I think i'm ready... what do you think?

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10-02-2005, 01:55 AM
MrNightly

I think i'm ready... what do you think?

Good day to you all.

I have been researching, googling, ebaying, and sound sampling at local stores for the past months... I believe I am ready to pin down what I want in my, "New" home theater. If that is possible. :) But I feel like i might need a little guidance from those who have been down this road before, like me, for the first time. So here's what i'm thinking so far. Don't laugh cause i haven't much here ;)

Rti10's - Fronts (Love the sound. Can get both for around $600)
Csi5 - Center (The best for the price i believe. Can get one for around $300)
Fxi5 - Surrounds
No sub picked yet, but want something nice and tight for good movies

A Crown XLS-402 Audio Power Amp to run the two towers (Ebay used for $200)
A Denon AVR 2803 7.1 Receiver to run the rest (With one day getting two more surrounds to complete the 7.1 Refurbed for around $450)

Am i on track with this? What do you think? Enough power? (If there be such a thing?)

Now be honest. I'm not rich, but i'm definately wiling to save another month or two to get what will last. This HT will be used 80% movies / 20% music.

If you have time, and wish to impart wisdom/experience for a young lad... be my guest.

David
10-02-2005, 01:59 AM
VR3

www.svsubwoofers.com

Theres your sub.

Rest looks good.
10-02-2005, 02:04 AM
MrNightly

the PB10-ISD or the PB12-ISD? Both look pretty impressive.
10-02-2005, 02:16 AM
Holydoc

Looks like you have a fantastic system in the making. I can highly recommend the SVS subs as long as you have the room for them. They are large but fantastic.

Another recommendation would be to get a calibration DVD like Avia (~$45) and a Sound Pressure Level (SPL) meter from Radio Shack (~$45) to calibrate your sound system. This will make a night and day difference to your movie watching fun.

According to the size of your room, your ears, and how much you are paying for them, you may wish to save a bit of money and get the FXi3's as opposed to the FXi5's. With so little sound actually going to the sides and rear, I could not hear a difference in the two. However I could see a big difference in the price. Listen and judge for yourself.

Welcome to the forum and nice start on a great system!
10-02-2005, 02:18 AM
brettw22

I'm not familiar with the Crown that you mentioned, but make sure that there is minimal to no fan noise because there have been complaints by people that try to use them for a home audio/theater application that they're distracting and annoying.......
10-02-2005, 02:23 AM
F1nut

Brett makes an excellent point and I think you'd be much happier with a better sounding, fanless amp in the long run.
10-02-2005, 09:42 AM
MrNightly

Thanks for the input!!

Regarding the amp, I heard from several people on, "Another Forum" that the Crown XLS amp was pretty quiet. Used for around $200 was the price i could get it for. Do you have another that you recommend that has passed the test of time?

Thanks, and glad to be aboard!
10-02-2005, 09:46 AM
MrNightly

holydoc.

my room is about 24x16. Do you really think i need to calibrate it? This is a first i've heard of that. But it does make sense. Also... if i have a big sub like the SVS, do you think i should go with the Rti8's? I've been struggling with that one. I think the 10's sounded better, but i listened without a sub. As you can tell, decisions are half the fun ;)

Thanks
10-02-2005, 11:12 AM
millerman 3732

sure , if I was going to speand that kind of money on a sub, and its going to be used for 80% moives I would seriously look in to the RTi8's or even he RTi6's
10-02-2005, 12:18 PM
Holydoc

MrNightly,

As far as whether you need to calibrate or not, it does not matter whether your room is the size of a closet of if your room is the size of a movie theatre. Without calibration you will never get the complete feeling of immersion without calibration. Calibration allows you to feel and experience what the film maker wanted you to feel. For $90 investment, you prevent one speaker from dominating your sound field or another speaker from being heard and thus breaking up the experience. It is why every good receiver like the Denon has built in "test tones" for the speakers.

As for whether you can go from the RTi10's to the RTi8's if you buy a decent subwoofer and are only going to do Home Theatre with your system, I would probably agree with Millerman and say yes. As you can see in my signature, I went for the RTi12's. For HT usage, I probably wasted my money. In my HT, My receiver is set up to cut the bass going to my regular speakers at 80hz (THX standard) and let my subwoofer pull the load. Therefore the big bass speakers on my RTi12's are not utilized to their fullest and thus could have been replaced by the RTi10 or 8's.

However when I wish to play "2 channel junky" and crank up some CD's, I turn off all my other speakers, set my receiver on its "Pure Audio" setting (turns off all video circuitry, minimizes all processing, and even turns off all display functions on the receiver to minimize any extraneous sound), and just have the RTi12's sing. This allows you to hear closer to what the artist and the CD producer wanted you to hear.

Let me also stress that I am in no way claiming any expertise besides what I have read and then experienced myself. You have come to the right place for advice since there are a multitude of real experts on this forum (especially about Polks). Most of the advice I am giving you is what I have learned from these good people and tried out myself. Good luck on your endeavors.

One word of caution... be careful with this hobby, it is very addictive (and pocket draining). I have fell "head over heels" into it. Seems everyone now wants to watch movies over my house, so I am always seeking out ways to improve their and my experience. I am always finding new ways to tweak the system to make it even more immersive and realistic.

ENJOY!
10-02-2005, 01:05 PM
MrNightly

Millerman,

What is your reasoning behind your comment? I realize that the 8's and 6's are half the price, but when i want to run music, even 20% of the time, I want it to sound the best it can. So are you saying that if you were me, you'd go smaller in the front, and forget the amp all-together? Since the Denon would run the rest no problem right? Interesting.

Let me hear what you think.
10-02-2005, 01:10 PM
BIZILL

rti 8's or 6's with a sub for ht. if you prefer only two-channel (left and right speakers only) without the distraction of a sub, go with rti10's or 12's with an amp. i personally love 7 channel stereo, though some would mock me for it. my sub brings up the lower octaves and does not distract from my listening experience. i am the type who could not imagine listening to music without a sub. i'd go with the 8's or 6's with a GOOD sub.......personal preference.
10-02-2005, 01:44 PM
F1nut

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrNightly

Do you have another that you recommend that has passed the test of time?

The usual suspects, Adcom, B&K, Carver, Rotel, etc. will all suit your needs and sound better than the Crown.
10-02-2005, 01:52 PM
VR3

An amp is going to be needed...

Take the money you save on buying smaller speakers and put it towards other parts of the setup - an amp, a preamp, a sub...

every set of speakers benefits from a seperate amp.
10-02-2005, 02:13 PM
millerman 3732

I don't really use my set up for listening to music so I really cant comment on that Either way if you buy the 8's or even the 10's and an amp for the music it still going to sound great for movies . It' s really up to you if you want to spend the extra money. but like you said 80% movies and 20% music
10-02-2005, 02:29 PM
millerman 3732

hope that dosn't sound dumb
10-02-2005, 10:01 PM
MrNightly

Ok F1nut. Question for you.

I have found a crown xls 402 amp for 140 bucks. What under $200 would be comparable to this in any of the other brands you mentioned? If slightly more, is there that much of a difference in quality??

Thanks for responding.
10-02-2005, 10:03 PM
MrNightly

Thanks millerman. Didn't sound dumb at all. I think i'm gonna go with the 10's, because i know i liked the sound with them as the only mains without a sub, and also because i think they look better. Besides, I won't be saving more than $200 by down grading to the 8's.
10-03-2005, 01:26 AM
danger boy

other inexpensive amps to consider would be one of the many models of used Adcom amps or even Outlaw audio amps.
10-03-2005, 07:11 AM
TheReaper

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holydoc

...you may wish to save a bit of money and get the FXi3's as opposed to the FXi5's. With so little sound actually going to the sides and rear, I could not hear a difference in the two. However I could see a big difference in the price. Listen and judge for yourself...

I haven't heard these speakers, but as a general rule, if you like to watch recent action movies. Larger surround speakers with more impact and depth of sound. Usually do better at sound effects like explosions, thunder and fly-overs. For most other movies and sounds, speaker size doesn't matter as much.
10-03-2005, 11:38 AM
MrNightly

Forgive my lack of knowledge in amps/pre-amps. What exactly is the difference that i should be looking for? Lets go with the following situation:

I pick up the Rti8's for fronts, Csi5 for center, SVS 12ish for sub, and the surrounds somewhere in the 3 - 5 range (polk). I get a decent receiver, but what do i need for amp wise, or any? I was settled on the crown XLS, but now you guys said it might not be the best choice.

Lay it on me. Let's hear it.
10-03-2005, 11:40 AM
VR3

Amps...

Adcom GFA-545, GFA-555
B&K ST 125.2, 200.2
NAD
Carver
AMC
Audiosource
Rotel
Outlaw
Emotiva ( www.av123.com ) ****** (check them out)