Please Advise...

[rocketkid]

Hi!

I am new to the audio world and have been searching and reading the forum in order to learn from all of you. I am planning to piece a 7.1 system soon (I have already picked up a Denon 3806 and planning to purchase the Denon dvd3910).

I understand that it is a good idea to stay within the same line of speakers for the fronts and center. I am leaning towards the Dynaudio Audience speakers....82's for the fronts, and 122c for center. I am planning to watch movies and music 50/50.

Would it be okay to change to a different line from the same brand for the rears and surrounds? I was thinking of the contour 1.3mkII or the Focus 110 as my rears and either the 52's or 42's as surrounds. Does this sound like a good configuration??

In addition, I was thinking of the Klipsch RSW12 as my subwoofer. Any suggestions or comments will certainly be appreciated. I apologize if I omitted any information.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Nick250]

If reasonably possible, keeping all speakers (excluding sub) in the same family is the way to go. I have not heard the Klipsch sub, but from reading other posts here, there probably are better choices. Read through the past six months posts or so in this forum (loud speakers and sub woofers) to get a good start on speakers and subs.

Nick

 

[j_garcia]

I recently heard the Dynaudios and I think they are a good choice. Matching the front 3 is most important, but it is less important to match the rears. The ideal situation is to keep them matched, but you should be able to get away with a different line from the same manufacturer. You won't notice it quite as much with movies, but if you will be listening to multichannel hires music, it may be more noticable.

IMO, skip the Klipsh sub. What is your sub budget?

 

[rocketkid]

Thanks Nick250 and j_garcia. I will definitely keep the fronts matched.

I have only listened to the velodyne subs and klipsch, and I liked the esthetics of the klipsch when compared to the velodyne. I was unable to make a sound judgement since both setups were completly different. Any guidance towards a better sub within $900 budget will be great (maybe an extra $100 if it makes a difference)!

Is there any rules against using front speakers as rears? As mentioned previously, I am thinking of the 82's as fronts, but what about using for example a pair of 72's as rears and a pair of 42's as surrounds? This way I would stay within the same series, or is this approach an overkill? Or would it be recommended to stick with 42's and/or 52's as surrounds and rears?

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[j_garcia]

$900, I'd be looking at www.hsuresearch.com and www.svsound.com for a sub Either should have subs that will embarrass the Klipsch and likely exceed the Velo also.

There is almost no such thing as overkill 82s up front with a good sub might be a bit of overkill though. 42s or 52s should be more than sufficient as surrounds.

One more thing to consider, most or all of the Audience line are relatively low sensitivity and 4 Ohm.

 

[rocketkid]

$900, I'd be looking at www.hsuresearch.com and www.svsound.com for a sub Either should have subs that will embarrass the Klipsch and likely exceed the Velo also.

There is almost no such thing as overkill 82s up front with a good sub might be a bit of overkill though. 42s or 52s should be more than sufficient as surrounds.

One more thing to consider, most or all of the Audience line are relatively low sensitivity and 4 Ohm.

Really, I will look into the hsu and svs subs.

The reason for going with 82s is the fact that I have come across a great deal on a lightly used, mint set locally. Sorry for the lack of terminology, but when you say surrounds does this mean the same thing as rears?

Not sure what you meant by your last statement? Is the fact that they are low sensitivity and 4ohm a good thing?? Do you mind explaining.

I really do appreciate helping out the newbie, hopefully someday I can return the favor.

 

[Mort Corey]

Denon recommends you use 8ohm speakers with your receiver but it will run 6ohm units without any problems. 4ohm speakers MAY tax the receiver to a point of overheating.

Mort

 

[Nick250]

Is there any rules against using front speakers as rears?

None what so ever. My rears are fronts. It is very common to use bookshelf speakers or even towers as rears. My surrounds are towers though my fronts are not!

Nick

 

[rocketkid]

Denon recommends you use 8ohm speakers with your receiver but it will run 6ohm units without any problems. 4ohm speakers MAY tax the receiver to a point of overheating.

Mort

I looked at the Denon's manual and that is exactly what it says. I then looked at Dynaudio's Audience series and I think I am more confused....can someone explain the following from dynaudio's website:

Can I connect my Dynaudio speakers without problems at 4 Ohms / 8 Ohms with my amplifier?

Yes. Many loudspeakers available on the market are designated as 4 or 8 Ohms, but most exhibit a fluctuating impedance curve that swings from very high to very low levels - often dipping below Ohms.
These fluctuations and the low impedance dips burden the amplifier as it is faced with a very difficult, resistive load, which degrades the sound quality.

The impedance of a Dynaudio loudspeaker is perfectly linear, which means that the speaker provides a stable load for the amplifier to drive, while never reaching to low impedance levels. The value, for example, of a 4 Ohm impedance rating on a Dynaudio speaker is to be considered a minimum value, and one that will not swing lower.
Thus, the amplifier sees a very easy to drive, stable load, which allows the full potential of power delivery and sound quality of the amp to be realized.

 

[rocketkid]

None what so ever. My rears are fronts. It is very common to use bookshelf speakers or even towers as rears. My surrounds are towers though my fronts are not!

Nick

Is there any reason why it would not be a good idea to use towers as fronts and rears besides the cost factor?

 

[Nick250]

Is there any reason why it would not be a good idea to use towers as fronts and rears besides the cost factor?

The short answer is probably no. Longer answer is that a quality sub will play the lows better than towers. That being the case all your speakers should be set to small and there is no point to towers.

In my case my front bookshelf speakers are of higher quality than my tower surrounds so that's how I have them set up. Cost came into play only in that Tweeter was selling VR940s for half price, only $250 and I liked their sound even at full price, $500 and they seemed blend well with the Studio 20s. No brainer for me. I am very pleased with the results. That one was a tower and the other a bookshelf was in no way part of the decision making process.

Nick