Finally received my Atoms...

[DJ in TX]

So for anyone interested in my results, I finally have my system all set up...

-Paradigm Atoms v.6
-Pioneer VSX-819
-Older Sony DVD player
-TiVo
-XBox 360/Wii
-Airport Express

This has been a very in-depth project for me from start to finish, including lots of component research and price watching, and posting many many help threads here, not to mention waiting 3 weeks for the speakers to be delivered. Initially the wrong finish was shipped from the warehouse, so they had to re-order. In any case I finally have it all setup and working.

So last night was tech night at my house as I hooked everything up, and I have to say I absolutely love the sound of my Atoms. For those unaware, I only have a 2 channel setup at this point. I may add a sub and/or surround at some point, but not for quite awhile.

Paradigm recommends "several hours" of break-in time before doing any critical listening, and while SQ may end up improving over time, I can say they sounds pretty damn good right out of the box. I can't wait to get home today and listen to a bunch of music, and then try out a movie.

The Pioneer also does a good job. Seems to run fairly cool for an AVR, and everything I have heard so far sounds really good. I ran the MCACC, but honestly, I'm not sure if this really does anything with just two speakers. But since I wasn't sure, I ran it just in case. I also connected my receiver to my Airport Express, and it streams my iTunes library beautifully. My wife and I Love this!

I do have a couple of wrinkles to work out going forward that are more related to receiver connections, so I will post in the receiver forum...but overall everything works great and I'm very satisfied with my purchase. Definitely on the short list of best birthday presents ever.

Thanks to all of you who have helped me over the past couple of months, it has been extremely helpful and yielded amazing results!

 

[adk highlander]

Congrats DJ. That looks like a killer setup.

When you get everything hooked up post some pics for us.

 

[Alex2507]

My wife and I Love this!

That's the best part. My wife likes the surround part for movies but would never come home and play music. She likes TV and the TV speakers are fine with her. I got a little 2 channel thing going on for me in the computer room.

That speaker break-in thing is really about retraining your hearing to like something different. You can do all kinds of reading about it and there's a line in the sand over it. The crazies are on that side ...

 

[njedpx3]

Congratulations

Excellent speakers and AVR, exactly what I would have recommended for you

Enjoy!

Forest Man

 

[KEW]

Life is good!!!

 

[DJ in TX]

Excellent speakers and AVR, exactly what I would have recommended for you

Enjoy!

Forest Man

I must have been psychically channeling your wisdom

 

[anamorphic96]

I must have been psychically channeling your wisdom

I would not suggest using MCACC with two speakers. MCACC may screw up the size of the speakers and set them as small. Make sure they are set to Large since you are only running 2 speakers. Just like you would if you where running a basic stereo receiver.

The Pioneer should have a setting to simulate surround from 2 speakers. You might want to try this for movies.

 

[DJ in TX]

I would not suggest using MCACC with two speakers. MCACC may screw up the size of the speakers and set them as small. Make sure they are set to Large since you are only running 2 speakers. Just like you would if you where running a basic stereo receiver.

The Pioneer should have a setting to simulate surround from 2 speakers. You might want to try this for movies.

I think you might be right. I will check tonight to see if it moved it back to small or not. And I have been reading the manual today and definitely want to try some of the other sound modes...hopefully one of them will have a nice phantom mode to simulate a center.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Matt34]

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[DJ in TX]

Pics or it didn't happen.

For you...

 

[dapack69]

Peeeerrrrrty

 

[Alex2507]

Prediction: Those will be surrounds within 90 days.

 

[anamorphic96]

Nice system. Now you may want to try and move the Atoms a little farther apart if possible to create better separation and a larger stereo image.

Could you make the pics just a little smaller.

 

[DJ in TX]

Prediction: Those will be surrounds within 90 days.

Well, if that happens, then it's going to be a weird sounding system, as it would only consist of two surrounds (no fronts, center, or sub ).

In some ways I do sortof wish I could afford to add more now, but honestly I really like the simplicity of a two speaker setup. Of course, my wife isn;t about to agree to let me spend anymore on this hobby anytime soon I think I have maxed out the cooperative spouse card on this one.

PS~ sorry for the pics being so small. I don't have a photo sharing account currently, and this forum only allows up to 100k per photo. They came out so small they automatically were labeled thumbnails.

 

[Boerd]

Nice system. Now you may want to try and move the Atoms a little farther apart if possible to create better separation and a larger stereo image.

You're right - they look a bit too close. My speakers form an (almost) equilateral triangle with the listening position - that is my preference but experimenting is everything
Putting the speakers too far will give you ghost images (you get two separate images); too close and there is no sense of space (small soundstage).

 

[DJ in TX]

You're right - they look a bit too close. My speakers form an (almost) equilateral triangle with the listening position - that is my preference but experimenting is everything
Putting the speakers too far will give you ghost images (you get two separate images); too close and there is no sense of space (small soundstage).

Yes, I definitely intend to play around with the placement. I already noticed the added bass when too close to the wall, so scooted them out a bit to balance it out. Along these lines, would you say that this equilateral triangle, or other preferred placements, are pretty much good for both music and movies, or do you find yourself placing them differently for different uses?

I was telling my wife last night, but I am having so much fun with this new system...I should have done this years ago! It's an amazing feeling to be able to listen to music I have had and listened to ad nauseum for the last 15 years only for it to seem brand new again. It's like the gift that keeps on giving

 

[Boerd]

...would you say that this equilateral triangle, or other preferred placements, are pretty much good for both music and movies, or do you find yourself placing them differently for different uses?

I find the same position is best for whatever I listened to, including movies.
Now the equilateral triangle works for me - there is NO CLEAR RULE on how to place them simple because it is highly dependent where the soundstage starts fragmenting with your setup. Generally the better the speaker the wider you can place them but don't overdo it. I like to get the sensation I'm in the third row of a concert hall ... Some prefer 10th row and the speakers are closer to each other; some prefer being right next to the stage and the speaker placement is wide.
You will also find that quite a few recordings generate no soundstage or small soundstage anyway...
Get some audiophile recordings from Naim/Linn/Teldec/Deutche Gramophone or BBC when you play with your speakers placement; otherwise is just a futile exercise.
Don't forget to toe in your speakers towards the listening position - for me that is a must.
And BTW - next money you spend should be on room treatment - whenever that may be.

 

[DJ in TX]

I find the same position is best for whatever I listened to, including movies.
Now the equilateral triangle works for me - there is NO CLEAR RULE on how to place them simple because it is highly dependent where the soundstage starts fragmenting with your setup. Generally the better the speaker the wider you can place them but don't overdo it. I like to get the sensation I'm in the third row of a concert hall ... Some prefer 10th row and the speakers are closer to each other; some prefer being right next to the stage and the speaker placement is wide.
You will also find that quite a few recordings generate no soundstage or small soundstage anyway...
Get some audiophile recordings from Naim/Linn/Teldec/Deutche Gramophone or BBC when you play with your speakers placement; otherwise is just a futile exercise.
Don't forget to toe in your speakers towards the listening position - for me that is a must.
And BTW - next money you spend should be on room treatment - whenever that may be.

Good to know. Thanks for the advice!