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New member Username: NoleballPost Number: 1 Registered: Aug-07 | Hey guys, I have been reading for awhile but have just decided to post. I typically try to find out what I need from other's posts but have given up after hours of reading. I am nearly complete with my new house and have decided to set up a "theatre" room upstairs. My room upstairs is 31 x 76 and I have cordoned off a section 25'deep x 30' wide for the theater area. I have an Optoma projector with a 10' screen and have read for hours about sound and now I need suggestions from some who know better. The questions you guys ask are size (I gave it), budget, wife worries, and how far I need to go with it. The budget really is not limited but does not need to get crazy (maybe $3-$4k). The wife does not care. I want it to sound good and give me a good base effect with movies but I will not be breaking down sound like you guys do because I don't know what to listen for. I am thinking a 6.1 or 7.1 but, again, I would like input. Also, is there a benefit to prepackaged systems. I know that you get tired of this kind of constant questioning but when you need info you go to the ones who know. |
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Silver Member Username: MccambleyBREEZY POINT, NY USA Post Number: 393 Registered: Jun-05 | That is some big room. 4K should be able to handle the chore ta hand. I like Denon receivers and Paradigm speakers. For the Sub Velodyne, HSU research and Outlaw Audio all make very good subs. http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/3494.asp http://paradigm.com/en/reference/news/ http://www.velodyne.com/main.aspx |
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Bronze Member Username: HodedofomeTX USA Post Number: 81 Registered: Dec-06 | I second Casey's point about the room size. You have a big room and will want big speakers to fill that room. Going with small speakers like Bose will leave a lot missing for that "impact" you're looking for. Believe it or not, $3-4K for all speakers and receiver (do you need dvd player and other stuff (cables, surge protector, etc) as part of this budget?) is not that much for a dedicated large room like yours. Is the theater area walled in or is that just the amount of area in the 31x76 room that you have dedicated for the theater? I'll give a few options/opinions based on the size of your theater and budget. If it's just 25x30: http://www.av123.com/products_category_brand.php?section=speakers&brand=55 Get 3 x-cs speakers for the front, and 4 x-ls speakers for the surrounds and surround back speakers. That's $860 + shipping Buy 2 of these: http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/product_info.php?t=2&products_id=103 $1100 plus shipping For the receiver, check out: http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V2700-network-receiver-channel/dp/B000JF54GQ or http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-AVR-645-Receiver/dp/B000E7GDTG or http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR805-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B000OBJW1S $600-1000 pretty much The Onkyo is going to be the newest receiver with the most features and can handle the new audio formats in HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players. It also has the slick Audyssey auto-setup which is really good. This comes in at around $3K and you can use the rest of the $$ for stands, cables (monoprice.com for all cables, NO MONSTER CABLE), dvd player, etc. If the room is actually 31x76 then I would suggest buy a pair of each of these: http://cgi.ebay.com/BIC-Acoustech-HT-75-Tower-Speakers-pair_W0QQitemZ23015932109 4QQihZ013QQcategoryZ14993QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/BIC-Acoustech-HT-64-Speakers-1-Pair-Free-Shipping_W0QQitemZ2 30159481691QQihZ013QQcategoryZ14991QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/BIC-Acoustech-HT-65-Center-Channel-Speaker-Brand-New_W0QQite mZ230159482110QQihZ013QQcategoryZ14992QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/Bic-Acoustech-HT-63-Speakers-1-Pair-FREE-Shipping_W0QQitemZ1 40144747992QQihZ004QQcategoryZ14992QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Then go with the subs and receivers I posted above. These will have more output than the av123 speakers however you will be sacrificing some accuracy for overall SPL. They will play loud just not be as accurate as the AV123's. The Elemental Design subs are the best you are going to get at that price range, they aren't pretty looking but there's nothing else out there that can beat it for the price. Also don't worry about buying speakers on ebay or the internet, these are good companies that just choos to sell their speakers through the internet and bypass the middle man. You will not do better for the price than by purchasing speakers from internet-direct companies. These are HSU, Elemental Design, SVS, AV123, Aperion, Outlaw, and maybe a few more I can't think of. |
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Silver Member Username: WestcottLeague City, Texas Post Number: 298 Registered: Oct-05 | Sorry, but I diagree with the comments made above. A 25 x 30 room needs large speakers. If you want to keep the budget down, 5 speakers and a subwoofer will be fine. Not a lot of material in 6.1 or 7.1 so save yourself some money. A good receiver will set you back about a grand. I like Denon too. I would get their latest releases with HDMI 1.3a support and lossless HD audio. Your screen should be on the 25' wall and your seating position should be around the 20 foot mark for audio. I would consider making the home theater a little smaller. 16' x 24' would be much more manageable and better for acoustics and listening postion which should be 2/3 back from the screen\speakers. You do not want the speakers on the long walls. The efficiency\sensitivity of your speakers will dictate what receiver and\or amp combination you buy. Having the HT upstairs will also create problems. Bass frequencies travel a long way and there is no way of getting around the fact that you will hear them downstairs. Acoustics and speaker placement is just as important as the equipment you buy. I love KEF and their coincident design drivers. They eliminate phase and time alignment issues associated with most direct radiating speakers. They deserve a proper room and if yours is dedicated and you are starting with a clean slate, so to speak, there is no reason why you could not have a great system that is properly designed and implemented. |
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Bronze Member Username: HodedofomeTX USA Post Number: 82 Registered: Dec-06 | Westcott, I agree with what you are saying. I was going off of what Charles posted his wants were and his budget, paying someone to build a smaller room is going to cost way more than $3-4K. If he is truly starting with a clean slate and has much more budget then yes your idea will work better. Room treatments are great as well, but could he find treatments and gear for his room at his budget? Does he even care about this hobby to spend that much? |
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Silver Member Username: Nickelbut10Post Number: 182 Registered: Jun-07 | Charles- Start off with what your have for audio stores near you, and what do they carry? You say 3 - 4 grand total? Denon is good for the bells a whistles, but is OK at best for sound quality. These guys will tell you different. Problem is if you go to the better sounding receivers you seem to sometimes lose out on the new HDMI connections and such. Are you only going to be using this theater with one video source? If so I would suggest keeping the audio and video separate and going with a better sounding receiver. I do like the paradigm speakers though, good bang for your bucks if your looking at a 3 to 4 grand budget. |
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Bronze Member Username: HodedofomeTX USA Post Number: 83 Registered: Dec-06 | Nick, I too agree with what you're saying but Charles also posted that he wouldn't know what to listen for in a good receiver. |
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Silver Member Username: Nickelbut10Post Number: 190 Registered: Jun-07 | ahhhh.. i missed that. Well Charles- If you can't tell the difference in sound between receivers, perhaps a nice in box setup from Walmart will do just fine. Save lot's of money. LOL. I'm kidding of course. Give some stuff a listen Charles, you may surprise yourself. |
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New member Username: Db_audiofileLa habra, Ca Usa Post Number: 1 Registered: Aug-07 | CW, I agree with Casey. This a big room! Remember that 75%of the sound of the system is your SPEAKERS! I like Denon also. Good bank for the Buck. Does this system have to handle your music too? That would change what I would tell you what to look for in a system. |
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New member Username: NoleballPost Number: 2 Registered: Aug-07 | All right guys, Now that we have a forum, I will clarify further. 1. The budget is not set in stone. I said $3-$4k but I know you may not get far with that. But, I also know that there are options for someone like me who wants a "big" sound that is not as expensive as what "the pros" use. 2. I do not listen for specifics like you guys do. That means that although I cannot argue between Onkyo, Denon and Pioneer, I do know Wal-Mart only sells quality fishing tackle and little else. 3. I am the contractor and it is my house. So cost of room construction is not a problem but it will not be happening. The room is staying as is. I have considered maybe hanging curtains at the back of the room to section it off from the rest of the big room if that will help. I know I have an echo effect I may have to deal with and will when the time comes. 4. The screen will be used for some movies obviously, most definately sporting events, but no stereo. We are not big into the steroe and music so I do not have to consider that. I went to ESPN Zone in Atlanata and sat in the recliner room. For those who do not know, there is a room full of recliners and you sit in them and order dinner. One arm flips up and a table comes out of it and the other has a buttom control for the televisions. There is one huge screen (maybe 15' across) and it is surrounded by 16-20 smaller televisions ( maybe 36") built into the wall. Each screen is numbered and you simply push the number on your chair of the screen you want to watch and the sound pops into your chair in the speakers built-in behind your head. I liked that pretty well. Now, how do you do the same thing with a movie screen and maybe two 42" plasma televisions left and right of the screen? The picture I can figure out but switching sound from screen to screen is beyond my abilities. The sound needs to come through the system and not into the chair (just for clarification). Sorry to drag on with this but i want it done right the first time. Thanks |
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New member Username: Db_audiofileLa habra, Ca Usa Post Number: 8 Registered: Aug-07 | Charles, Now that we know that video is your focus is video. I would change a lot of things. Two screens, try hitachi 55 inch, about 1600 each. (I hope my audiofile friends will for give me} a good Home theater in a box, samsung makes one using Klispch speakers, about 800$ On a budget with two screens this would be preaty intence. good luck. Db |
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New member Username: GlennklPost Number: 1 Registered: Aug-07 | I just found this forum while searching for ways to equip my new home's theater room so I really have no frame of reference for these things BUT... wouldn't adding TV's to your theater room create enough ambient light to screw up the picture on your big screen? Your room is massive so I'm not sure how you have cordoned off the theater space, but it seems ambient light is the enemy of a projector and you might have issues keeping the light in the rest of the room at bay, much less with 2 TV's next to it. |
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Bronze Member Username: Db_audiofileLa habra, Ca Usa Post Number: 17 Registered: Aug-07 | Glenn, If your projector is rated at 2200 lums or greater, you should not have much of a problem. My son plays video games on a 8ft 2500 lum dlp projector while watching the simpsons. Who new. your friend, Db |
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Silver Member Username: WestcottLeague City, Texas Post Number: 301 Registered: Oct-05 | Once again, projector rating have no real basis in reality. A properly calibrated projector will be lucky to produce 1/4 of the numbers referenced. Here is a site that you may find useful. http://www.projectorcentral.com/ Very well respected site with objective testing methods to boot. |
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Bronze Member Username: Db_audiofileLa habra, Ca Usa Post Number: 19 Registered: Aug-07 | Wescott, I agree with you in principal. The type and design of a projector can have a great impact on what you will see. Companies like Sony, Sanyo, Panasonic,etc. Can not aford to post a spec that is incorrect. (car stereo in the old days) Project central is a very creditable cite. I will list one more for you that really has a consumer feel. I often use this in my training sessions. www.hardwareanalysis.com/action/printarticle your friend, Db |