I know what I want but don't know what I need.

[Stroker]

I am looking to put together a complete home system. I don't need top of the line stuff but I don't want junk either. What I want to accomplish is a good surround sound system for my TV room but I would also like have the ability to play music in other rooms at the same time. Do I need two systems to do this? The music system I want to use I would like to be able to have speakers in every room but would like to have the ability to select one or two rooms to leave off or on or any combination there of.

It has been a while since I have researched audio systems so I may be way behind but from what I know I am looking at using Carver components but am unsure on the speakers. I am thinking Bose for the surround and the game room but I would like some smaller inexpensive speakers for the rest of the house because those speakers will never see much volume. I would also like some outdoor speakers.

I am sure this complete package will be more than I want to buy all at once so I was thinking starting with a cheaper components and spending the money and the speakers then upgrade to the Carver later.

Most of the music I will listen to is in mp3 format on my computer. Is there a better way of storing these that I can us a "Real player" type of system to shuffle my music? I have over 600 songs and constantly add to it. I mostly just like to randomly shuffle usually.

 

[AVRat]

There are many fine receivers that offer multi-zone functionality. How you configure it all is up to you. You won’t find many Bose backers here. What Carver gear are you considering?

 

[jcPanny]

HT ideas

A good stereo amp and a couple impedence matching volume controls would be a great option for the additional rooms. Connect the tape or zone 2 output from any receiver to the outboard amp. Carver may be overkill for 4 speakers and there are some inexpensive options from audioSource and Behringer. Also consider inceiling speakers for this application.

There are plenty of receiver and speaker options in the same price range as Bose. Post more specifics about your listening preferences, room size, and budget and you will get plenty of suggestions. Do the speakers have to be really small, or are bookshlf speakers OK?

 

[Stroker]

I just went to a few places here in town and looked at what they had. One had a full Home theater system for $399. It was a Yamaha YHT-760. I've never been impressed in the past with Yamaha so have I just been missinformed or have they improved their rep? I liked it and it sounded like it would be enough for what I need plus it can be upgraded if I want. It didn't offer multi-Zone functioning but I can use a "speaker selecter" (I think thats what he called it) and it will be close to what I want. Again I can upgrade later if that becomes a problem.

At another place I found a Sony STR-DG500 with Polk Audio RM6750 speakers they had bundled for $799. I did't get a full demonstration but I really liked how full the sound was at a low volume. This is important because my wife hates loud music so I have to keep her happy too.

The Carver I like is the HTR-885.1. I don't know if it has duel-zone cappability but of all Name brands I know Carver and am very impressed with every setup I have heard powered by Carver. That doesn't mean I am stuck on Carver it's just what I know. Thats why I am here, to see if I need to spend Carver money for what I want.

Another option I discovered is some type of conection that would allow me to run the stereo from my computer. I wasn't that impressed with the idea when I first heard it because thats what a remote is for, but then I thought about how far my shop is from where the stereo will be. If I can get a "speaker controler" that can be controled with my computer then I can see a big benefit of that. (The wife gets pissed when I track grease through the house.)

So have I found what I want or should I keep looking?

Ohh yea....What would the difference be between using Impedence controled volume matching (I really don't know what that is) ond using a speaker selecter?

I have done zero research on ceiling speakers but have thought about it. I don't need much for the other rooms, but the TV room and game room I want good quallity, and the shop I want to get that aggresion out so I want it to jam.

My listening preferences are quite wide. Jazz, disco, blues, classical, rock, heavy metal,......hell I even listen to country and rap from time to time. Mostly stuff like Slayer, NIN, Tool, Metalica....I think the NIN sais it all because it takes a good stereo to crank that without ruining it.

Room sizes
TV room 16'x 13' 5" with a 6' opening at one end and a 3' opening at the other. Right now it is carpet but will soon be converting to wood or cork flooring.

Game room is L shaped with the main part being 27' 6"x 20' and the other part being 10'x 13' 5". Most of the 33' wall (20'side + 13'side) has a bar into the kitchen plus a 6' opening. This is a glassed in room with a vaulted ceiling and has concrete floors but might get upgraded to cork if we use it in the rest of the house.

Shop 40'x60' steel building with concrete floor.

The rest of the house is 13x10ish rooms that will probably just get ceiling speakers if I can find some with decent sound.

I think that should pretty much cover it.

 

[jcPanny]

HT speakers

Don't wast your time connecting $400 HT speaker to Carver gear. I am not too familiar with Carver, but I think that they built some pretty high end gear. Also, does that receiver even decode a Dolby Digital signal? I think it might be Dolby Pro-Logic. An old carver amp will still make a great amp, but a lot has changed in electronics in the last decade. Keep in mind that the speakers (and room) will have the biggest impact on the audio performance of your system and budget accordingly.

If a Bose system is in your speaker budget ($2-4k) than there are plenty of options available that range that will offer superior performance. Do they have to be really small like Bose? Bookshelf OK? Floorstanders OK? Based on your post, I can't tell whether you want a high end, or a budget system so spell it out.

A speaker selector connected to the whole house amp would be fine. Some provide the impedence matching feature (allows you to connect 2-8 speakers to 1 amp channel). However, you will still need volume controls so that you can adjust the volume in each room. Otherwise you will only have ON, OFF, or the same volume in all rooms.

Here are a few common ways to play the MP3 and other music files from the PC:
1. Analog or digital audio connection from PC to receiver
2. MP3 player like iPod connected to receiver
3. Device like Squeezebox to stream music from PC to receiver.

 

[Stroker]

I am not sure how high quality I am looking for thats what I want to know. Like I said the sound from the $400 complete Yamaha system just fine in a saround application. I didn't test it with music so I can't say there. Will it rock the shop? If I have every speaker on will it have enough power to run it all? Plus there are other options I want. I (you) have talked myself out of that system with no dual zoning and I think you are correct about the dolby. Also is HDMI all its cracked up to be?

I would prefer to avoud bookshelf speakers in the TV room if I can get good sound otherwise. Floor standers or something I can hang on the wall would be ideal. I could probably even do that with bookshelf speakers if they provide an greatly improved amount of sound over other options. Budget wise I want to keep the TV room under $6000 and that needs to include a 43" HDTV if possible. But if I can get by on a $5 system to do what I want I am all over it. But at the same time I don't want to waste money on components that will need replaced when I do the rest of the house and shop.

 

[muncybob]

I have an older Yamaha receiver that has a Niles speaker selector connected to the B speaker on the amp......I run outdoor and another room off that with no problem. The outdoor speakers do have a volume control and the other room will be controlled by a remote IR system...in this way I will have total control of all devices and not just the volume. As for selecting speakers...do yourself a favor and take some music you are familiar with to the dealers and really listen to the speakers with the amp set at bypass or "flat" tone. Even better yet, ask to take the speakers home once you have your amp/receiver and do an in house a-b comparison.


Now isn't this fun!

 

[Stroker]

What kind of power do I need to run 8 larger speakers and about 16 smaller let say in ceiling or out door speakers all at once? Remember the goal for having so many speakers here is to be able to here the music all over the house when I am working on a prodject or entertaining or whatever with out having to just blast it in one room so it can be heard through out.