Home Audio Setups

[solacedagony]

I have a couple months at least before I buy any home audio stuff, so I was putting some ideas together. I'd like to go active, just to save any headaches of learning the ins and outs of passive setups. I decided that the Behringer DEQ2496 processor (Includes tons of EQ, crossovers, T/A, memory for different setups, etc, etc) would be cool for an active crossover, and I was looking at getting some basic Crown/QSC/Mackie power amps since I can use them for home audio and for powering speakers for my band. I haven't decided what speakers I'll be using yet, but it'll probably be something Seas/Peerless/ScanSpeak.
Wanted to check out what all you guys are running for systems!

[CaptainPioneer]

I did a set up in a friends house with a Pioneer Elite HU... Domino Tripple chip DLP projector, 6 surrounds with 5 1/4 inch Pinnacle in wall speakers as well as a dual 5 1/4 inch center and a Baby boom dual 8" Isobaric subwoofer... Should have definitely used a bigger sub for the room though... No special crossovers used because the Elite has amazing fetures on it. The Pinnacles are just amazing sounding great sound and the 7.1 surround is just fantastic... the sub is really not enough given the size of the room and it has had to been returned 2 times already for over extending... somethign that im not enthused about... $800 subwoofer not working correctly is somethign i dont understand...

[two4fifteen]

even the most expensive equipment may have failures. in the real world, anything is possible. ask any product engineer how many programs they have had with absolutely no problems or failures.

[solacedagony]

You probably should have went larger diameter if you were over extending them. Overextending = sending too much power. (Or if it's ported, not correctly setting the infrasonic filter, or both.)
Anyway, for now I'm just gonna do a 2-way. I was thinking of building a 5.1 setup for my dad however. I do need to get a receiver that's capable of 5.1 for surround to work correctly, right?

[CaptainPioneer]

Yea i dont know exactly what happened with that sub.... first off its way tooooooo small for the room and i am pretty sure that somethign went wrong with the signal coming to it... I cant wait we order the dual 15" Cabinet from Klipsh... mmmmm it should be good

[solacedagony]

That sounds sweet. I'm gonna do one of Geo's Statements in my litle room :) Going to attempt to build a transmission line for it and shake the house to bits.

[cargodz]

That sounds sweet. I'm gonna do one of Geo's Statements in my litle room :) Going to attempt to build a transmission line for it and shake the house to bits.
Geo's Statements, what Statements.... Oh you mean the invisa-woofer that so many of us have heard about, but never seen...Invisa-Woofer:p

Just playin a lil with ya Geo:happy055:

[2broke4this]

I've finally finished (for now) piecing together my HT setup. The house is a rental, and the living room isn't all that big, so I can only feasibly use the 5.1 surround on my Harman Kardon AVR 325. I don't have anywhere to put the other two surround speakers for the 7.1. My front speakers are a pair of Klipsch KG4 floor speakers, the center is a Klipsch KV-1, the rears are a pair of KG .5 bookshelf speakers (I actually have two pairs of these so when I have room for 7.1, I'll be ready). I completed the setup just recently with a Klipsch KSW-12 to round out the bottom end. I know there are much better setups, but I've done this all on a broke college student budget (I love pawn shops). I'm pretty happy with it all right now. The nice part about the H/K is that it has preouts for all the channels, so if/when I want more power, I don't have to start completely over right away. :) It sounds like your plans are already bigger than mine!

[Jonathan]

I have a friend that just built the ZD5 that Zaph designed:
http://www.zaphaudio.com/ZD5.html

and I must say it was VERY impressive, especially considering the value of it (though it does use fairly expensive drivers-Scanspeak Revelators, for the midbasses).

I want to build the Linkwitz Orions :D

[solacedagony]

Yea, that's why I want to go active, so that if I do decide to switch speakers, I don't need to build new passives for the new set, etc. I just build the box, mount everything and start listening!
I am planning on doing an HT for my dad, which I'll use some basic passives (above paragraph is a 2.1 setup for music/movies). I think Zaph has details on some well priced satellites for 5.1 on his site. I'll also have to setup some floor standers for the front channels. It'll be fun once I get the money to start playing with it.

[solacedagony]

I have a friend that just built the ZD5 that Zaph designed:
http://www.zaphaudio.com/ZD5.html
and I must say it was VERY impressive, especially considering the value of it (though it does use fairly expensive drivers-Scanspeak Revelators, for the midbasses).
I want to build the Linkwitz Orions :D

Those Vifa tweets are cool looking. I wish I was better with wood. I guess only way to get better is practice, practice, practice. :sm29:
.... Those Orions are just crazy. That omindirectional woofer+tweet PVC thing he made was really sweet looking too.

[Jonathan]

The XTs are good tweets for the money. Great performers if the crossover point is high enough.

[Jonathan]

Those Orions are just crazy. That omindirectional woofer+tweet PVC thing he made was really sweet looking too.

Dipoles are awesome. You can compare the Orions with the very best electrostatics in midrange clarity and the system imaging. They're just amazing.

I'd like to design a SEAS Excel transmission line system, I didn't really like the Thor design once I heard it because the crossover wasn't that well designed and the transmission line wasn't the best either. Either that, or I want to experiment with the new Nextel Excel drivers and the Crescendo tweeter. Maybe an MTM designed for large dynamic output :D

[solacedagony]

Hey Jon, what do you think between the Peerless Exclusive 5.75" (830882) and the Seas CA15RLY 5.5"? I was also looking at the Seas L15RLY (aluminum).

Edit: I can't wait to get into home audio, when I get all my bills paid off. So much more stuff to play with. Car audio is like the bastard child of home audio ;) (Ahhhh! Flames! hehe)

[Jonathan]

I'd say:
1: Exclusive
2: L15RLY
3: CA15RLY

But if you wanted a metal cone driver, I'd suggest the 7" L18 over the L15. It has a curvilinear profile that pushes the breakup node to 7khz, which means there aren't really any tradeoffs with the driver as far as crossover with the tweeter, plus you get the lower distortion and better midbass of the larger driver.

[solacedagony]

Ah ok, I figured (didn't look at the FR graphs or anything on those) that the larger size would force me to a lower crossover point that I might not be able to (financially :)) make. I am considering the Peerless HDS tweeter or one of the Seas tweeters.
I was biased toward paper so that I wouldn't have to deal with potential break-up from the metal cone for my first time building a home setup.

[Jonathan]

Ah ok, I figured (didn't look at the FR graphs or anything on those) that the larger size would force me to a lower crossover point that I might not be able to (financially :)) make. I am considering the Peerless HDS tweeter or one of the Seas tweeters.
I was biased toward paper so that I wouldn't have to deal with potential break-up from the metal cone for my first time building a home setup.

This is one of those special case scenarios, the 7" has a curvilinear profile modeled from some software that Peter Larson developed, while the 5" and previous 7 inchers from that lineup do not. So the breakup nodes are close to one another when comparing the 5" and the 7". It makes it much easier to use the 7" in a 2 way with the higher breakup node.

And that's another project that Zaph did, based on using Parts Express boxes no less for the amateur woodworker.

[Jonathan]

Edit: I can't wait to get into home audio, when I get all my bills paid off. So much more stuff to play with. Car audio is like the bastard child of home audio ;) (Ahhhh! Flames! hehe)

I don't think many people can argue on that one. I'm getting to the point that I just can't see spending tons of money on car audio anymore, the environment itself just can't take advantage of super high end equipment.

Another note, two GREAT DIY sites for different options:
http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/Diy_Loudspeaker_Projects.htm
http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/

[solacedagony]

I don't think many people can argue on that one. I'm getting to the point that I just can't see spending tons of money on car audio anymore, the environment itself just can't take advantage of super high end equipment.


Yea. I just recently learn how baffle step (and its compensation) works. I didn't know it had that much effect on FR. I don't think I've ever read about someone worrying about baffle step in a car. lol.
BTW, thanks for those links. Loads more info there. If you have any other good stuff laying around, please link. I'd be glad to read it up.

[CaptainPioneer]

Hey does anyone know if they are going to start making DVD's with true 7.1? I know Blue Ray says "Up to 7.1" but thats probably not true 7.1... I currently have my house wired up with mock 7.1 but really the rear surrounds just act as fillers...