Not related to recording...home theater
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Posted on Feb 15, 2011 01:52 pm
dbmasters
Administrator Since: Apr 03, 2002
So, I am finishing my basement and putting in a home theater...I have set up or helped set up, many, but were all 5.1 systems in smaller rooms...
I generally converted them to 5.2 systems by spliting subwoofer signals pre-amplifier for a better bass tone...but I have a new project now.
I am lookin in to different formats, and am pretty much sold on 7.1 or 7.2 (will research is the subs are simple two outputs of the same signal or two unique sub signals).
The issue is this room is long...12-14 feet wide and around 25 feet long...so with the 7 channels in the right locations it'll give decent sidefill up the long walls of the room.
I was also looking into 10.2 but that format seems really silly, with 3 rear speakers and the other 7 going from the side toward the front with a couple set higher for a height space...that seems very lop-sided to me...so the 7 channels seems more logical.
Anyone have any experience or input to add in my logic?
With Ultimate Electronics closing now, and their discounts for liquidation starting I want to get the gear now if I find the right stuff.
Thanks.
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BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 15, 2011 02:46 pm Got this off the web.... pretty informative
7.2 Surround Sound
This isn't very common at present - but you may come across this speaker configuration - or more likely an AV receiver that claims to support this configuration.
A 7.2 speaker system is the same as a 7.1 setup - except it has two subwoofers - hence the '.1' being increased to '.2'.
A 7.2 surround sound receiver would therefore have two subwoofer outputs rather than the usual single one.
The main reason to have a second subwoofer is to even out the bass sound throughout your room - as the long wavelengths of bass sound waves can create standing waves in your room, which can lead to areas of quiet or loud bass.
Now, this isn't a situation we want in our home cinema as it is obviously better to have a consistent level of bass regardless of where you are sat in the room.
Therefore, if we place a second subwoofer somewhere else, then we should be able to fill in the gaps and create a more even spread of the bass sound.
Obviously, you can also use this second subwoofer in a 5.1 surround sound setup too - and you will create your very own 5.2 surround sound system!
7.2 Surround Sound System Setup
Another advantage of a '.2' system is you shouldn't need to drive two subwoofers as hard as you would with just one to get a good bass level, which may result in a better, less overdriven sound.
Whatever the reason for using two subwoofers, the speaker positioning would vary from room to room depending on the acoustics - and so it is impossible to say exactly where you should position your second subwoofer.
However, it may just be a simple case of having one near the front, and one near the back or side of the room.
As the bass sound from a sub is not directional, it shouldn't matter too much where you place the speakers, it is just the overall bass cover that you are concerned with.
www.the-home-cinema-guide...ound-sound.html
Feb 15, 2011 03:05 pm Thanks BH, I had read that same site myself...and I did create a "5.2" and it does make a BIG difference. So, looking at it that way, yeah, the .2 does not mean difference signals, just two outputs...whereas with 10.2 it's actually a left and right sub...for which the signal is made by the sum of the left and right speakers.
7.2 is rare, but I am hoping it is backwards compatible with 5.1 and can fills the side washes with what is in the left and right, front and rear speakers to just fill that sonic space. Not sure if it does that though.
There are loads of amps that are "7.x" but I wonder fit 's just that, mocking it based on 5.1...since DVD's are currently all 5.1.
And you get into 10.2, prices go up A LOT.
Feb 16, 2011 11:57 am Yeah, I looked thru that site the other day when you linked to it on Facebook or something..good stuff.
I am eyeing up a Panasonic package and a couple others...I love gear shopping. I don't do it much any more.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 16, 2011 12:04 pm If you let me know what package you are looking at I can let you know how much we buy them for. Might help you when "negotiating" with the retailer. I will try and post up some pictures but we have 3 listening rooms here. Actually, part of the store is made like a house with a kitchen etc so you can see how different products integrate into the home. We deal in Control4 as well which is multi-room controls. Very nice stuff. We only deal with mid to high end products
Feb 16, 2011 12:09 pm That'd be awesome.
I am looking at:
Panasonic SC-BT300
Yamaha YHT-791
are the two I am kinda diggin.
Panasonic SC-BT200 looks decent but I read the sound quality isn't quite what the 300 is.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 16, 2011 12:42 pm Looks like the Panasonic SC-BT300 is now discontinued but I do have pricing if you can find it somewhere. I will msg the cost in case you can find it.
We don't have any info on the YHT-791. The Yamaha HTS that we carry are the YHTB-4670B and YHTB-6670B.
Feb 16, 2011 12:47 pm I found 'em both on Amazon...
Both Yamaha's you have are 5.1...well, the second says it does 7.1 but only comes with 5 speakers.
Thanks for the info, tonight I am running to a local store to dig around too.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 16, 2011 01:26 pm Interesting, I just checked and we do not have any 7.1 home theater in a box systems. All of our 7.1 stuff is separate. For example we do have a Yamaha RXV3900B 7.1 receiver. We also have a lot of different Denon 7.1 receivers.
7.2 receivers that we have in stock are the Denon AVR2311CI and the Yamaha RXA3000. We have disco'd the Yamaha RXV765B.
Feb 16, 2011 01:30 pm Ya know, one thing I have asked a couple dudes in stores and they just give me a dumb stare, but seems 150% logical to me, is finding a TV that has a speaker loopback...meaning...I can use the speaker on the TV set as the center channel by accepting speaker feeds from the stereo that would disable any of the onboard audio crap within the TV.
That feature seems so brain dead logical I can't believe I can't find one that does it.
Center channel is mostly just dialog anyway, usually, very easy task for a speaker.
Though I don't think you guys have TV's (might be wrong) but it's something that's bugged me...
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 16, 2011 01:43 pm We have a huge selection of TVs. It is the biggest part of our business. Panasonic has setup a section of the showroom for their products and it is the largest in Western Canada.
Soundbars w\ wireless subs are getting popular. Good point on the center channel speaker though. All it would take is a line-out from the center channel on the receiver to work. Just plug in the center channel line-out to the input of the TV. Most it not all of the receivers I have seen only have an amp'd center channel output though :(
Feb 16, 2011 02:13 pm Yeah, so the line in on the TV and the internal amp to the speaker would have to be engaged/disengaged based on whether or not the line is being used, or some toggle switch in config.
It just seems so logical, and space/appearance efficient.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 16, 2011 04:12 pm I'm going for a projector for my next purchase. I like the idea of a 133" screen. :)
Feb 16, 2011 04:17 pm Yeah, I am thinking about a projector, but wondering how that would fly while playing Wii without getting in the way of it.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 16, 2011 04:45 pm Most of the projectors have a really "short throw" these days. I doubt that it would get in the way. Depends on the size of the room.... I think you said yours was 24' so it would be mounted around 10 feet back and on the ceiling. Pretty sure that it would be out of the way. Man playing Call of Duty using the wii gun would be awesome!
Feb 16, 2011 04:48 pm Oh, well, that throws a new twist in plans!
A GOOD twist!
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 16, 2011 06:17 pm The price has really come down on them as well. Plus we sell these motorized screens that hide away when not in use. This is why I want to get into the Control4 system. You press "play movie" on the remote and the screen comes down, the receiver switches to DVD and the correct sound setting, the projector turns on, the lights dim etc. All with one button press. Really makes it easy for anyone to work a complicated system
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 16, 2011 10:51 pm I will email you tomorrow about the Denon stuff ;)
Feb 18, 2011 10:24 am Instead of the extra sub you should screw something like this to your couch! thebuttkicker.com/
Feb 18, 2011 10:32 am Oh, awesome...years ago my roommate and I used to put our subs under the couch for that affect. I am soooo getting this!
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Feb 18, 2011 12:26 pm I remember seeing something similar to the buttkicker but it was attached to the frame of the couch. Would sure be awesome for action movies!
