Home Theater on 5K budget

[robdog6942]

Ok, I think I've done well for the money spent. I had a $5200 budget to build a theater on and here is what I got:

Samsung UN55D8000 55" 3D LED LCD TV
Samsung BD5500 Blu Ray Player
Onkyo TX-NR809 Receiver
Emotiva XPA-3
Klipsch WF-35's X 2 Front Mains
Klipsch WC-24 Center Channel
Klipsch WS-24 X 4 Side and Rear Surrounds
Klipsch RW-12D X 2 Subwoofer

I am no audiophile, I have limited knowledge on HT. After doing some reading here, checking reviews, I think I did well for the money spent.

 

[shadyJ]

That isn't too bad of a setup. I think you wasted money on the Emotiva amp though, I really don't think that will make your speakers sound better than the Onkyo, and if it does, the difference will be so slight that money would have made a much bigger difference elsewhere, like on better subs or a straight up better AVR like the Onkyo TX-SR3008 which has Audyssey XT32 or the Yamaha RX-A3000 which has a very serious amp section. Both those receivers are equipped to deal with dual subs, but the tx-sr809 is not.

 

[lsiberian]

Ok, I think I've done well for the money spent. I had a $5200 budget to build a theater on and here is what I got:

Samsung UN55D8000 55" 3D LED LCD TV
Samsung BD5500 Blu Ray Player
Onkyo TX-NR809 Receiver
Emotiva XPA-3
Klipsch WF-35's X 2 Front Mains
Klipsch WC-24 Center Channel
Klipsch WS-24 X 4 Side and Rear Surrounds
Klipsch RW-12D X 2 Subwoofer

I am no audiophile, I have limited knowledge on HT. After doing some reading here, checking reviews, I think I did well for the money spent.

Klipsch's don't need an external amp, but it might help the life of the receiver. You certainly did well for yourself. I wish we'd talked about the subwoofers though. You could have done much better there. It would be my first upgrade.

 

[robdog6942]

Klipsch's don't need an external amp, but it might help the life of the receiver. You certainly did well for yourself. I wish we'd talked about the subwoofers though. You could have done much better there. It would be my first upgrade.

I appreciate the feedback. 1 of the subs is still sealed and for what I paid for it $300 don't think I could go wrong if I decide to upgrade, but didn't see where I could get a better sub for the money. My HT room that we are building is 14X28 and isn't open to any other rooms. I was sure I was going to need something more for the sub so I got 2, we'll see when it is finished how it sounds and If I need something more.

 

[lsiberian]

I appreciate the feedback. 1 of the subs is still sealed and for what I paid for it $300 don't think I could go wrong if I decide to upgrade, but didn't see where I could get a better sub for the money. My HT room that we are building is 14X28 and isn't open to any other rooms. I was sure I was going to need something more for the sub so I got 2, we'll see when it is finished how it sounds and If I need something more.

You'd normally would be better off with one great sub well placed than 2 weakers ones, but for 300 dollars you certainly didn't do so bad. Could you maybe exchange the Emotiva xpa-3 with 300 bucks for one of their subs?

I recommend a front back or mid side wall placement if your room is rectangular.

 

[zieglj01]

Not a bad deal - however, I agree about the amp - and working something
out, to get a better subwoofer.

The WF-35 specs, are rated around 97 db - your ears may give up first.

 

[robdog6942]

Ultimately I am hoping to get by until I can upgrade the sub(s). If one sounds ok, then I'll sell the sealed one and figure out which sub to get. My 2 biggest problems with the sub purchase was:
1. Several high rated subs to choose from (none of which I have heard).

2. Fitting everything that I needed into the budget, something had to be sacrificed somewhere, I actually hooked one of the subs to my living room set-up Yamaha rx-v671, with a sh*tty acoustimass system I've had for 12 years. I've played with different settings on the sub and music and so far it isn't bad. This room is about the same size as my theater room except there are 2 open areas open to more of the house.

As far as the decision for the XPA-3, I've read where it is better to have a separate amp driving the front 3 and allow the AVR's internal amp to power the surrounds. From what I've read 100% of ppl that have done this have had increased sound clarity, and volume from their entire system. I plan on testing this in both configurations (all 7 on the internal amp and front 3 on external amp). Most of the reviews on the XPA-3 were very good and especially for the price.

I'm excited to get everything in and see how it all sounds. Again I am no audiophile and have much more knowledge on the car audio side. But I love loud life like action movies and decided it was time to put something together.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Where did you buy the speakers/subwoofers?

 

[robdog6942]

All the speakers came from Newegg.

 

[lsiberian]

As far as the decision for the XPA-3, I've read where it is better to have a separate amp driving the front 3 and allow the AVR's internal amp to power the surrounds. From what I've read 100% of ppl that have done this have had increased sound clarity, and volume from their entire system. I plan on testing this in both configurations (all 7 on the internal amp and front 3 on external amp). Most of the reviews on the XPA-3 were very good and especially for the price.

I understand the feeling having an external amp gives a person. Believe me sound i perceived better with one, but they are not needed with high sensitivity speakers. You have a 97db 1 watt speakers. Which means at 2 watts you have 100db and around 8 watts you have 106 db this gives you THX reference volume. Now for every meter you are sitting away from the speakers you will want to double the wattage for THX reference peak volume.

16 at 2, 32 at 3, 64 at 4, 128 at 5

This assumes you like it cranked up.

If you listen at normal volumes.
You would need only 90db peak volume.
This is about 0.25 watts

Double by 2 for every meter beyond 1 meter
0.5 at 2, 1 at 3, 2 at 4, 4 at 5, 8 at 6, 16 at 7, 32 at 8, 64 at 9, 128 at 10

 

[robdog6942]

Great info, thanks... What sub would you recommend for my setup, so if I do need to upgrade it/them I have an idea which way to go. I was looking at some of the SVSound stuff.

I understand the feeling having an external amp gives a person. Believe me sound i perceived better with one, but they are not needed with high sensitivity speakers. You have a 97db 1 watt speakers. Which means at 2 watts you have 100db and around 8 watts you have 106 db this gives you THX reference volume. Now for every meter you are sitting away from the speakers you will want to double the wattage for THX reference peak volume.

16 at 2, 32 at 3, 64 at 4, 128 at 5

This assumes you like it cranked up.

If you listen at normal volumes.
You would need only 90db peak volume.
This is about 0.25 watts

Double by 2 for every meter beyond 1 meter
0.5 at 2, 1 at 3, 2 at 4, 4 at 5, 8 at 6, 16 at 7, 32 at 8, 64 at 9, 128 at 10

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

All the speakers came from Newegg.

Are you having second thoughts and thinking about returning them?

Start over?

 

[robdog6942]

Are you having second thoughts and thinking about returning them?

Start over?

No, not starting over, I like my mains, surrounds, just may do something different with sub/s. I think I am going to wait to finish the theater room and getting everything installed and working before I decide. I think I am going to return the XPA-3 though.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

No, not starting over, I like my mains, surrounds, just may do something different with sub/s. I think I am going to wait to finish the theater room and getting everything installed and working before I decide. I think I am going to return the XPA-3 though.

See how they sound after playing a couple of hrs at good volume without the XPA-3.

DenPureSound has the Klipsch RF-83 + Denon 3311. The Denon would go into protection mode. Then he added the XPA-5 & it worked perfectly ever after.

I would get 2 Rythmik FV12 subs for $500 each.

 

[robdog6942]

Ok so I've gone non stop for 6 hours with a temp set up, 3 with the emotive and 3 on a devon 4310ci. Volume between -15db and -1db.

I think I've decided to keep the emotive for 2 reasons:

1) it plays louder at a lower volume, giving more room to crank it up when I want to.

2) it runs WAY COOLER... I don't like heat and the 4310 was getting pretty warm.

Didn't notice any sound clarity issues between the 2 played the same songs from the same source in 2 ch direct mode no sub.

I am somewhat impressed with the level of bass these 5.25's put out. For what they are, pretty good, it'll be interesting to get a sub hooked to it and play with it 2ch direct with sub as well. I am somewhat of a bass head, I have 2 12's under the seat in my truck with 2 sets of components running over 2K watts. So maybe what I've damaged of my hearing thus far is why I NEED it LOUD!!

Thanks for all the advice it has been informative.

 

[lsiberian]

Ok so I've gone non stop for 6 hours with a temp set up, 3 with the emotive and 3 on a devon 4310ci. Volume between -15db and -1db.

I think I've decided to keep the emotive for 2 reasons:

1) it plays louder at a lower volume, giving more room to crank it up when I want to.

2) it runs WAY COOLER... I don't like heat and the 4310 was getting pretty warm.

Didn't notice any sound clarity issues between the 2 played the same songs from the same source in 2 ch direct mode no sub.

I am somewhat impressed with the level of bass these 5.25's put out. For what they are, pretty good, it'll be interesting to get a sub hooked to it and play with it 2ch direct with sub as well. I am somewhat of a bass head, I have 2 12's under the seat in my truck with 2 sets of components running over 2K watts. So maybe what I've damaged of my hearing thus far is why I NEED it LOUD!!

Thanks for all the advice it has been informative.

Well the winter is coming. If I didn't say it I do think having an amp lengthens the life of a receiver. I'm really glad you gave it a side by side.

Now let's talk about the subs. Did you make your own boxes and are you capable of that? If so you have an option way better than SVS.

 

[robdog6942]

I didn't build my own box but do have a box builder local, whatcha thinkin?

Well the winter is coming. If I didn't say it I do think having an amp lengthens the life of a receiver. I'm really glad you gave it a side by side.

Now let's talk about the subs. Did you make your own boxes and are you capable of that? If so you have an option way better than SVS.

 

[robdog6942]

Bump??????

 

[robdog6942]

Ok so I've been playing with things, the theater room is under construction and is framed. I don't believe I am going to be happy with the subs. I have one hooked up in my living room (about the same size as the theater room is going to be but open to the kitchen) and I am not overly impressed with it. I am considering the SVS PC-13Ultra and the Rythmik FV15HP. Would one of these be better than say 2 FV 12's? Or if lsiberian can clarify what the idea is that is a better option than SVS?

 

[shadyJ]

From comparing their CEA-2010 numbers from the Audioholics tests, it looks like the Rythmik has a bit more mid-bass output but the PB13 has a lot more deep bass output. Between the two I would go with the PB13. If you can spend a little more, you might look at the Seaton Submersive or a Hsu ULS-15 dual drive. If I could have any one sub though, I would go for the Funk Audio 18.0. After that I would get a Submersive. The JTR Captivator would be worth looking at in this league as well, it will easily have the most output at any frequency, much more than either the Rythmik or SVS.