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Help me build a system
#95895 05/23/05 06:35 PM
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ndtiger Offline OP
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I am currently in the planning stages of building a new home. I presently have my home theatre system in my living room. In the new home I am building a 22' wide by 28' long home theatre. This area will consist of my TV and componants on one of the 22' wall and a bar and restroom area on the other 22' wall. The bar and restroom will be 7' deep off the back wall. This leaves me 21' in which to work with.

My current set-up. 65" Mitsubushi WS rear projection TV. 5.1 Bose dual cube speaker system. Yamaha 5450 reciever. Sony DVD, Sony 200 disc CD changer. I also have 2 Bose speakers outside.

I am thinking about upgrading my speaker system in the new theatre area. I have been quite pleased with my Bose speaker sound. I went with a small speaker because it was in the living room and I wanted them to be discreet.

Okay, so let me know how much better do full size speakers sound? What speakers would you purchase? What reciever (Keep in mind that I will need A and B speaker ability to run the speakers outside)? Do most of you guy's have 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 systems? How close is your first row of seating to your screen? I would like to elevate my TV 6 to 8 inches for better viewing from the rear of the room. This will raise the TV to just above eye level from the first row. Is this a good or a bad idea?

I am a relative novice at this so keep that in mind. All the help you can give me would be appreciated.

Thanks

Re: Help me build a system
#95896 05/23/05 06:54 PM
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Wow where to begin

I think everyone here will agree that upgrading to a speaker system with a better sound stage will blow you away, compared to BOSE cubes, especially in that huge room. It sounds like the system will be used primarily for movies and less for music listening? Also, a lot depends on your budget?

Are you still planning on using the projection tv. I would highly consider looking at Front Projection as you could get a real movie experience with a much larger image on that back wall. I have 120" diag., nothing like haveing a movie theater in your own home if you can swing it....especially when you in the process of building the home. I would plan for 7.1 for the future, although, you can start with 5.1 and move up when you want.

Normal rule of thumb is you want to be 1.5 times the screen width back. That is for projector screens, not sure about smaller projection tv's. Also, you want your eye level to be 1/3 from the bottom of the screen, again, that is for projector screens.

good luck
Randy

m60's vp150 ep350 4-qs8's
denon 2805
sanyo Z2 WXGA projector
toshiba dvd
samsung hd tuner


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
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Re: Help me build a system
#95897 05/23/05 07:03 PM
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ndtiger Offline OP
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Have not thought much about the budget. Lets say $3500 for speakers and reciever.

It will be used mostly for movies but I do listen to music a good bit also.

So if I buy a 7.1 reciever it won't matter if I only have 5 speakers hooked up instead of 7? Do you recommend a reciever with THX?



Re: Help me build a system
#95898 05/23/05 07:17 PM
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You can get a 7.1 receiver and use it with 1 speaker! I've got a 7.1 receiver, and went from 2.1 to 4.1 to 5.1. I will probably not be going to 7.1 at any time in the near future. As for THX, you certainly don't need that, unless you like little shiny nameplates.

You should make sure you account for a good sub in that $3500. Let's see:

$500-700 for a reciever. You can get decent deals on refurbs or last year's models.
$600-1000 for the sub, depending on which way you go. Consider Axiom, SVS, and Hsu.
$100-200 for cables, unless you've got some. You don't need boutique cables, just good solid ones. Have a look at Blue Jeans Cable, Parts Express, or Axiom
That leaves plenty for speakers, unless I've forgotten something.

I'll let someone weigh in on which package to get (I'm not good at judging room size), but you should be able to get a nice set for that.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Help me build a system
#95899 05/23/05 07:24 PM
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For that amount, you have a lot of options. There are a lot of receivers that can be had under $1,000 easily. That gives you enough for many Axiom speaker configurations. Check out the Products page for some options.

Yes, you can start with 5.1 or 6.1 or 7.1 and move up anytime. Personally I think THX badging is not a big deal, there have been many debates on here about that, my 2805 Denon does not have it and it sounds unbelievable, even the THX trailers on movies blow me out of the room when the sub and qs8's kick in....


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: Help me build a system
#95900 05/23/05 07:34 PM
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ndtiger Offline OP
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How about the Epic 50 175 or 350 systems? I also see that you can buy the rear speakers seperate. But the price on the website is for 2. Can you buy them one at a time? If I go with these speakers how much power per channel should I be looking at in a receiver?

Also, my speakers now are mounted on the ceiling. Should these rear speakers be mounted on the wall? At what level?

Re: Help me build a system
#95901 05/23/05 07:39 PM
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I would recommend buying in this way, if you don't want to buy everything at one time
1st: Mains. Pair of M22s, M50s, or M60s.
2nd: Surrounds: pair of QS4s or QS8s. (You don't want just one surround. You can buy them that way, but generally that's considered an option so you can go 6.1)
3rd: Center. Either a VP100 or VP150, depending on room size.

The sub should come somewhere around 1 or 2. I'd be looking at 350s and up.

I own a modified Epic 50 (without the sub). Axiom is willing to sell you whatever you want. 5 or more items in one order gets the 5% discount that the prebuilt systems (the Epics) have.

As for the surrounds, the current Dolby, DTS, and THX standards call for them to be mounted on the side walls, in the arc from slightly ahead of to behind the listening position, and 1-6 ft above the listener's head (I think that's the correct number).


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Help me build a system
#95902 05/23/05 07:41 PM
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Tiger, for a budget of $3500 you should be able to set yourself up with a dandy system. Keep in mind also that Axiom will cut 5% off of the advertised price if you purchase 5 items or more, a little savings that can add up!


Rick
Our Room

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Re: Help me build a system
#95903 05/23/05 09:40 PM
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Also, on the product page, check out the Factory Outlet link, most of us have purchased our speakers that way. You save 10%, plus if you order 5 or more items you get another 5%. These are also brand new speakers with the same warranty, but MAY have slight blemishes. Notice, I say MAY, most of us have never been able to find a single nick or blemish. Axiom's quality control is so high, that you have to have a microscope to find anything wrong...


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: Help me build a system
#95904 05/23/05 10:29 PM
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ndtiger,
Your budget seems quite enough for the audio part of the setup unless you need to worry about furniture-grade finishes and boutique brands (not that there is anything wrong with either). I am quite happy with Marantz SR7400 reciever. It has Dolby PLIIx allowing 7.1 from 2 or 5 channel material and sounds nice indeed. It also has video upconversion so you only need to run one set of video cables to the TV/projector (but not HDMI). You should be able to get it around US $600-700. Other options I would consider are Denons (3805 and up) if you want to move a bit up or Pioneer VSX-1014 if you want to save some $$$ and don't plan to use 4 Ohm speakers (e.g. Axiom M80's).
Your room is big enough for M80's or M60's and QS8 surrounds. I use QS8's both in the backs and on the sides in 7.1 setup but other folks reported excellent results with direct radiating speakers in the back (M2's or M22's).
For the sub going with SVS cylinders may be a bit too much after Bose. I would also consider Axiom's EP350 and up or HSU (I have STF-2 in a smaller room (15 x 23) and it is certainly sufficient). It is downfiring that was desirable as a child-proofing feature.
Plan the wiring for the future. Consider sending HDMI and component video into the ceiling if you ever want to add a front projector. Cost of this compared to the building costs should not be a concern and it may be hard to change later. Put enough of speaker wires to cover any future extensions (even if you don't want to set up 7.1 from the start).
Positioning TV. I am not sure if raising it a few inches will do the trick. If you have a dedicated room consider raising the back of the room where the second row will be. When builders are still there this may be not a big deal to set up and will add that theater "feeling" to the whole place. I used 3 table tops bolted together on kitchen cabinet legs for the raised platform for the back row seating and it works well enough and was very economical.

My Setup

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