ok well im trying to put my home system together. its not much but my dad got me an onkyo 6 channel reciever for christmas and he's giving me his old polk audio surround speakers. now im trying to figure out a sub. should i buy a powered one or could i make my own sub setup? like maybe buy a cheap 10" sub and run it off a speaker output on the reciever and just run a crossover to block out the highs? i can build a box, thats no problem.
i was also thinking maybe buying two subs and running them isobaric. what would sound good? it will be in my bedroom which is a simple 10x10 room. here's a mockup of what it looks like.

here's the reciever

here's the speakers


*i'm planning on mounting the rear surrounds on my back wall facing each other and pointed at a slight angle towards the ceiling
*the fronts i plan on mounting at ear level on speaker stands (im gonna use some big bookshelf speakers i have already)
*and the middle surrounds im gonna mount on stands in the middle(how should i face these? do i need them?
*i think im gonna put the sub in the corner next to the tv and everything.
my tv is lacking right now its nothing special just an rca 27"
* i left the center channel outta the pic but it will be on top of the tv.
*and my dad kept the polk powered sub cause he got bigger polk speakers.
i think i also plan on mounting some sort of fabric thing on the wall with some egg crate foam behind it to absorb some of the sound because i don't have anything on the walls so it kinda echoes.

what are your suggestions? im looking for a decent sounding system nothing crazy loud or anything. this is kind of my start into having my own setup that i can take into my apartment when i get one or my house( since i live with my parents right now)


Modified by brads94accord at 5:03 PM 12/8/2003

 

blah. i wouldn' do an isobaric install. i would go with a single adire audio Temptest with a 350 watts Plate amp. sub should be 150 shipped and plate amp is under $200 shipped.

put the tempest in a 5 cubic feet ported box tuned to 23hz. that would be awesome. or if thats too much, get a shiva and put it in a 4 cubic feet ported box tuned to 23hz.


if price is an issue, get a 12" elemental designs kx-series.

 

There is no reason to run isobaric in a non-mobile install IMO. The space saved is not worth it. Put your little fridge on top of your big *** sub enclosure

While we are on the subject. What do you guys recommend for a descent home stereo setup? I am looking to purchase a pair of speakers, sub and receiver. I want something that sounds nice, but I don't want to spend a ton of money. My car is stock and needs mods Even a pair of speakers and receiver without sub would be fine as long as they could hit 30hz. I am tired of my 10 year old bookshelf system in my bedroom

BTW, as far as budget, I don't want to go over 1000.

 

vteg.....are you only interested in stereo and not multi-channel audio?

for Brad....SVS subs are great buys at any price. Check out:
http://www.svsubwoofers.com for more info.

 

vteg - go build your own speakers....you could just get a sweet kit from Adire or go with some other kits for way less then 1k and have a great setup...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vteg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BTW, as far as budget, I don't want to go over 1000.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Didn't you say you wanted the martin logans??

 

brads94accord:
There are guidelines on the web regarding placement of speakers for 6.1 surround. For example:

http://webcenter.soundandvisio...0.asp

One thing, though, is that a 10x10 room is a little small for that many speakers. With the placement of the side and rear speakers that you're thinking of, you might have an echo problem at higher volumes.

As for the sub - "in general" sub placement is less critical than the rest of the channels. I'd suggest just putting it where convienient and then tuning the volume so that it blends in with the rest of the system.

vteg:
I'd suggest going to visit a local high-end shop with a bunch of CDs. They'll let you listen to your music in their sound room for a while. You should be able to pick up a high-quality set of bookshelf speakers in the $3-400/pair range. Paradigm and NHT are brands that come to mind. Since these brands don't advertise as more consumer-oriented brands (i.e. Blose), you're typically getting more for your money.

The other thing is to shop for open-box and closeout items; my dad just picked up about $2K worth of stereo equipment (Infinity floor-standing towers, HK A/V Receiver) for $600 that way.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sgee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">brads94accord:
One thing, though, is that a 10x10 room is a little small for that many speakers. With the placement of the side and rear speakers that you're thinking of, you might have an echo problem at higher volumes.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

lol...reminds me of my old room. it was a 10 X 11 room with all the stuff in my sig. one word comes to mind....intense. not i'm in an 18 x 12 room and starting a 7.1 setup.

The placement of the sub is very important too because in certain spots in the room, typically in the corners, you'll have lots of standing waves.

btw...i noticed in the pic you've got 6 speakers and then you mentioned the center channel on top of the tv. that would make it a 7.1 setup. unless i'm not reading the pic correctly.
a 6.1 setup includes a Left, Center, Right, Side or back left, back center, and back or side right. and a sub of course.
a 7.1 setup includes a Left, Center, Right, Side left, back left, back right and side right and a sub.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EBP_SI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Didn't you say you wanted the martin logans??</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a stock car that needs mods

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rcurley55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">vteg - go build your own speakers....you could just get a sweet kit from Adire or go with some other kits for way less then 1k and have a great setup...</TD></TR></TABLE>

My table saw has been very lonely the last few months I have everything that I could need except clamps and mdf.

I checked out paradigms offerings yesterday online. I forgot about nht.

I am only interested in stereo since this is for my 12x15 bedroom.

 

Check out the NAD C320BEE integrated amp. It's only 50Wx2 but very musical and retails for only $399. As for speakers, check out Axiom Audio. They're an online company that offers great bang-for-the-buck speakers. Their M2i bookshelf ($255/pair) has received favorable reviews and competes with a lot speakers up to $1500/pair.

For a sub.....like I said earlier the SVS units are good buys but you could probably build your own.

 

well see my reciever has two sets of outputs for front speakers. here's a pic of the back of it


i think im probably just gonna run two fronts(L and R) two rear surounds(L and R), and the center channel. and when i get some more money i will get a powered sub. im gonna try to find one off ebay. any brands i should stay away from?

 

a lot of times the 2nd set of front outs is for use in another room. Alot of receiver systems do the dual output, where the main room with the 5.1 setup can watch a movie, and you can have the same receive pump the audio from the radio out to a pair of speakers in the kitchen or something. There's no reason you can't use the 2nd set of front outputs for the same room though, but I don't know if they filter the lower end bass or not

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by brads94accord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well see my reciever has two sets of outputs for front speakers. here's a pic of the back of it


i think im probably just gonna run two fronts(L and R) two rear surounds(L and R), and the center channel. and when i get some more money i will get a powered sub. im gonna try to find one off ebay. any brands i should stay away from?</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Brad.....your receiver is designed for a 6.1 setup. 6 channels are dedicated for multichannel use and then you have your sub output. If you use your second set of front outputs, your front stage will sound strange with the way you plan to mount your speakers. I would just use 3 timbre-matched speakers across the front (left, center, right) and 3 timbre matched speakers for the rear and place them across your back wall instead of on the sides.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vteg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I have a stock car that needs mods </TD></TR></TABLE>

gotta get your priorities straight man

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a stock car that needs mods </TD></TR></TABLE>

Energy makes some decently priced speakers.

 

you can't go wrong with klipsch speakers.

 

I need to find a local place to listen to some speakers The nht st4's look good. Lots of nice reviews. Some stereo shop has some for sell on ebay also

 

i wouldn't put the rears where you have them, you get better sound if they are behind you. i actually have my setup right now kind of like your pic because of the way our living room and kitchen run into each other and the rears don't sound as good as they did in our old place where they were totally behind us. and for your size room just run one sub, our living room is bigger than your bedroom and we run an 8" powered sub and it is plenty loud, of course we are running a denon reciever and energy speakers.

if you want good sound go with either energy or if you have money get klipsch. when we get a house i'm going all klipsch and transferring our energy system to the bedroom.

 

If you are a horn fan then you'll like Klipsch. Personally, the Klipsch sound is too forward and agressive for me. I like systems that have dome tweeters instead but ultimately it's all about what type of sound you like.

Energy was mentioned earlier.....you can find places blowing out models from the Veritas line. Audioadvisor.com has the Veritas 2.1 bookshelfs for $500/pair. That's a steal.

 

i see horns! lol.

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe...DID=7

figure $54.80 per driver, get 2 driver, then get 2 bodies, should be under $200 shipped.

or.... step down to...

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe...DID=7


or...just go get some Image Dynamics cd1pro (used ebay) for around $300? that would be awesome. lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Specifications: • Power handling: 80 watts RMS/160 watts program (with recommended 2,000 Hz, 12 dB/octave crossover) • Minimum recommended crossover: 2,000 Hz (12 dB/octave) • Voice coil diameter: 1" • Impedance: 8 ohms • Frequency response: 800-20,000 Hz (no crossover) • SPL: 107 dB 1W/1m • Magnet weight: 23.5 oz. • Dimensions: Diameter: 4.53", Depth: 2.83". </TD></TR></TABLE>

80 watts and 107db

The ID horns should not be used in a home setup. The image won't be right.

 

lol. whatever floats your boat.

i think the one for $32 each should be pretty damn good for normal use. i might just get 1 and power it with 50 watts or something. should be loud enough. 2 would be damn crazy.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rcurley55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">vteg - go build your own speakers....you could just get a sweet kit from Adire or go with some other kits for way less then 1k and have a great setup...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I went snowboarding this weekend for my first time. I removed my rear seats in my wrx to carry 5 snowboards. While I had the opportunity I went to lowe's. I now have 9 sheets of 2'x4' 3/4 mdf in the garage

Kit 281, here I come After thinking about this it makes perfect since for the bedroom. It is cheap (even though from what I have seen the enclosure/finish is generally more than 50% of the cost of speakers). It has a pair of 8's that will have an f3 in the mid to high 30's. In a bedroom it should easily suffice with no sub.

This weekend I plan to pick up some bondo, primer and black automotive paint to do some finish tests. Many say using car paint is much easier than oil based lacquer. Maybe I will cut some wood if the weather is not too bad.

Now for the next question. Are there any home audio receivers that can run 4 ohm stereo

 

just hook your speakers up the way they were designed and work on buying a small powered sub. easy, inexpensive, and you are going to fudge up your 6.1 if you go putting the rear speakers to front outputs. just hook up the front right and left to he front right and left outputs, the rear right and left to the rear right and left outputs, the front center to the center output, and buy a lil $100 sub for your B-A-S-S BASS.