Bit stuck on lots of things

parker · Sep 18, 2007 10:44 pm

This is pretty hard to explain, but hopefully I can paint you a picture of where I'm at...

At the moment I am using a PC hooked up to a set of these, and I find them perfectly good for my needs in a 4.4 x 3.8m room.
I was planning initially to just go ahead and cut the cables, add plugs, install wall sockets and just hang these on the wall in my new house, but now I am reconsidering. Not because I'm concerned about their quality, but because they'll look ******* as. I thought some flush mounts would go nicely but then wasn't sure that the sub/amp of the XPS510 set would be able to power them (the orig satellite speakers are 4ohm resistance if that helps). If it wouldn't what would I need to take the 5.1 channels from the PC and amplify them to whatever speakers I got?

The other big part of the equation is that I am also unsure how I would physically place everything in the room
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4.4x5.2m total. The recessed bit is 2.6 wide with 900mm on each side. Note the door opening, which prevents any speakers being placed behind it, but I could embed some above the door height - they'd just stick into the pantry a little but the pantry is huge..

Originally I was planning to have a projector on the ceiling and just a screen in the middle of the two sections of wall. I would have housed the gear in the LHS section of wall there (the RHS one is the pantry), but I've now given up on the idea of a projector because of the upfront/ongoing costs, obstruction from the ceiling (or more costs for elect mounts) etc. Now I'm going to use our 40" LCD on either a custom cabinet or a premade one (though I need it the right size for the PC), so i don't know what to do with the LHS section.

So what sort of speakers should I get, what do I need to drive them (both of which I need to do on the cheap - you've seen how easily satisfied my non-audiophile ears are), where do I put them, what do I do with the LHS section, and what do I do about a cabinet under the TV that will fit what I need?

Soo... many questions. I'm lost.

Appreciate and suggestions/clarity anyone might offer! Thanks.

Rodda · Sep 20, 2007 8:17 am

Dude have a look at this thread:

https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=1977

and check out the pictures (the first series is my room, which looks VERY similar to your picture and what you're describing).

As far as amps (A/V Receivers) go, if you want your PC to do the decoding then as long as the Receiver has a 5.1 (6.1, 7.1) analogue input you'll be fine.

I hope you decide to upgrade from the Logitech system (it is a Logitech one, yeah?), as I think they're cool for a surround sound gaming experience, I don't think they cut it for Home Theatre sound.

parker · Sep 20, 2007 8:56 pm

I really like the look of your theatre in that thread.
I'm pretty set on upgrading the speakers, but 2 questions remain.

1. Where would I place them physically, particularly the front ones ? Could I have the L&RFront up high above the door height somehow or would that stuff the effect?
Where's your sub? Are they both centres each side of hte TV?
Do you have a link or a brand/model I can Google for the built in speakers you've used in that set up please?

2. What would be an example of the sort of amp that would drive them? Second hand a good option for this sort of thing?

Thanks for your advice.

parker · Sep 20, 2007 10:42 pm

I think I've worked out what I'm going to do to an extent. The main focus is cheap now, but expandable.

Add a bulkhead in between like yours has.

Plan to have all the gear etc in a cabinet under the LCD TV, and not really use the LHS wall for anything.
Run cabling for my cheapo speaker setup for now, placing them on the wall where I will remove and replace with bigger ones in the future.
Add conduit for easy addition of cables behind the TV for future projection needs.

Have power point to the TV/gear, projector location and screen all in place for future.

Rodda · Sep 21, 2007 10:08 am

Cool man.

For audio, we use and recommend:

Electronics (A/V Receivers, DVD Players, etc.):
Marantz

Speakers:
Mordaunt-Short
Paradigm (In-walls/ceilings)
Mordaunt-Short (In-walls/ceilings)
Boston Acoustics
Jamo
Jamo (In-walls/ceilings)
Elan Home Systems (In-walls/ceilings)

Multi-Room systems:
Elan Home Systems
Sonos Systems

In my theatre I have a Marantz A/V Receiver and DVD Player, Elan and Jamo In-wall speakers (yes, both speakers either side of the TV are my front centre channel), Audio Pro subwoofer (in back corner of the room).

parker · Sep 22, 2007 10:47 am

Thanks - will have to look into those.

I don't understand how subs are connected. I guess I'm a bit confused because the pics Ive seen (not many) of the backs of 5.1 amps dont show a connection for the sub, just frontL/R, Rear LR and centre...
Some have made mention of requiring an active sub, which I assume means the sub is self powered??? You still have to supply a signal to it though, so how do they do that?

Cookiemonster · Sep 22, 2007 11:25 am

parker

Thanks - will have to look into those.

I don't understand how subs are connected. I guess I'm a bit confused because the pics Ive seen (not many) of the backs of 5.1 amps dont show a connection for the sub, just frontL/R, Rear LR and centre...

The sub connection is there.. it's usually labelled Sub Pre-out. You can see it in this picture here.. it's a purple RCA connection..
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Quote:

Some have made mention of requiring an active sub, which I assume means the sub is self powered??? You still have to supply a signal to it though, so how do they do that?

From the Sub pre-out connection. The pre-out means it's not amplified. The active sub does the amplification.

parker · Sep 22, 2007 12:20 pm

Yep - that makes sense now thanks... a nice big pic makes things a lot clearer.