Need Guidance; 7.1 Theater; A-Frame Room; Budget = $4000

[dfly9891]

Hey Everybody,

Just joined today and I know extremely little about home theater/audio etc...

I'm looking for sound advice (no pun intended).

Please see attached .jpg for room layout. (The monitor is Panasonic 54" G20 Plasma).

This is going to be my first system. I want it to be a good enough system to last me 10 years. I don't plan on becoming a audiophile or audio connoisseur. I'm just looking to turn my loft into a theater for: Blue Ray Experience (50%), Console Gaming (45%) and Music (5%). My budget is $4000 (Receiver, 7.1 Speakers, Optimal 12 Gage Wire Spool).

Last night, the Bestbuy Magnolia room salesperson directed me to:
DefTech: 8040ST Towers (10" Subs built in)
DefTech: 8040 HD Center
DefTech: Prosat 800 Satellites (qty 4)
Pioneer SC-71 A/V

With Package Discounting.... Total: $3,171 + Tax

Questions:
1) In addition to other directions, the towers fire rearwards. It seems to me that the sound bouncing off the angled wall and into the carpet would render the desired reflected sound effect impotent. Or?
2) Is Def Tech the right BRAND choice?
3) Are fronts undersized for room layout?
4) Do I want to hang vertical hard surfaces behind the fronts to simulate a flat wall?
5) Should I get the Pioneer SP-PK52FS speaker set for now to get a reference as to how much more Power and Soundstage I need, then sell them and buy the correct set?

Any advice, comments or direction is much appreciated.

Cheers!
~dfly

 

[shadyJ]

To address your questions in order:
1) Don't worry about the rear speaker dispersion. In fact, don't worry about the deftech speaker period. Get something else. Forget speakers with weak built-in subs. There is no substitute for real subwoofers.
2) Deftech isn't bad, but there are better, in my opinion. If you like their sound, then they may be the speakers for you.
3) The front's probably are not over-sized, although your picture did not post. I think you need a minimum post count before you can post pics?
4) No, you do not want to hang a vertical hard surface behind the speakers. Vertical hard surfaces are the enemy of good acoustics. The less vertical hard surfaces you have, the better. And definitely do not do that for the sake of some Deftechs!
5) I wouldn't bother with the Pioneers, just get the best speakers you can.

I would go for some bookshelf speaker fronts and a couple of good subwoofers. For speakers, I would be looking at an Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 front stage with some CBM-170 surrounds, or some Klipsch RB-61s with a RC 62 center and RB-52s for surrounds. I might also look at some JBL Studio 530s for front left right and surrounds with a 520 center. I would also give a look at some EMP Tek E55Ti towers and a E56Ci center and some E5bi bookshelf speakers for surrounds. You could also make it simple and just get a Hsu speaker/subwoofer package. For subs, I would be looking at either a pair of Hsu VTF3 mk4s, or a pair of SVS PB2000s, I would also take a look at a pair of Reaction BPS 215s. For a receiver, I would make the stretch for a Denon AVR-X4000.

 

[dfly9891]

Shady, thanks for taking the time to share that advice. I'm looking into those items now.

For the dimensions of the room, see the following link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YI2c6o02YdtGPc6wOxYuZO-25rc8CVbL8_-HMOhVQgA/edit