Simple home theatre/audio

[Dhanna]

I'm hoping some of you might have some guidance on my future purchase of a home theater/audio setup.

I was born deaf in one ear, and as you can appreciate for me surround sound or even stereo is a waste of money as I only hear mono. But that being said I'm don't always listen to music or watch movies alone, so I'm open to a middle ground.

My use:
60% CD audio
40% Movies

What I've looked at:

Speaker: I've started to look at sound bars or a center speaker configuration accompanied by a subwoofer.

Player: I'd like to get a blu ray/cd player. But don't want to pay for 7.1 if possible.

Budget:
Mid-range for both

It's a bit of a strange one, but I'd appreciate any help
Thanks kindly

 

[ParadigmDawg]

So a mid-range budget is about $50,000...correct?

I'm hoping some of you might have some guidance on my future purchase of a home theater/audio setup.

I was born deaf in one ear, and as you can appreciate for me surround sound or even stereo is a waste of money as I only hear mono. But that being said I'm don't always listen to music or watch movies alone, so I'm open to a middle ground.

My use:
60% CD audio
40% Movies

What I've looked at:

Speaker: I've started to look at sound bars or a center speaker configuration accompanied by a subwoofer.

Player: I'd like to get a blu ray/cd player. But don't want to pay for 7.1 if possible.

Budget:
Mid-range for both

It's a bit of a strange one, but I'd appreciate any help
Thanks kindly

 

[Dhanna]

Apologies I'm an amateur.

More like under $1000 for speakers + under $600 for player. Probably doesn't leave you with much.

 

[pzaur]

Getting two speakers for the front and a subwoofer (2.1) is probably your best option for the speakers. A soundbar is comprised of multiple (many multiples) speakers and are designed to mimic surround sound for people who can't properly run a surround setup.

Any receiver can run in two channel (front left and right) mode with no problem. Most everything comes only in 5.1 or 7.1. You really don't pay any extra for either. Staying within your budget should not be an issue at all for all the devices you're looking for.

If you are going to go with a single speaker in a "center channel style" setup, any speaker can be used as that "center channel." Just find a good quality bookshelf or very good center channel.

Another question that needs to be answered:

1) What size is your room? (approximations are just dandy)
What is appropriate for an apartment is not appropriate for a great room.

-pat

 

[Dhanna]

Our room size is approx 4m x 6m (ceiling approx 2.5m)

Thanks pat

 

[pzaur]

Check here for some quality speakers:

Ascend Acoustics
Aperion Audio
Axiom

Also look for these brands at your local stores and online:

Bowers & Wilkins (B&W)
Energy
DefTech
Klipsch*

*some find horn loaded speakers to be very fatiguing for the ears.

Always try and listen to them in your home setting before buying. Aperion has a 30 day "No hassle" return policy. Shipping is covered both ways if you don't like their product.

It looks as though a bookshelf or pair of bookshelf speakers would be appropriate. The Aperion 6B looks to be a very nice speaker...(I own some of their products and am very happy with them!).

-pat

 

[Edmonton]

need as cheap as possible? i can relate

B&H Photo Video has Harman Kardon 3390 stereo receiver - 229.00

Vann's has the Jamo SUB550 (dark apple color only) - 198.99 (US Only)

World Wide Stereo has Jamo C403 Bookshelf speakers (dark apple) - 149.88 (Pair)

World Wide Stereo has Jamo E660 Floorstanding speakers (dark apple) - 169.88 (Pair)

there is a few promo codes for World Wide Stereo as well to get another discount, 20 bucks an item i believe DA0524A ?? something like that

i am not the best guy to give advise, i just look for cheap

 

[Dhanna]

Thanks for all your help, I'm really liking the look of the Aperion speakers, maybe a Intimus 6C Center Channel Speaker. Would this be a disaster if I used only this single center speaker for everything, would I need a sub?

Cheers

 

[GlocksRock]

Frys.com often has polk speakers on sale, you would be better off going with 2 front speakers than a single center channel, and you would definitely want a sub if you can swing it.

 

[JonPW]

I'm actually looking for something simular to what your after so please state what you came up with. I am not sure why but I really love the looks of the axiom speakers.

A pair of m22's with an ep125 subwoofer would be just under 900 dollars. Of course you would need an amplifier for them but it would be a nice start for a system you could upgrade.

http://www.axiomaudio.com/ep125.html
http://www.axiomaudio.com/m22.html

I would consider a center channel but that one breaks the budget, for some reason this center channel has captivated me.. help?

http://www.axiomaudio.com/vp150.html

What have you figured out so far?

 

[Dhanna]

I think the Axiom M22's or M3 V2's would be great, paired with a sub. Thanks for the links, or I'm still considering the Aperion Audio Intimus 5B Bookshelf Speakers + sub.

I'm trying to keep it as simple as possible, because I can't hear stereo. If I place/pan the speakers apart I'll only hear one of the channels my only ear faces. That's why I was considering only running a center speaker. If I go down the path of buying 2 stereo speakers I'll end up placing them together anyway. I guess I'm still after a balanced sound in terms of speaker sizes. I don't know if anyone would run just a center speaker on it's own. If still seems a bit of a waste buying 2 speakers if I'm only going to put them beside each other.

Any thoughts?

 

[JonPW]

My only concern is when it comes to the software encoding of having only a center channel. I think going for a left and right channel, even if placed together would be better for compatibility.

This is coming from someone who does not claim to be an expert in audio mind you! I've just been reading these forums lately.

If anything I am more an expert on assembling computers and picking performance for the price hardware for the job. I sell 300 dollar to 3000 dollar computers to people around the city I live in.

Unfortunately almost nobody ever considers audio. I feel bad sometimes because the 300 dollar computers have 10 dollar speakers attached to them. At least in my 1400 dollar setups that I sell people they come with sennheiser hd555 headphones. I know headphones are not for you tho since you only have one good ear.

Still I used a headphone pair once for about a year that had a dead ear-piece and was still very happy with the audio performance. There are a lot of 1 eared headphones made actually, usually for headsets when the other ear is used for somethin else.

Anyway as usual I am getting off topic. I'll look at those aspiron ones you linked me to, but I still feel that somehow the axiom are better, personally. I could be very wrong tho, they both have different "feels" to them.

I can't quite explain it because I have not heard either of them but I have seen so many axiom reviews that stated they felt they got an extremely good value for the dollar invested. A lot of people can't beleive they are so cheap.

Also Axiom seems to have a really nice free shipping, no tax to usa, 30 day trial policy, love that, good customer service I hear. I am going to call them tomorrow actually, and I will let you know how it goes.

from reading reviews the asperon have that going on too, but IMO the asperon seem to be a little more rugged, eh, look at the warranties and compare them right there. Overall the warranty is better.

the frequency response range of the axiom are impressive. I need to do a little more research on the asperons response range. In anycase they both seem good and you will likely "win" either way. I hope.

This coming from a guy who knows more about headphones than stereo. So far my audio experience has been eh.

I had a logitech z55, $150 they were okay, my first set as a teen, best part was an integrated headphone amplifier that made my cans sound great. cans my parrents had gien me, some sony make.

then there was a boston acoustics surround set I got. they were cool but kept falling off the cheap stands. I think they were 300 dollars.

and next I got my bluesky media 500 dollars. Now they retail for 800 actually which makes me hesitate on replacing them, I might just repair them. Anyways I have had them for five or six years and I think the amplifier panel on the back needs replacing. I hear that is a common issue for speakers eventually which mgiht explain why most pro speakers need a separate power supply, right?

Soo just to make it clear, you, like me are learning

By the way nice to meet you Dhanna, my name is Jon.

 

[pzaur]

Order them both (Aperion and Axiom) at the same time if you're able to swing the cash flow. The return policies are very generous. This way you'll be able to compare them side by side. The build and finish of the Aperions are excellent (as well as the sound quality).

-pat

 

[JonPW]

Good idea. Though i feel bad returning a product to a company when it was perfectly good.

 

[GPS]

Just for the sake of anyone else who watches my TV i would go at least 2 channel.

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm hoping some of you might have some guidance on my future purchase of a home theater/audio setup.

I was born deaf in one ear, and as you can appreciate for me surround sound or even stereo is a waste of money as I only hear mono. But that being said I'm don't always listen to music or watch movies alone, so I'm open to a middle ground.

My use:
60% CD audio
40% Movies

What I've looked at:

Speaker: I've started to look at sound bars or a center speaker configuration accompanied by a subwoofer.

Player: I'd like to get a blu ray/cd player. But don't want to pay for 7.1 if possible.

Budget:
Mid-range for both

It's a bit of a strange one, but I'd appreciate any help
Thanks kindly

I don't think your request is strange at all.

With your hearing problem I would avoid a sound bar. I think all the phase manipulations will really upset you with mono hearing.

The fact is there are no decent 2.1 receivers around, and I don't think any pre amps.

That is a pity, but I think the reason is HDMI compliance. I suspect that is now the major cost of budget receivers and the development of any AV device. It demands high production volumes. That is another reason why HDMI is a raw deal.

For simple 2.1 I recommend buying a vintage gear. Use the TV as the switch to select devices. Make sure the TV has an analog out.

Then buy a vintage preamp and amp or a vintage receiver. Make sure the receiver has a pre outs.

Then get a couple of speakers with good bass response, or a pair of speakers and a sub. If you use a sub, make sure it has right and left RCA inputs.

If you use a sub, then use a Y connector at the pre outs to connect the amp section of the receiver and the sub. Use the crossover in the sub.

The downside is that you have no LFE channel, however in practice a set up like that works very well indeed. It is highly cost effective.

I use that set up in my downstairs system and it works very well.

The preamp and radio tuner are around 40 years old. Originally the amp was a vintage 100 watt per channel amp, but it worked so well that I treated it to a modern version of the amps, I was using giving 250 watts per channel.

It is a big space down there and this rig fills it very well indeed.

This may sound a little complicated, but it actually isn't. We could talk you through it easily.

Don't be scared of vintage equipment, it is far more likely to go longer than most of the modern AV receivers talked about on these forums.

 

[JonPW]

Neat. say has anyone tried a denon avr 589 or such? It looks to be an affordable good piece of hardware.

the 789 is a 7.1 but looks sort of neat because you can route two of the extra channels to double amp two speakers on a 5.1 setup. Just thinking.

Found an 589 for 144 dollars and a 789 for 300. What else is in this range that's good?

By the way so far Dhanna I've decided I will keep my bluesky 2.1's left and right speakers and combine them into a center channel of my new setup by using a splitter. They are still really good speakers ya know.

then i'll get m22 axiom left and right channels with the axiom surround setup, and see if I can't find a way to use my current subwoofer.. the problem is it's a powered subwoofer but I might still be able to run a cable to the subwoofer in port of it and it might just be data, so i'll see.. it might work.

 

[TLS Guy]

Neat. say has anyone tried a denon avr 589 or such? It looks to be an affordable good piece of hardware.

the 789 is a 7.1 but looks sort of neat because you can route two of the extra channels to double amp two speakers on a 5.1 setup. Just thinking.

Found an 589 for 144 dollars and a 789 for 300. What else is in this range that's good?

By the way so far Dhanna I've decided I will keep my bluesky 2.1's left and right speakers and combine them into a center channel of my new setup by using a splitter. They are still really good speakers ya know.

then i'll get m22 axiom left and right channels with the axiom surround setup, and see if I can't find a way to use my current subwoofer.. the problem is it's a powered subwoofer but I might still be able to run a cable to the subwoofer in port of it and it might just be data, so i'll see.. it might work.

Two center channels is worse than one because of comb filtering. Passive biamping is a waste of time and money, because the top end consumes so little power.

Neither of those Denons will hold a candle to decent vintage gear.

What is really required is good 2.1 or 3.1 receivers at reasonable prices.

5.1 and 7.1 is very much a US phenomenon.

In Europe and I suspect a good deal of Asia, rooms are small.

In the UK there are tons of historic buildings. I have just finished a trip to the UK with four full days in Paris. We went with some very close friends who had never been to Europe.

After a day or two, Ralph said, "I knew there would be some quaint stuff, but I did not know the whole damn place was quaint!"

In six of my close relatives house your would be up against open beams and ships keels several hundred years old. So the cabling is a nightmare.

Then fitting even a smallish 16.1 aspect TV is a problem for many rooms. A small set of speakers and a sub in many cases maxes it out. Five or seven speaker is unthinkable.

Then you have the problem that a huge number of house are terraced or semi detached. If you bother your neighbors and get turned in, ALL your gear is confiscated at the second complaint. So no sub woofers or low powered ones are the order of the day.

To be fair there is a wider choice of 2 and 2.1 receivers in Europe than here, but not as many as their should be. I think there are plenty of situations like this in the US if you look.

The other issue is the size of the receivers. This has always made separates popular in the UK as amps can be placed out of sight.

So this one huge size fits all is bad business and actually poor marketing.

 

[s162216]

In Europe and I suspect a good deal of Asia, rooms are small.

In the UK there are tons of historic buildings. I have just finished a trip to the UK with four full days in Paris. We went with some very close friends who had never been to Europe.

After a day or two, Ralph said, "I knew there would be some quaint stuff, but I did not know the whole damn place was quaint!"

In six of my close relatives house your would be up against open beams and ships keels several hundred years old. So the cabling is a nightmare.

Then fitting even a smallish 16.1 aspect TV is a problem for many rooms. A small set of speakers and a sub in many cases maxes it out. Five or seven speaker is unthinkable.

Then you have the problem that a huge number of house are terraced or semi detached. If you bother your neighbors and get turned in, ALL your gear is confiscated at the second complaint. So no sub woofers or low powered ones are the order of the day.

I must say that I really do agree with you on that, room size is an issue in the UK. My bedroom, which is about 4m(~13") x 4m x 3m(~10") where I have my currently off-line HT, can fit all my players, consoles etc easily, the two fronts and the centre are easy to place, but putting surrounds in is difficult due to the space as is a sub, which is why I don't have one, when watching the Terminator Ultimate Edition with the DTS soundtrack fairly loudly, more than enough bass is produced with the fronts and centre to start annoying the neighbours as I live in a semi-detached house, I think I know about 2 people in my road who actually have a fully detached house.
Pity, I was really raring to build that Earthquake sub that TLSguy and Isberian amongst other helped me design, until I realised that I would never really get to use it. Several of my friends have got warnings from the council or police for being too loud. (First thing to do when I get my first house? Buy a large shed, have it soundproofed and acoustically fine tuned then put my HT in it with a projector and several loud and low freq subs and make as much noise as possible!)

When I see US TV imports I always wonder why the houses, rooms etc are so much bigger..

Most flat screens look out of proportion with the room size as well in my experience as people are getting like 70" TV's and putting them into rooms only about twice the size of my room.

 

[TLS Guy]

I must say that I really do agree with you on that, room size is an issue in the UK. My bedroom, which is about 4m(~13") x 4m x 3m(~10") where I have my currently off-line HT, can fit all my players, consoles etc easily, the two fronts and the centre are easy to place, but putting surrounds in is difficult due to the space as is a sub, which is why I don't have one, when watching the Terminator Ultimate Edition with the DTS soundtrack fairly loudly, more than enough bass is produced with the fronts and centre to start annoying the neighbours as I live in a semi-detached house, I think I know about 2 people in my road who actually have a fully detached house.
Pity, I was really raring to build that Earthquake sub that TLSguy and Isberian amongst other helped me design, until I realised that I would never really get to use it. Several of my friends have got warnings from the council or police for being too loud. (First thing to do when I get my first house? Buy a large shed, have it soundproofed and acoustically fine tuned then put my HT in it with a projector and several loud and low freq subs and make as much noise as possible!)

When I see US TV imports I always wonder why the houses, rooms etc are so much bigger..

Most flat screens look out of proportion with the room size as well in my experience as people are getting like 70" TV's and putting them into rooms only about twice the size of my room.

It really is hard for North Americans to appreciate the problem

I wealthy friend of my Brother Paul, one of his vintage car racing buddies has an old home in Godalming.

He spent more than any HT in these forums getting planning permission for an addition to house his HT. The home is pretty large but the only way of engineering it elegantly was with an addition. Of course you have to make the addition look as if it has been there for 300 years.

My brother James has done a number of mods to his house, Siloam Manor at Rainham, and the biggest issue is arranging to do the job at all. His house goes back to to the fifteenth century and all periods have made their mods.

This has the space, but you run into beams. There is a huge old ships keel running right across the place. It is my parents place at Frindsbury where I grew up, and had my first experience of having to place audio with no clue it is in the room.

This was the view from my bedroom window. It has changed a lot over the years.