Need some help on. How much power (watts) does my room need.

[nstywarrior]

I am new on this site and from the things I read you guys really try and help out on set up problems and ideas. I am hoping you can help me also. I have an unusual space because it is very and I mean very open. The room is roughly 13,000 CU.FT. - yes 13,000 CU.FT.. The open space is 35’x31’x12’ high. Only a 8' wall seperates the family room from the kitchen I understand that you have to take into account of the other areas thus the large room. My question is how much power or watts do I need for a room like this. Right now the system is OK but it lacks that cinema type sound, special effects and great bass.

I am also in the process of building a custom wood entertainment center housing all the speakers and equipment.

I know I am short on wattage but I want to upgrade my speakers and possible one of the amps or if I have to both of them. I am hoping you guys can give some great advice. Here is what I have now:

Toshiba 62” Front Project Cinema Series 480dpi HDTV
Onkyo SR-803 Receiver
Onkyo DV-CP704 DVD player – HDMI
Monster HTPS 7000


1 – Carver AV 705x Thx amplifier – powers the following;
2 – Jamo E680 front speakers 170 watts
1 – Infinity Beta C360 Center channel 10-200 watts
2 – Niles CM730DSFX 7” directional sound loudspeaker with pivoting woofer and tweeter in ceiling speakers pointed to the seating area for 5.1 surround


1 – Carver AV 505 amplifier – powers the following;
2 – Cerwin Vega LS12 speakers 300 watts


2 – Jamo subwoofers – SUB1810 180 watts
2 - Niles CM730DSFX 7” directional sound loudspeaker with pivoting woofer and tweeter in ceiling speakers pointed to the seating area for 7.1 surround (these are powered by the receiver)

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

Please email me and I can send pics of the room and entertainment center.

John

 

[no. 5]

I may be remiss in saying this, but I don't think it's more wattage that you need to get the cinema experience, but rather more subwoofage. Two ten inch drivers will not be able to get any meaningful output or extension in a room that size.

 

[Seth=L]

Correct sir no. 5, the AV-505 and AV-705 are magnificent amplifiers, I can't imagine why you could possibly need more power, and I don't think getting more powerful amplifiers would make much if any difference. Stick with your current amplifiers and get some bigger subwoofers. SVS, HSU, Elemental Design, Velodyne, and countless other subwoofer manufacturers make great subwoofers that will absolutely rock your world and shake your fillings (if you have any).

 

[jaxvon]

A third for a subwoofer issue. You need at least two subs for that room, though 4 would be better. I think SVS has some of the highest value offerings in this area. If you setup stereo subwoofers in the front, you can also raise the crossovers for your mains (from 60Hz or 80Hz to 100Hz), helping with dynamic range.

 

[nstywarrior]

Thanks guys for the input. I went on Velodyne website and they said I need about 2500 watts.

Guys - any input on the front speakers? I know the Cerwin Vega's arent the best for movies. They work great for the music end of it. And I also think the Jamo's are a bit under size too.

Just throwing it out there.

Thanks,
John

 

[Seth=L]

LOL, If a speaker is great for music it should also be great for movies. Being great for movies doesn't necessitate a speaker being good for music on the other hand. Most audiophiles would say Cerwin Vega is fine for home theater, but completely inaccurate for music. That said, it's your ears, do what sounds best to you. Adding amplification to your current speakers won't make it sound much if any better.

I don't understand why Velodyne said you "needed" 2500 watts. 2500 watts is a power amplifier rating, not a loudness factor. Just because one subwoofer has more wattage than another does not mean it will be louder, just the same with power amplifiers paired with certain speakers.

 

[bpape]

Exactly. Power means nothing without knowing the efficiency of the drivers it's pushing. I'd agree with at least 2 subs in that space. A couple of HSU VTF-3's would do a nice job.

Bryan

 

[Exit]

You need some serious subwoofers. I have got an SVS PB12+2 for an 8,500 cu ft room (but I have only used it at low to normal volume setting). I would bet two of these would fill your room with bass. That would give you the equivalent of four 12" woofers and 1,800 watts amplification. They are on clearance sale for $1099 and they only have textured black available.

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-plus2.cfm

 

[nstywarrior]

I ran Velodyne Subwoofer selection wizard on their website and inputted 9500 cubic ft. (which is short of cubic feet) and it told me to use the following:

Digital Drive 1812 Signature Edition
"When Velodyne announces a new subwoofer, the earth trembles ? literally." Stereophile's Guide to Home Theater.

Velodyne?s flagship product, the Digital Drive 1812 Signature Edition, is the industry?s first two-way, all digital, High Gain Servo controlled subwoofer. It is the most powerful subwoofer ever built. With the Signature 1812 you recreate the power and force of bass you feel in your stomach along with the speed and tightness you get from the snap of a kick drum. This benchmark in subwoofer technology is also the first to incorporate Velodynes patent pending Digital Drive room analysis and correction system.

Features


12" (9.7" piston diameter) woofer to reproduce the upper bass frequencies
18" (15.2" piston diameter) driver to recreate the lowest frequencies
2500 watts (1250 x 2) RMS
6000 watts (3000 x 2) of dynamic power
On-board digital room equalization package with 8 bands of digital parametric and on-board signal generation for audio and video display
3" Dual Tandem Voice Coils and carbon-fiber cones

Thanks,
John

 

[Seth=L]

Two DD 15s apparently match the output of the 1812, for a much lower price.

 

[nstywarrior]

Thanks guys for the help. At least now I know which way my budget should go!

John

 

[Mr.M-500t]

ROFLMAO,
If it'll take the Cannon Blasts it'll do just fine.

Seriously though,
For the size of that room I think I'd be going with horns all day with a couple of 18" drivers. Get yourself and Adcom GFA-555 and a Rane AC-22 Active Crossover to drive them and build your own Bass Cabinets.
Those Carvers would really shine driving some Klipsch's.
Just my thoughts.

I ran Velodyne Subwoofer selection wizard on their website and inputted 9500 cubic ft. (which is short of cubic feet) and it told me to use the following:

Digital Drive 1812 Signature Edition
"When Velodyne announces a new subwoofer, the earth trembles ? literally." Stereophile's Guide to Home Theater.

Velodyne?s flagship product, the Digital Drive 1812 Signature Edition, is the industry?s first two-way, all digital, High Gain Servo controlled subwoofer. It is the most powerful subwoofer ever built. With the Signature 1812 you recreate the power and force of bass you feel in your stomach along with the speed and tightness you get from the snap of a kick drum. This benchmark in subwoofer technology is also the first to incorporate Velodynes patent pending Digital Drive room analysis and correction system.

Features


12" (9.7" piston diameter) woofer to reproduce the upper bass frequencies
18" (15.2" piston diameter) driver to recreate the lowest frequencies
2500 watts (1250 x 2) RMS
6000 watts (3000 x 2) of dynamic power
On-board digital room equalization package with 8 bands of digital parametric and on-board signal generation for audio and video display
3" Dual Tandem Voice Coils and carbon-fiber cones

Thanks,
John

 

[Davemcc]

I will support the crowd suggesting dual subwoofers. I also like Exit's recommendation of dual SVS PB12+2's, Bryan's dual VTF-3's or Seth's double DD15's, all good choices. There are benefits to running multiple subs over a single large one, such as minimizing localization of the source and flattening frequency response (taming room modes) They also offer more flexible positioning to achieve those goals. Subwoofer placement and room interaction have a huge effect on the sound you here and the dual subs with give you more options to achieve the best possible bass for the dollar.