My Proposed Low Profile System (Rate it!)

[WorldLeader]

Ok, this will be my first "real" HT and music setup. The requirements are that everything should have a very low visual impact. I've been researching for months, learning stuff and piecing together the best budget system to fits our needs. Sounds first, then HT.

I'll be making an in-floor Infinite Baffle subwoofer with 4 15" PE drivers.

The Maggies will be the speakers, I'll probably cross them at around 150Hz. Sometime in the future we may decide to upgrade to the MG 1s for the mains.

The projector is a 480p, but that suites our video and TV habits, HD doesn't make sense yet.

Here is the total system drawn out:

Rate it for value, price, quality, and how it compares to a traditional system please! Feedback would also be nice

Thanks!

WL

 

[WorldLeader]

I might bump the projector up to an HD quality one, like the Optoma HD72.

 

[JoeE SP9]

Try using a lower crossover frequency for your subs. 150Hz is in the area where sound is directional. For best results with good speakers like the Maggy's use 100Hz or lower.

 

[billnchristy]

If youre stuck on 480p, check out the Optoma H31, it has gotten pretty good reviews and with $100 rebate it can be had for $699 til the end of the month...I am going to order one pretty soon for much the same reason...I wont be upgrading to HD-DVD until the format is figured out and by then a 1080P projector will be reasonable.

If you do plan on upgrading the PJ in the future you might want to spend the 300 bucks you save on a better screen, just cause you can.

As for the IB, Make sure you seal those puppies as best you can. I did an IB once in my car, they were incredible til right around 40HZ or so then they would bottom like monsters and make all sorts of horrid noises.

 

[WorldLeader]

Wait, you did a IB sub in your CAR? Are we talking about the same thing here? I was talking about the type found on the Cult of the Infinitely Baffled

I'll worry about the X-over when I purchase the equipment.

Is the Optoma H31 bright enough to illuminate a screen when some ambient light is present?

I'm considering making a big (but perhaps worthwhile) investment and getting the Optoma HD72, which runs at 780p native and is much brighter than the 480p alternatives..

Can someone find an inexpensive and still quality PJ screen that can roll up and down?

 

[Nick250]

I don't know enough about the proposed equipment to comment on it, but you get a 10 on presentation.

Nick

 

[billnchristy]

Well, Infinitely baffled technically means no enclosure. My setup using 10" kicker free air models was mounted on a baffle behind the back seat. I sealed it using foam and whatnot and it used the trunk as the box. The rear deck is what killed it really, not being able to seal up there made a big difference.

I dont know what the deal with the semi isobaric looking box they mount them in on that site's purpose is, i guess to stop cancellation between the front and back waves, but technically all they have done is put them in a very small box and if they are wired out of phase push-pulling each other then they are isobarically loaded.

As for the H31s brightness, the specs sure dont look it, so I am not sure.

 

[WorldLeader]

Gotcha, you are talking about a linear array setup, which is a type of IB. I was thinking about building a manifold IB, meaning a box that has no top, and drivers facing in. Here's a pic of what I'm trying to say:

Optoma HD72 looks like a good deal. It has been rated as being brighter than the au900 and the Z4.

 

[Josuah]

Where's your speaker amp? And don't forget room treatments. Curtains for the windows because you're switching to a projector? Also, 480p might make sense because you're watching SD and DVDs, but does it make sense given your seating distance? You can't sit so that the screen is 1/3 of your viewing area with 480p because you'll see pixels. Unless you don't notice.

 

[Sheep]

Awful. Pure crap. I have seen better systems in Best Buy and Futureshop.

You system tastes are bad and you should feel bad.

Looks good, now get to work.

SheepStar

 

[jaxvon]

The only thing I might change is the addition of another subwoofer or pair of subs to fill the gap between the maggies and the IB sub. Stereo subs plus that setup would be...amazing. Of course, your house might shake itself off the foundation too. Such is life.

 

[billnchristy]

I was thinking about your setup last night.

I read on your IB site that the amount of power required to drive your average 15" was only in the mid 100s, those two behringers are going to be way too much. I would see nothing against 2-300w per sub, but those poor things are gonna die if you crank em!!

I too like the idea of a good mid-sub. Maybe a couple of 8s in a sealed box, would do the trick real nice, if you have the capability run em 60-100hz or maybe a little higher, dont know what your mains will go down to.

 

[WorldLeader]

Actually I only listed one amp for the sub, it is rated at 2x1400 watts. I could step down $50 and get the behringer 1500, which is 2x750 watts. Each sub is rated at 500 watts, so 4x500 max?

I'll look into the midrange woofers as well.

 

[billnchristy]

That might be ok. remember they wont need as much power in an IB.

 

[pbmpharmacist]

why do you need the feedback destroyer?