How to set up my speakers in a 7.0 configuration?

[CyberAthlete]

Hello everyone,
before getting flak for a lack of sub, that lack of a sub is only temporary. I will be getting one within in the next 3-6 months. For now this is my setup

2x V-12F: 12" 3-way/28Hz-20kHz/10-300 Watts/Floorstanding
2x V-6F: 6.5" 2-way/45Hz-20kHz/10-150 Watts/Floorstanding
2x V-5M: 5.25" 2-way/60Hz-20kHz/10-125 Watts/Bookshelf
1x V-5C: Dual 5.25" 2-way/60Hz-20kHz/10-150 Watts/Center Channel

The manual for the receiver says: "When SMALL is selected, low-frequency sounds below 100Hz will be sent only to the subwoofer output. Note that if you choose this option and there is no subwoofer connected, you will not hear any low-frequency sounds from the front channels. When LARGE is selected, a full-range output will be sent to the front left and front right outputs."

I guess my question is how to set up the speakers?

My Front speakers (V-12F) are set to LARGE on the receiver.

1) Is it safe to set the V-6F to LARGE as well and keep the center and the bookshelf speakers to SMALL?

2) What's the ideal placement for the 7.1 setup?

Once I do get the sub, I'll prob keep it in LFE mode....Thanks!

 

[jonnythan]

Don't bother setting the V-6F to large. You could try it out, but you probably don't want to be putting too much excursion on the drivers and drawing that much power from your receiver. What is your receiver, anyway?

I'd stick with the 12s as large and the rest small.

As for speakers:
http://www.thx.com/consumer/home-entertainment/home-theater/surround-sound-speaker-set-up/
http://www.dolby.com/consumer/setup/speaker-setup-guide/index.html

Basically, you want the "surround" speakers directly to the sides of the listening position, just above ear level. Surround back should be directly behind listening position, at the same height, spread out to the sides a bit maybe 45 degrees.

 

[yepimonfire]

Hello everyone,
before getting flak for a lack of sub, that lack of a sub is only temporary. I will be getting one within in the next 3-6 months. For now this is my setup

2x V-12F: 12" 3-way/28Hz-20kHz/10-300 Watts/Floorstanding
2x V-6F: 6.5" 2-way/45Hz-20kHz/10-150 Watts/Floorstanding
2x V-5M: 5.25" 2-way/60Hz-20kHz/10-125 Watts/Bookshelf
1x V-5C: Dual 5.25" 2-way/60Hz-20kHz/10-150 Watts/Center Channel

The manual for the receiver says: "When SMALL is selected, low-frequency sounds below 100Hz will be sent only to the subwoofer output. Note that if you choose this option and there is no subwoofer connected, you will not hear any low-frequency sounds from the front channels. When LARGE is selected, a full-range output will be sent to the front left and front right outputs."

I guess my question is how to set up the speakers?

My Front speakers (V-12F) are set to LARGE on the receiver.

1) Is it safe to set the V-6F to LARGE as well and keep the center and the bookshelf speakers to SMALL?

2) What's the ideal placement for the 7.1 setup?

Once I do get the sub, I'll prob keep it in LFE mode....Thanks!

there is no point in setting the V6 to large, you're just cheating youself out of bass. set everything but the front l/r to small.

with a response down to 28hz, i doubt you'll be missing much LFE without a sub.

if possible, set the crossover frequency to 70hz.

 

[CyberAthlete]

Thanks guys. It makes sense to keep all speakers except FL and FR to small. And since the lows extend down to 28Hz on the V-12F that's a pretty good frequency for those to emit. Thanks again for your input guys!

I love the HK AVR 225, produces really really good sound but sadly has no HDMI, no HDMI upconversion, no network options...and I can use those now...

The onkyo TX-NR709 has built in USB so i can hook up an external hard drive. That's one of its features that I like a lot...other than the fact that it's a reputable brand and that receiver can be bought for $600.

 

[CyberAthlete]

I have gaming chairs (it's a gaming setup and we're seated on the ground) and the towers usually end up being higher than my head by a few inches when seated down..so the surrounds will be at ear level if not higher than by a few inches...

 

[CyberAthlete]

Nevermind the rear speakers in the picture (it was taken a few days ago before I got my V-6F yesteday)

 

[jonnythan]

I think you're doing fine, haha. Might want to bring those fronts in towards the TV by a little bit though.

Nice setup you have there. Love the fightsticks.

 

[CyberAthlete]

I think you're doing fine, haha. Might want to bring those fronts in towards the TV by a little bit though.

Nice setup you have there. Love the fightsticks.

Thanks man! I've acquired 3 more FightSticks since this picture was taken (around 2-3 weeks ago)

Chun-Li Tournament Limited Edition
Ryu-Ken Tournament Edition
Round 2 Tournament Edition

Yea it's a decent setup. Not high end but still worth keeping. I demoed a lot of speakers but these still sound great for music, especially how forward the vocals are...and yea I love Street Fighter/fighting games. Notice the metallic foil cover framed comic books on the wall?

And the bookshelf speakers are sitting on the floor for now (bottom left of the picture) since the receiver is 5.1... What are your thoughts about the Onkyo TX-NR709?

 

[jonnythan]

Those old CV's aren't the best in the world for HT or accuracy, but they're awesome gaming and party speakers. Just the thing you want when you want to crank some AC/DC or something.

I just acquired the 608 (refurb from Accessories4Less for about $300). I'm very happy with it. Functions well, plenty of inputs and outputs, full graphical OSD, upconversion, the works. The 709 has the upgraded version of Audyssey, which is awesome, and adds networking, superior upscaling, and a few other less important things. The most important things for a receiver are just to make sure it has the features you want and sufficient amplification. The 709 is enough for the vast majority of people.

 

[CyberAthlete]

You're on the money for gaming and party. These speakers do rock the place. I am sure they are not the most accurate for HT or for critical listening but then again vast majority of the people don't even have these...so I'm content for now...just need to upgrade the TV and the receiver. Onkyo it is.

What's a really good TV around the $1000-$1500 (MAX) mark? 50"-55" probably is what i am looking at within that range I suppose...i hear plasmas are better for movies and gaming which is exactly what it'll be used for.

 

[jonnythan]

Expand your budget a little bit if you can and get the Panasonic P55GT30. You don't want to go down to the ST30 because of picture quality, and it's better to get the 55" GT than the 50" VT if you ask me. Depends on your viewing distance though - you can go bigger for movies than games, because with games you can have angle of view problems and not be able to see everything at once if you go big and sit too close. I'd say 10+ feet viewing get the 55.

 

[its phillip]

Nice stick collection. I only have two cheap fightsticks and really suck when using them so I never do...not that I'm any good at fighting games anyway

 

[CyberAthlete]

Thanks! Here are two more that I got a few days ago. The third has yet to be photographed, just been lazy

Chun Li one is the most beautiful. Notice the lenticular 3d art...

 

[its phillip]

Nice. Have you looked into modifying or building your own sticks?

The two I have (both for the ps3) are the Hori Fightstick 3 (Soul Calibur IV edition) and Hori Real Arcade Pro 3-SA.

 

[CyberAthlete]

No I haven't.

Mainly because of time, no past experience and the fact that the TE sticks are pretty up there with high end sticks...i know the SC4 arcade stick, I bought that one back then but returned it as it was too light and small for use...weight was the main factor and build quality didn't seem up there, although i am obsessed with the soul calibur series

And thanks!

 

[its phillip]

Yeah, it would be pretty pointless to mod one of the high end sticks unless all you wanted to do was change how they look

And yes, the SC4 stick is very light. The HRAP3-SA is much heavier and overall much higher quality.