Looking For Speaker Recommendations For My Denon X3400H AVR

[tripseven]

Ordered a Denon X3300W but received an X3400H. I contacted them about this but no response for several weeks now so I'm keeping it...maybe.

This is my first shot at AVRs and currently have a pair of old Sony SS-U581AV speakers running on the front channel only...she no likie. The room size is 15' X 30' with 12' open beam ceiling and 16' at the peak. The system will primarily be used as 50% country/classic rock music and 50% movies/TV.

Buzzing around this forum, so far I'm interested in BMR for fronts, Klipsch RP-160M for surrounds and shoving my current Sony's in the rear. I have no clue for a center or sub that would work good for this combo so feel free to chime in. By the end of this year I'm interested in adding a pair of Phil 3's for fronts and rearranging for best results as a final configuration.

Any thoughts/suggestions most appreciated!

 

[DigitalDawn]

If possible, you should try to select all your speakers with the same brand/drivers. You will get a more cohesive sound-field this way.

 

[tripseven]

Will three sets of BMRs with center and powered sub be enough to fill my room? Also, will this be a good speaker combo for my X3400 AVR?

 

[Mikado463]

nice size room, so , what is your budget ?

 

[Mikado463]

If possible, you should try to select all your speakers with the same brand/drivers. You will get a more cohesive sound-field this way.

I'll buy into that for left, right and center but beyond that no.

 

[tripseven]

My budget is $10k. Was thinking about BMR FL/FR and RL/RR, Philharmonic MTM center with Klipsch RP160 surrounds. Still not decided on a sub but looking at the SVS PB-2000 or something equivalent with Rythmik brand.

 

[Mikado463]

The BMR's seem like superb speakers, given your room size you would be best served IMO to incorporate 2 subs

 

[tripseven]

Just pulled the trigger on three sets of BMRs and MTM Center. Just need to decide on a sub now...probably will start with one and if needed I will go for two. Thanks for your input!

 

[Mikado463]

Just pulled the trigger on three sets of BMRs and MTM Center. Just need to decide on a sub now...probably will start with one and if needed I will go for two. Thanks for your input!

Very nice ! as for the sub(s), given the volume of your room I see 'two' in your future !

 

[tripseven]

Very nice ! as for the sub(s), given the volume of your room I see 'two' in your future !

Since I'm well below budget I'd say you're right. Looking through this forum it looks like two mid sized subs are better than one large sub?

Any input in this regard is well appreciated!

 

[PENG]

My budget is $10k. Was thinking about BMR FL/FR and RL/RR, Philharmonic MTM center with Klipsch RP160 surrounds. Still not decided on a sub but looking at the SVS PB-2000 or something equivalent with Rythmik brand.

Two PB2000 seems marginal for your room size. Also, you probably should budget for an external amplifier, such as a Monolith 5X200 W for the L/C/R/SR/SL to power the BMRs that are rated 6 ohm nominal, and their sensitivity of 84.5 dB/2.83V/1m is on the low side.

 

[snakeeyes]

Two PB2000 seems marginal for your room size. Also, you probably should budget for an external amplifier, such as a Monolith 5X200 W for the L/C/R/SR/SL to power the BMRs that are rated 6 ohm nominal, and their sensitivity of 84.5 dB/2.83V/1m is on the low side.

Given the size of the room in volume, a ported 15in such as Rythmik or HSU for the sub would be recommended. Good luck!

 

[tripseven]

Two PB2000 seems marginal for your room size. Also, you probably should budget for an external amplifier, such as a Monolith 5X200 W for the L/C/R/SR/SL to power the BMRs that are rated 6 ohm nominal, and their sensitivity of 84.5 dB/2.83V/1m is on the low side.

I was wondering if my X3400 has enough umph to power this setup. With my speaker budget coming in less than I thought it looks like I can splurge a little to get their full potential. Thanks PENG.

 

[sterling shoote]

Given your room size, my concern is room filling volume might end up giving you the impression that your mains sound stressed. BTW, my little home theatre is virtually the same plan as yours; and, I can say for sure, my very efficient JBL L100t3's are not quite capable of delivering volume without some evidence of sounding stressed. If I wanted to fix my outcome, I'd need to spend about $15,000 on something like the JBL 4367's. At any rate, you might want to consider Klipsch all around.

 

[PENG]

I was wondering if my X3400 has enough umph to power this setup. With my speaker budget coming in less than I thought it looks like I can splurge a little to get their full potential. Thanks PENG.

If you want to listen to near reference volume and sit more than say 3 meters from the speakers then the answer will most likely be no. Adding a 5X200 watts rated Monolith may (may still not be enough) do the trick but it still depends on how much dynamic headroom you would like to have, and whether the BMRs can handle the peak power required to get your the SPL. That would be a question for Dennis Murphy to answer.

For power amp requirements, use an online calculator to estimate your peak power requirements.

http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html

 

[PENG]

Given the size of the room in volume, a ported 15in such as Rythmik or HSU for the sub would be recommended. Good luck!

If he prefers SVS, any of their 13" and above models can do the job too.

 

[tripseven]

Given your room size, my concern is room filling volume might end up giving you the impression that your mains sound stressed. BTW, my little home theatre is virtually the same plan as yours; and, I can say for sure, my very efficient JBL L100t3's are not quite capable of delivering volume without some evidence of sounding stressed. If I wanted to fix my outcome, I'd need to spend about $15,000 on something like the JBL 4367's. At any rate, you might want to consider Klipsch all around.

While I did look at Klipsch extensively, to outperform BMRs significantly it would have blown my budget by too much. If you're talking RP160s all around...that's the decision I tasked myself with and went with the BMRs all around with MTM center.

If you want to listen to near reference volume and sit more than say 3 meters from the speakers then the answer will most likely be no. Adding a 5X200 watts rated Monolith may (may still not be enough) do the trick but it still depends on how much dynamic headroom you would like to have, and whether the BMRs can handle the peak power required to get your the SPL. That would be a question for Dennis Murphy to answer.

For power amp requirements, use an online calculator to estimate your peak power requirements.

http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html

Could you define "reference volume" please? Seems to be varying definitions searching online.
Listening position is just under 3 meters from fronts and LR surrounds. Rears could be up to 6 meters at back wall or if side-wall mounted and angled towards listening position then 3 meters is doable (not sure if that's a good way to mount). The link you gave for SPL Calculator puts me just in range without an amp if I understood it correctly. That does beg the question regarding "dynamic headroom" though.

If he prefers SVS, any of their 13" and above models can do the job too.

Thanks...definitely looking for more suggestions on subs as I have no clue what I'm doing...on any of this actually.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Just pulled the trigger on three sets of BMRs and MTM Center. Just need to decide on a sub now...probably will start with one and if needed I will go for two. Thanks for your input!

great choice!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

If possible, you should try to select all your speakers with the same brand/drivers. You will get a more cohesive sound-field this way.

For HT only LCR are important to be same brand/series. For surround music, you'd want all speakers (except the sub) to be same brand/series - but surround music is quite rare, so we normally don't stress it.
As long as LCR speakers are very similar it would fine.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

While I did look at Klipsch extensively, to outperform BMRs significantly it would have blown my budget by too much. If you're talking RP160s all around...that's the decision I tasked myself with and went with the BMRs all around with MTM center.


Could you define "reference volume" please? Seems to be varying definitions searching online.
Listening position is just under 3 meters from fronts and LR surrounds. Rears could be up to 6 meters at back wall or if side-wall mounted and angled towards listening position then 3 meters is doable (not sure if that's a good way to mount). The link you gave for SPL Calculator puts me just in range without an amp if I understood it correctly. That does beg the question regarding "dynamic headroom" though.


Thanks...definitely looking for more suggestions on subs as I have no clue what I'm doing...on any of this actually.

reference volume (as defined by THX) = 85db SPL volume for a normal program (aka continuous) and ability to peak at +20db more