend a lot of time with it, I am hooked I want 2 subs everywhere especially for music.. And a lot of the new higher priced avrs are coming with 9.2 7.2 ect.. all .2's.... What I noticed with my dual sub music system, is I literally turn them about half way up when they are both firing... When I fire just one, I have to turn it much higher and even then, the results are better with 2... Now running them stereo or not? does that make a difference/ I dont know, but if you can why wouldnt you... I agree the corner isnt the greatest spot for the second sub but you want them as close to the towers as possible {I found they sound better close to the towers}. And it will add symmetry to the room for your eyes

 

[Grador]

Can you get the surround sound effect from a 3.1? Also I noticed in the link that was posted above in reference to speaker placement that they were firing almost directly toward your ear and on the same plane as your head?

Start with the second question, yes that is exactly correct. This is the optimal position though not absolutely required. As with any speaker the closer you are to having it directly aimed at you and with the tweeter on plane with your ears, the better. The surround track of multichannel sources are designed to be at your sides. (when you jump to 7.1 the backs are for behind you)

You can try some of the fake surround effects, but I don't really think they're any good. In my opinion having a more solid front stage will yield greater results than having surround effects. Surround is really an effect, it does add immersion but not quite as much as having overall better sound quality.

Another thing that can be done, though I wouldn't necessarily recommend it strongly: The surrounds are a place that if you must you can really cheapen up (as long as you don't care about multichannel music). I'm fairly happy with Amazon.com: Sony SS-B1000 5-1/4-Inch Bookshelf Speakers (Pair): Electronics. They are by no means good, but for surrounds they get the job done without being obnoxious. Those can often be had for $50

 

[Grador]

I know some people dont care for dual subs, but Im betting its because they didnt spend a lot of time with it, I am hooked I want 2 subs everywhere especially for music.. And a lot of the new higher priced avrs are coming with 9.2 7.2 ect.. all .2's.... What I noticed with my dual sub music system, is I literally turn them about half way up when they are both firing... When I fire just one, I have to turn it much higher and even then, the results are better with 2... Now running them stereo or not? does that make a difference/ I dont know, but if you can why wouldnt you... I agree the corner isnt the greatest spot for the second sub but you want them as close to the towers as possible {I found they sound better close to the towers}. And it will add symmetry to the room for your eyes

Sorry if I wasn't clear before, I was not making any arguments against dual subs, I will say there are reasons not to run them stereo though and placement near towers. Subwoofers are a completely different animal. Their purpose is to reproduce the low frequencies that require a lot of power, and cannot be easily localized (with high frequencies you can tell where they are coming from, not so much with bass).

With that in mind they do not need to be near the towers as they will gladly provide bass for the entire room. Having dual subs can make their response more even throughout the room, though it takes a bit of working to get two subs to play nicely together. Having the subwoofers playing different things will be splitting your output and making adding chances for them to have poor interactions.

 

[ImcLoud]

I tried 3.1's and they sound good, but I like to hear the engine idling on the left of me, or the door opening to the right rear... It just adds to the movie experience a lot...

 

[ImcLoud]

Sorry if I wasn't clear before, I was not making any arguments against dual subs, I will say there are reasons not to run them stereo though and placement near towers. Subwoofers are a completely different animal. Their purpose is to reproduce the low frequencies that require a lot of power, and cannot be easily localized (with high frequencies you can tell where they are coming from, not so much with bass).

With that in mind they do not need to be near the towers as they will gladly provide bass for the entire room. Having dual subs can make their response more even throughout the room, though it takes a bit of working to get two subs to play nicely together. Having the subwoofers playing different things will be splitting your output and making adding chances for them to have poor interactions.

I tried my dual subs in that back of my room away from the towers and it wasnt as good as right next to the towers, I have read from at least 3 diffrent places to put dual music subs next to the towers... And the OP wanted a lot of bass, if I remember from his initial post... And for the price, how do you beat that??? I wish I had another room to do, I almost want to talk my 13 year old into letting me buy it for his room lol... But I bought him a tritrix kit for xmass, that I am going to build with him... so no surround..

 

[ImcLoud]

sale just ended Hope you got them... $180 more now..
If not Im thinking 3.1 now using ascend 200se's... wouldn't be nearly as nice though, and I own the 200se's...

I never heard these but you could get a handfull of these https://www.accessories4less.com/?page=deal_of_the_day sale ends today, only 22 left, was just 30

 

[erlewine]

I am safe on price the local Raidoshack has them not sure why they have them at online sale prices as they are normally MUCH higher than anything you can find but they do never the less the downfall is the only sub they have is the A Jones 8" for 129 I am sure it sucks. The guy at the shack said the Jones were the elite and tried to sell me a Elite receiver for 239 is that possible? Oh and in the store the only thing they have you can listen to is sound bars and subs package deals and some yamaha HTIB they can however order Onkyo and Denon receivers thought that was odd also