please help with speaker/sub set choices

[benolium]

Before the BIC

I have some "before" shots I will put up. Maybe some advice as to where to put the surrounds. But first.... How Do I post pictures??

 

[mike c]

i have a question: if yamaha makes amps that produce 8 ohms ... why did they make speakers that have 6 ohms?

 

[jaxvon]

I belive that all Yamaha receivers and amps are at minimum, compatible with 6 ohm loudspeakers. That measurement isn't quantifying output, but rather the impedance of the speaker.

 

[mike c]

i read somewhere in this forum that for the amp to convert from 8 to 6 was not "smooth" for the amp

i mean, why didnt yamaha produce 8ohm loudspeakers to erase doubts in my mind (and other people) hmmm ... its like its discouraging people from combining the yamaha amps and speakers. if i had a little more budget, id jump from the yamaha speakers to infinity speakers (8ohms)

 

[jaxvon]

A lower impedance speaker only means that it will demand more current from the amplifier section. It isn't a bad thing at all. Why Yamaha didn't make an 8-ohm speaker is probably a result of their design. They had certain design criteria in mind, and wanted certian properties in the drivers they used. When it was all said and done, to meet their criteria, they had to use a driver configuration and crossover design that ended up having a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.

 

[benolium]

BIC Arrived and I'm Happy

The BIC 5.1 Acoustec System finally arrived. My first impression was nice packing. Once I got them out of the Boxes if was really surprised at the quality of the speakers. I know that everyone says that their nice but they really are. The piano finish is a real touch of class. I hooked up the two mains, and the center. The mains sound really nice. Not too bright at all. I have wood floors and no "popcorn" on the ceiling so my room would tend to accentuate brightness or a tin sounding speaker. No so in this case. After playing a few CDs I am confident in the system thus far. My sub didn't arrive yet (thanks to my local ups) but once that and the surrounds are wired I'll report back. I need to get into my addick and run the surrounds and center surrounds. I picked a great time to do that. I'ts only 110 here outside, so that means my addick should be around 150 ish. Hope I don't melt up there. I have not tested the center yet. I want to calibrate everything with the YPAO later.

 

[mulester7]

.....Benolium, that's an absolutely gorgeous room w/fireplace....but for goodness sakes, with what appears to be 20 foot ceilings, get those front mains up in the air imaging at about 58 inches to better fill the room as per projection....don't worry, you'll still be involved by direct-cone sitting down....try it if you want to, adjust "a little" with more bass from somewhere, and I suspect you won't go back....goooorgeous room......

 

[brian32672]

I have not tested the center yet. I want to calibrate everything with the YPAO later.

Glad you like my recommendation. I will say again, by far the center is the stogest point of this system next would be the surrounds. You'll love them. I to have wood floors, and do not find them over bright at all....
Enjoy.

 

[Matt34]

The BIC 5.1 Acoustec System finally arrived. My first impression was nice packing. Once I got them out of the Boxes if was really surprised at the quality of the speakers. I know that everyone says that their nice but they really are. The piano finish is a real touch of class. I hooked up the two mains, and the center. The mains sound really nice. Not too bright at all. I have wood floors and no "popcorn" on the ceiling so my room would tend to accentuate brightness or a tin sounding speaker. No so in this case. After playing a few CDs I am confident in the system thus far. My sub didn't arrive yet (thanks to my local ups) but once that and the surrounds are wired I'll report back. I need to get into my addick and run the surrounds and center surrounds. I picked a great time to do that. I'ts only 110 here outside, so that means my addick should be around 150 ish. Hope I don't melt up there. I have not tested the center yet. I want to calibrate everything with the YPAO later.

I'm very interested in your review of that set as it will probably be my choice in the next couple of months. I take it you also ordered the HT-100?

 

[Spiffyfast]

The BIC 5.1 Acoustec System finally arrived. My first impression was nice packing. Once I got them out of the Boxes if was really surprised at the quality of the speakers. I know that everyone says that their nice but they really are. The piano finish is a real touch of class. I hooked up the two mains, and the center. The mains sound really nice. Not too bright at all. I have wood floors and no "popcorn" on the ceiling so my room would tend to accentuate brightness or a tin sounding speaker. No so in this case. After playing a few CDs I am confident in the system thus far. My sub didn't arrive yet (thanks to my local ups) but once that and the surrounds are wired I'll report back. I need to get into my addick and run the surrounds and center surrounds. I picked a great time to do that. I'ts only 110 here outside, so that means my addick should be around 150 ish. Hope I don't melt up there. I have not tested the center yet. I want to calibrate everything with the YPAO later.

I got my center channel on wednesday, the sound on it is crystal clear and not bright at all, works great for movies. I'm ordering the system piece by piece, but I'm going with a cadence sub. I bid on the towers yesterday so I find out today whether I get them or not shouldn't be a problem though. Can't wait till I get them from UPS next week

 

[benolium]

.....Benolium, that's an absolutely gorgeous room w/fireplace....but for goodness sakes, with what appears to be 20 foot ceilings, get those front mains up in the air imaging at about 58 inches to better fill the room as per projection....don't worry, you'll still be involved by direct-cone sitting down....try it if you want to, adjust "a little" with more bass from somewhere, and I suspect you won't go back....goooorgeous room......

Thanks for the Compliment on the fireplace. It only took 2 weeks, and $400 to do. Now that I think about it, I could really use a Power Conditioner for about $300 too bad I just blew my dough on these BIC's Your right about the speakers needing to be on stands or pointing up. Those are the old Yamahas and they were on stands but I was experimenting with the surrounds on the stands (instead of on the floor), Much better with surrounds on stands and Mains on the floor. But it was only like this for 3 days till my new speakers arrived so this is a moot point, since I have the NEW BIC system up and running. All is connected except for the center surrounds bc I ran out of wire. Time to order another 100' from Westlake. Just performed the YPAO and all is good.The ceiling is 12.5' high, with no popcorn. I'll post picts of the new speakers in a few. So far Tomb Raider, and Pearl Harbor sounded awesome. Now, I'm testing Alice In Chains (Unplugged)

 

[benolium]

I'm very interested in your review of that set as it will probably be my choice in the next couple of months. I take it you also ordered the HT-100?

I got the sub today. WOW! If you are a piecing a system together it may not be the best sub for the money...maybe it is. I bought my sytem in a package so that's what I got. The sub sounds good. I justl like all my stuff to match. I'm wierd like that. Maybe a little ocd about perfection. Anyway, the BIC Acoustec is so so so much better than what I had, I am really pleased! The center is really clear!

 

[benolium]

BIC 5.1 Acoustec System

Here it is. I have it set up as a 5.1 now with the presence speakers making it a 7.1. Once I get the new speaker cable it will be 9.1. I had all the surrounds mounted on the side and back walls, but once I got into my attic, I have no way to run wires from the receiver through the walls up to the attic then to the speakers. I'll have to put them on stands for now. Thanks for all of you help in reccomending this. Now....how do I baby proof those surrounds on the stands?

 

[jaxvon]

Very sexy! Are the speakers what you hoped they'd be?

Looks like you need an equipment rack! As for the power conditioner...you COULD drop $300 on one, but I think you'd do better to go for this. You can find it a few bucks cheaper other places on the net, but J&R is a reputable dealer and you'll actually get your product when you order (unlike some scam sites).

As for a rack...I know that AV123 makes some nice stuff, even Sleestack thinks so, and he could afford to buy MUCH more expensive stuff. Clicky!

Edit:

Aren't those surrounds kinda loud RIGHT there by the couch? Seems like they'd be a little better a bit farther away.

 

[benolium]

Very sexy! Are the speakers what you hoped they'd be?

Looks like you need an equipment rack! As for the power conditioner...you COULD drop $300 on one, but I think you'd do better to go for this. You can find it a few bucks cheaper other places on the net, but J&R is a reputable dealer and you'll actually get your product when you order (unlike some scam sites).

As for a rack...I know that AV123 makes some nice stuff, even Sleestack thinks so, and he could afford to buy MUCH more expensive stuff. Clicky!

Edit:

Aren't those surrounds kinda loud RIGHT there by the couch? Seems like they'd be a little better a bit farther away.

Yes the speakers are what I had hoped for- definately. I would really reccomend them to someone who wants clean sounding, nice looking speakers that wont break the bank. I was leary, hesitant and worried that they wouldn't live up to all of the hype, but they REALLY DO sound better than the Klipch and Polks I was auditioning, for a lot less money too-boot.
Yes, I agree that I need a rack. I keep hoping my tv will die, and I can justify puttin a plasma on the credit card and put the componants underneath it. But this will have to wait for now. The speakers behind the couch are not loud or problomatic. The YPAO messaged the sound so it's not obnoxious. I wanted all them on the walls, but have no way to run the wires. Maybe some stands with clamps so the baby (11month old) doesn't knock them down...

 

[jaxvon]

Now all you need to do is wait for when the wife and kid are out of the house so you can crank it! I only have two of my BIC bookshelves hooked up right now and they can go WAY louder than I can take. With the horn tweeters...wow...

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Very nice !

Ben,

That system looks outstanding in your room. I bet you hate to put the grills on. That sub is really nice. I didn't think it was that large. The rubber/foam surround is massive. Does that sub hit hard, or play deep (if you had to lean towards one characteristic)? What do the controls on the back of it look like? I've never seen the plate amp.

I had assumed that setup was more for HT. It appears it's also great for music. I know you need some break in time, and since you have a little one, probably can't jam like you used to. Let us know how it does with music.

Did the wife know exactly how much you dropped on that 7.1? Was she amazed when it was setup the bang for the buck?

Finally, do you have your rear surrounds backwards? I would think the effect would be greater if the tweeters were facing out. Does the manual say to face them in?

Thanks for all the pictures. They are great!

 

[mulester7]

.....Benolium, is the ceiling 12 1/2 feet high over the TV end of that room?.....

 

[benolium]

the wife

Ben,

That system looks outstanding in your room. I bet you hate to put the grills on. That sub is really nice. I didn't think it was that large. The rubber/foam surround is massive. Does that sub hit hard, or play deep (if you had to lean towards one characteristic)? What do the controls on the back of it look like? I've never seen the plate amp.

I had assumed that setup was more for HT. It appears it's also great for music. I know you need some break in time, and since you have a little one, probably can't jam like you used to. Let us know how it does with music.

Did the wife know exactly how much you dropped on that 7.1? Was she amazed when it was setup the bang for the buck?

Finally, do you have your rear surrounds backwards? I would think the effect would be greater if the tweeters were facing out. Does the manual say to face them in?

Thanks for all the pictures. They are great!

this is benolium's wife. yes i know how much he spent. yes it is worth it. i was raised in a house where my parents put me in the swing in between the speakers, turned up dark side of the moon really loud and that's how they got me to sleep. music is SO important in this house although not as loud now with the kid. i think for the money these are the best speakers to buy. my hubby has been researching new speakers for 4 years now (no joke!) so i know they are worthwile. i was a little hesitant because they are a "no name", but i totally trust him. so far they sound great. and the speakers right behind the couch aren't as loud as i thought. they are just right- not blowing out your eardrum. anyways... if it's too loud, you're too old.

 

[mulester7]

this is benolium's wife. if it's too loud, you're too old.

.....boys, I've always heard women like this existed.....