Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater New HT Design Help

Given the compromises, I wouldn't even do rear surrounds in that room. I would think flush-mounting of the QS8s would be fine, but I've never tried mounting them that high. Of course, I'm also much closer to my QS8s.

I probably wouldn't bother with the EP175s, either. The chances of them being effective seem pretty slim to me. If you can't accommodate a sub in a room, how about a ButtKicker? I just got one, and it adds some nice impact for movies. If you can hide it, that may be a way to cheat and get some low-end "feel."

Good feedback all....

I will bag the idea of the 175's and go without subs for the first phase....leaving the cubby holes in the front wall design for possible dual EP400 or 500's.

Will pre-wire the back wall for two rear speakers but go without for now as well.

With Axiom's free trial deal, I can order the subs and some rears to play with after the first year. It's a no-brainer.

What do y'all think about how to power these bad boys running without subs? Do I run L/R as Large and Ctr as Small?

Any worries on the vertical position of the fronts? I was planning on tilting the Ctr about -10 degrees. The TV cannot go any lower because of the fireplace.

The XPA-2/5 combo gives me a ton of power (300W) for the L/R with expansion for the rears. Until then, I've got power for distributed audio on main floor.

If I add a rear and subs next year, then I'll wish I had gone with the XPA-3/5 combo.

I'll read up on the buttkicker - thanks for that tip.

Yep, L&R set to large, and the sub set to none. That should send the LFE to the mains too.

I agree with the others. Put the EP175 in use with the den or the exercise room. You would be throwing money away adding another EP175 for your main room. Does your HK receiver have pre-outs? You should consider dropping all the EMO stuff for the time being (the UMC-1 is a flawed pre-pro with considerable problems to begin with) and put that money to a better subwoofer. If your receiver has pre-outs, you can add external amps in the future.

I definately considered using my current receiver in the system to save a few bucks. HK AVR335 - purchased in 2005. It does fine with my current system. (M50's, etc)
- 55W/channel
- pre-outs = yes
- no HDMI

Seemed a good opportunity with all the house stuff to upgrade. Had doubts about the HK being up to the task and the lack of HDMI inputs pushed me over. We are in house design stage right now, so purchase is several months away...time to absorb all the input and check out components some more.

If HDMI is important then get a new receiver (that has pre-outs) instead of the UMC-1 and external amps. Demote the HK to the den. You can then add external amplifiers at a later date. Find ways to shift your budget to a better subwoofer at this moment.

Here is a thread on UMC-1 bugs. There has been a lot of problems that they have been unable to fix with firmware updates. This product was not fit to hit the market.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1218226

Dr,is it even worth it to put money towards the subs if he's going to put them in the enclosures that he's making? If there is no way he'll be able to put the subs in free space, I would probably go without subs and get buttkickers as CV suggested. The M80s have bass down to 34Hz, even lower in room, the buttkicker will take car of the effect.

Why not set the VP180 as large as well? Why re-route the center bass to the mains when the center is just as big?

Since you in the design phase, you may want to look into making sure that the fireplace is as low profile as you can manage. I've seen a lot of fireplace TV setups as I look for a new house, and I've been dismayed that the architect builds huge fireplaces and then the TV is basically mounted on the ceiling. It's a terrible setup and I end up having to move on to another house that can accommodate my setup. Since you are building, make sure you find a fireplace that isn't too tall. I've seen some really slim fireplace designs that look fantastic, and still keep the TV off the ceiling.

I am no expert, but I had te M80's with a Denon 3805 and a EP175 ..... too bad I never got to hear that EP175, because the M80's drowned it out and if I went loud enough the EP175 distorted and through a fit. SO, I wouldn't put money into another and regulate the cutey to the den.
As in another post I have, I thought two EP400's would compliment the M80's , but I was advised by everyone not to. It is only good for small rooms. Don't understand yet why they make a EP175 for small rooms and a EP175 for small rooms. I guess at $800 more they generate more income. I am sure in a small room the EP174 will play just fine and loud enough, so why spend more ???

Ummm another thing is the M80's are a tall speaker as is and putting them up another two fet is not a great thing either as the tweets will be two feet over your head. The tweeters should be ear height when sitting. Also M80 within a few inch of a side wall and up against a back wall, could get pretty boooommmyyyy. I would leave them on the floor and maybe just one EP600 in a corner ( I know WAF ) but maybe one would blend in in the corner.
I am too building a house and movie room, but I compromised I get a ceramic shower with jets everywhere. and 50% say in the kitchen she gets every other room, except man room. She has no say on decor, colour speaker sizes, anything nadda nadda. lol

Ahhh the tv over the fireplace ...... my brother has that done too, with a 42" and after an hr of visiting and watching tv I got to take a Tylonol for neck pain. Try it, frst it is like sitting in the second row seats at a movie theatre.

Yeh, I wold say the rears are way too far back. and if they got to go that far back then maybe a VP150 is best. As the M2 are not meant for horizontal alignment

I love that, the wife doesn't let him have a EP175 outside of the enclosure and you recommend a EP600 Just like I said in my first post in this thread