New HT Room

[rmk]

Nothing like several hours of swimming in blown-in insulation to get my weekend off to a great start. Running the wire for the height channels (re-located surround back speakers) is complete and the speakers installed. I “finished the install kind of late last night so only had time to run a quick 3 position Audyssey EQ before “show time” but the new Highs made an immediate impact on the sound.

We watched the new Night at the Museum BR and during my few waking moments (yes, that is a comment on this film ) the Height channels made for a wall of sound reminiscent of IMAX but also seemed to elevate the dialog from the under screen center to the apparent middle on my screen. The JTR Slanted 8’s have the perfect front baffle angle for my 9’ ceilings & mounting location. The sound they produce wasn’t localizable and they blended very well with my T12 LCR’s to produce the biggest most cohesive front stage sound I have heard. This movie has a nice surround mix with big dynamics and LFE. I did not notice the lack of surround back speakers and that huge front sound stage the heights help create made the trade off a no-brainer.

We then tried music using our current favorite Bluray concert video Jeff Beck live at Ronnie Scotts. We know this disk very well and at first at a moderate volume (-18 MV) the heights seemed to make the individual instruments and vocals less distinct. I then cranked the volume up a bit (-12) and things immediately changed. Instruments and vocals became crisp and clear. It was the loud but not sounding loud characteristic of high efficiency, low distortion speakers like the JTR’s. I can’t explain why the increased volume seemed to improve the SQ and more testing of the heights with music is in order. But for movies, the height channels do exactly what I was hoping they would … IMAX wall of sound. Humm, maybe I don’t need that AT screen after all…


Plus, I think they look cool:
with flash

without

 

[westcott]

Great Job!

I wish more people took their speaker placement and acoustics as seriously as you do. It is not too hard to do and the pay off is incredible.

I am glad you like the changes and the room just looks like someone with a mind for details has been at work.

Congratulations. I love it!

 

[MidnightSensi]

Pm where you want your beer shipped to.

 

[rmk]

Great Job!

I wish more people took their speaker placement and acoustics as seriously as you do. It is not too hard to do and the pay off is incredible.

I am glad you like the changes and the room just looks like someone with a mind for details has been at work.

Congratulations. I love it!

Thanks wescott, my obsession with building a mini IMAX continues. Sound wise I'm in the ballpark. My video is very nice but I had a demo of a 148" AT screen, a JVC RS25 with big Klipsch's Reference Series behind it and it vas very cool. I had no audio envy, but I have a serious jones on for that video size/quality.

Pm where you want your beer shipped to.

Just donate a non-alcoholic six-pack to your local 12 step program (for snack time)...

 

[jostenmeat]

I love the darker pics, they make it look very classy.

Hey, just to satisfy my curiosity, how big of a 2.35 screen do you think you can fit w/o the need for AT? I see that you also have some extra "black drop" on the screen, hmm I suppose that's there to make viewing more comfortable . . .

Hmm, come to think of it, I am revisiting my idea of a pulldown Dalite High Power, but in 2.35 (or did I already think of that, I'm confused). My guess is approximately $450 for that rough size.

It might be a serious PITA, but then you can simply use the zoom method, while keeping your wallet happy and having a bigger pic half of the time.

Or just get a new Stewart screen, albeit at greater cost.

Or, yeah, the AT. Ok, I guess I better shuddup now.

Too late, I'm gonna open my trap again... If the zoom method really doesn't bother you in the slightest, you can do that dual screen thing I mentioned. Have the Dalite fall in front of the Stewart, or behind it for that matter. It should work much better with higher ambient light conditions as well. Maybe something like this (HP falling over the Silverstar):

Ok, NOW I'll shuddup.

 

[rmk]

Good idea but ... I've already considered a second powered screen behind at 2:35 and the problem is my Stewart. It is powered via 12V trigger (off of the projector) and since I would always be using the projector and source(s) I would need to retrofit a separate infrared or RF capability for the Stewart. That is a hassel and expensive.

I was getting close on the BenQ and Seymour but I didn't hear back from Chris over the Thanksgiving weekend and had time to change my mind (for the 100th time). I'm really just waiting for the right screen to hit Agon/Videogon and I'll pull the trigger. You know, one of the mega buck AT Stewarts for pennies on the $.

 

[westcott]

Good idea but ... I've already considered a second powered screen behind at 2:35 and the problem is my Stewart. It is powered via 12V trigger (off of the projector) and since I would always be using the projector and source(s) I would need to retrofit a separate infrared or RF capability for the Stewart. That is a hassel and expensive.

That brings up something that always puzzled me. A company like Stewart who sells a premium product for a premium price can't manage to incorporate IR or RF control for their powered screen products at no extra cost or even as an option?

I am sure that if you wanted to do this, you could piece something together that would work as described.

 

[MidnightSensi]

That brings up something that always puzzled me. A company like Stewart who sells a premium product for a premium price can't manage to incorporate IR or RF control for their powered screen products at no extra cost or even as an option?

I am sure that if you wanted to do this, you could piece something together that would work as described.

Stewart and these screen companies work out of glorified pull-barns with saws and hammers. It's a huge stroke.

As far as IR/RF, the screens I've seen you can choose whatever motor you want... so you could use a Lutron motor and control it through your Crestron, HomeWorks, or whatever interface.... even just a harmony remote or something. Motor is not included, of course.

 

[rmk]

Height Channel Speakers (quick review)

My new Integra DHC 80.1 SSP has 9.2 capability with height or width channels added to 5.1 or 7.1 for a max of 9 speakers. At this point, only the new Denon AVR 4810ci supports 11 channel audio (7.1 plus heights and or widths). The Integra supports both Height channel formats, Dolby Height and Audyssey DSX.

I am finding much to like about the Height Channels. I am using the JTR Slanted 8’s that were performing Surround Back duty in my system as the Height speakers. The 30⁰ degree front baffle makes them the perfect angle for my 9’ ceiling mount and I have them aimed just outside of the main listening position. Also, the coaxial driver of the S8 seems to perfectly cover the frequency range for the extracted height channel data.

After installing the Heights last week, I immediately noticed a much taller and wider front sound stage. It literally creates a wall of sound reminiscent of the best theaters (including IMAX). I have had a chance to test this with both new and familiar movie audio as well as M/C music and it is working equally well with both formats. Some other early adopters have indicated liking the Heights for HT but not so much for music. I have found the Height speakers improve the sound of both music and movies and am currently running one or the other height channel format for all my multi channel sources.
I have experimented with Dolby height and Audyssey DSX processing and found any difference between the formats is minor. I currently am using Dolby height for all Dolby M/C audio sources and Audyssey DSX for DTS source material. Again, I have not had a height format preference at this point and I am enjoying them equally.

Audyssey says that the wide speakers add more to the surround experience than the Heights but I do not have the space for width speakers in my room. Also, my Integra DHC 80.1 will not allow for both heights and width to be used at the same time so unfortunately for me, Heights are the only choice.
For me the Height Channel speakers are not a gimmick and have added as much to SQ as any upgrade I have done including room treatments. Now, my dilemma is should I buy another pair of S8’s for surround back duty? One thing is certain, the Height speakers are staying.




One more pic of the S8's as heights:

 

[rmk]

Since moving my side wall panels to the ceiling, I noticed that I was getting a slap echo from the surround speakers during Audyssey EQ sweeps. I was browsing Audiogon the other day and saw the hand carved art/diffuser panels pictured below. The SO fell in love with them and so we ordered them (from Beijing) to try out as side wall diffusers. If they didn't work as diffusers, she had plenty of alternate locations in mind for them and they stand alone as nice objects.

Everything I read about “proper diffusion” said these panels would do little or nothing but after hanging them yesterday, the surround generated slap echo is gone. The difference may be subtle but they seem to work for me plus they look cool.

Before hanging (better light)

After hanging (washed out by the flash but you get the idea)

 

[MidnightSensi]

Since moving my side wall panels to the ceiling, I noticed that I was getting a slap echo from the surround speakers during Audyssey EQ sweeps. I was browsing Audiogon the other day and saw the hand carved art/diffuser panels pictured below. The SO fell in love with them and so we ordered them (from Beijing) to try out as side wall diffusers. If they didn't work as diffusers, she had plenty of alternate locations in mind for them and they stand alone as nice objects.

Everything I read about “proper diffusion” said these panels would do little or nothing but after hanging them yesterday, the surround generated slap echo is gone. The difference may be subtle but they seem to work for me plus they look cool.

Before hanging (better light)

After hanging (washed out by the flash but you get the idea)

Cool!

My understanding is that diffusion is diffusion. All it requires is uneven surfaces. It could be books, a carving, or whatever. Those studio diffusers just look like a bookshelf with wood books.

 

[rmk]

I just got 6 more GIK panels in today. Not sure what the total GIK count is now but it is up there. I installed 4 242's with the Art diffusers on the side walls and two more on the ceiling flanking the projector. I didn't have time to run Audyssey but here are a couple of pics. The flash really washes everything out so I will take some more shots with natural light. I'm going to add some halogen spots to highlight the diffuser panels. The room is under lit and I need the additional lights anyway.

 

[adwilk]

You have a sickness... and its contagious. Once again, RMK, very very nice. I love seeing updates to your theater.

 

[rmk]

You have a sickness... and its contagious. Once again, RMK, very very nice. I love seeing updates to your theater.

Yeah I know, but at least I get enjoy the results of my disease with family and friends. Makes it easier to justify .

 

[leonard]

this is a great post, great system rmk

 

[adwilk]

Do you mind sharing what those panels are? Who makes them?

 

[rmk]

Do you mind sharing what those panels are? Who makes them?

Not at all, the Absorption panels are GIK Acoustics 242 and 244's (the last number designates the thickness in inches). The diffuser panels are really hand carved (sycamore wood) art panels from China. I just combined them for the looks. How they actually perform is anybody’s guess.

 

[Duffinator]

I hope you didn't deplete their inventory as I'm about to order some of the 242's in coffee. I wanted to start with 4 but I see the 242's come in packages of 3 so I'll order 6. I know you're a savvy shopper, any other purchasing options besides direct?

 

[rmk]

I hope you didn't deplete their inventory as I'm about to order some of the 242's in coffee. I wanted to start with 4 but I see the 242's come in packages of 3 so I'll order 6. I know you're a savvy shopper, any other purchasing options besides direct?

Hey Rick, hows it going? Do me a favor and don't tell me if you get a discount on the panels. I have 27 of them plus 2 Pillar Bass traps and they don't budge an inch on price and believe me, I've tried.

I just get the "there no margin in those 242/244 panels" routine . It is a pretty good product and the price is OK. The shipping is a killer for us out here on the left coast.

 

[Duffinator]

I noticed the shipping is $90 for two boxes of 242's, Yikes! I guess they are heavier than I think they should be. My project for the next couple of weeks is to paint my music room and once completed I'll order the panels. I see a box on their order page to enter discounts, now if we can just find the code....