First 5.1 Setup!

[csab]

I'm a college kid and with my birthday being the 23rd, I used my christmas/birthday cash to put together a 5.1 system. Here's what I put together, the rest of my stuff is in my sig.

• HK AVR 254 refurb on the HK ebay store for $275
• Premier Acoustic PA-120 Sub $220 shipped
• Energy Take 5 5CH Pack $130 shipped

So I guess I spent $625 when I was hoping for about $500, but from my research I think it was better to go with a nicer sub than I was initially looking at. The only downside is, I got the Energy speakers and one of them just crackled when sound goes went through it, I tried it at different positions with different speaker cables. So I have to wait for them to send me a new one to really enjoy it Kinda torture with all the new blus I got for christmas haha. Anyway any comments appreciated! Just remember I'm a poor college kid and didn't have much to work with I'll post some HT pics when everything is set up.

[ZedsDead]

You have nothing to be ashamed of, that's a solid entry level setup. I think you definitely stretched your dollars to get the most out of them which is great.

[MikeZ.]

My son hooked mine up for me back in the Spring. Harmon Kardon receiver, Yamaha speakers and subwoofer. Rear channels are towers, while 3 in front are small, but powerful. I went NUTS and bought nearly every surround audio recording I could get my hands on ( no regrets, just finally ran out of titles after about 200). Then, in October, my first Blu Ray player (Rambo 2008 in 7.1 a shining example of just how great a film can SOUND ! ) I can't imagine ever going back to any less. Example : last night I wanted "The Captain And Me " (1973-The Doobie Brothers), I put in the DVD-A disc, and I'm surrounded by one of my favorite albums. Later, "Zodiac" on Blu Ray.

[HAMP]

That's a fantastic start, you soon will be upgrading. I see you just joined and I will give a little advice if you want to save some money ---- leave now and never come back!!!!!!

Counter-Strike!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG, I haven’t played that in years.... I use to play the hell out of the Beta. I use to get kicked out of servers, because they thought I was cheating. I loved the game so much I would have never disrespected the game and added any cheat codes to my system.

I have put in many hours playing that game. Sun up to Sun down and more then a couple of time till the sun came up again.

[csab]

Quick question for you guys about the crossover levels for these, just to double check. Here are the frequency ranges for the speakers

• Sub: 24HZ-180HZ
• Center Speaker: 110Hz - 20KHz
• Satellite Speakers (x4): 115Hz - 20KHz

On the HK I can set the crossover level to 100Hz or 120Hz, but not 110Hz. What would be the best levels for each speaker? I was thinking the center and satellites should be 120Hz, since 100Hz would be too for them to produce. And I've read that optimally the Sub should be 80Hz~, but then there would be a big gap from 80Hz to 120Hz not being covered by any speaker, so I was thinking 120Hz for the sub. Does that sound right?

Originally Posted by HAMP

That's a fantastic start, you soon will be upgrading. I see you just joined and I will give a little advice if you want to save some money ---- leave now and never come back!!!!!!

Counter-Strike!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG, I haven’t played that in years.... I use to play the hell out of the Beta. I use to get kicked out of servers, because they thought I was cheating. I loved the game so much I would have never disrespected the game and added any cheat codes to my system.

I have put in many hours playing that game. Sun up to Sun down and more then a couple of time till the sun came up again.

Thanks for the advice. I've already spent way too much from following the "Hot Deals" forum I've had many sleepless nights playing CS as well, although I haven't been able to play it much this year cause my internet connection at college is terrible. Everyone knows lag makes CS no fun. That's probably part of the reason I started getting into movies!

[GeologyNut]

Originally Posted by csab

Quick question for you guys about the crossover levels for these, just to double check. Here are the frequency ranges for the speakers

• Sub: 24HZ-180HZ
• Center Speaker: 110Hz - 20KHz
• Satellite Speakers (x4): 115Hz - 20KHz

On the HK I can set the crossover level to 100Hz or 120Hz, but not 110Hz. What would be the best levels for each speaker? I was thinking the center and satellites should be 120Hz, since 100Hz would be too for them to produce. And I've read that optimally the Sub should be 80Hz~, but then there would be a big gap from 80Hz to 120Hz not being covered by any speaker, so I was thinking 120Hz for the sub. Does that sound right?

One way I have done this is to turn the subs crossover all the way up, usually 120 Hz and let the sub do everything below 120 Hz. In the receiver, I believe you only need to set the crossover once so I would set it to 120 Hz. If you do that then you will not get 110-120 Hz out of your center and you will be missing 5 Hz from your satellites. I hope that makes sense. Better than setting it to 100 Hz and having your speakers trying to reach all the way down to 100 Hz when they are not recommended to go there.

[csab]

Originally Posted by GeologyNut

One way I have done this is to turn the subs crossover all the way up, usually 120 Hz and let the sub do everything below 120 Hz. In the receiver, I believe you only need to set the crossover once so I would set it to 120 Hz. If you do that then you will not get 110-120 Hz out of your center and you will be missing 5 Hz from your satellites. I hope that makes sense. Better than setting it to 100 Hz and having your speakers trying to reach all the way down to 100 Hz when they are not recommended to go there.

Thanks, yeah that's what I was thinking. Too bad it doesn't have a 110Hz setting for the center, but oh well. Is missing out on 5-10Hz on the sats/center and having the sub cover those a big deal? I would guess not but I don't know.

[GeologyNut]

Originally Posted by csab

Thanks, yeah that's what I was thinking. Too bad it doesn't have a 110Hz for the center, but oh well. Is missing out on 5-10Hz on the sats/center and having the sub cover those a big deal? I would guess not but I don't know.

I don't think you would notice IMO!! It is hard to tell but it is the safer option than to set it at 100 Hz and possibly damage your speakers. But at those frequencies and so close to their bottom I doubt it would do any damage. But IMO, its better to be safe than sorry! You could try both settings and see if there is a noticeable difference between the two settings, 100 Hz and 120 Hz!

[callas01]

congrats, Like Geo said, back of sub, crossover to the max position and in the receiver to 120 hz and you should be fine.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by csab

I've had many sleepless nights playing CS as well, although I haven't been able to play it much this year cause my internet connection at college is terrible. Everyone knows lag makes CS no fun. That's probably part of the reason I started getting into movies!

I know you are asking about your setup, but I just have to say, do you know that game came out 10 years ago. I can't believe people still play it the way they do.

[tootall82103]

Counter-Strike is the best game ever made! If I could only have 1 game. That would be it.
Counter-Strike 1.0 came out 10 years ago. Counter-Strike Source, though the same game pretty much, has an updated graphics engine, and it's only about 5 years old =P

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by tootall82103

Counter-Strike is the best game ever made! If I could only have 1 game. That would be it.
Counter-Strike 1.0 came out 10 years ago. Counter-Strike Source, though the same game pretty much, has an updated graphics engine, and it's only about 5 years old =P

Counter-strike mod came out a little over 10 years ago, but counter-strike version 1 came out about years later.

I remember downloading and installing it.

[tootall82103]

and im sure ill be playing it in 10 years still.

[SpauldingSmails]

just got Modern warfare 2 on PS3...excellent game as well....

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by SpauldingSmails

just got Modern warfare 2 on PS3...excellent game as well....

I'm not saying Modern warfare 2 on PS3 is not fun, but from experience Counter-Strike had to be one of the most additive games to come out and also to last over 10 years. (and still going from what I read)

Counter strike was just a Mod, and it blew out the original game called 'Half-Life'

Then these companies started making games similar to counter strike and wanted to call their version "counter strike killer", as if they were going to be better.

I really hated when they started to change the game by incorporating other games into counter strike like wizard and warlocks or whatever that game is called. Having your character have magical powers really took away from the game to me.