Driver_King's Home Theater

[Driver_King]

No, they are my HT. My 805 is only powering them right now. I need to find a good deal on an older amp before I go separates and properly power them. First, I'll be working on upgrading them. Then, I'll go separates. Then, I may upgrade my surrounds. Maybe later on if I find a proper center, I'll get one. Later, I'd upgrade the center. Before I get the center, I'd get a new TV with a new entertainment center. Then, I don't know. I won't be doing any room treatments or proper wire hiding (in-wall). My room is just too small to be doing that as far as improvements there would go. I'd have better results with a bigger room. Any suggestions?

[SRTCraig]

I have my Denon powering the SDA array and the NAD doing the stereo array.

The SRT's are a little different to SDA's as the control center does all the bass management etc. I have the denon hooked into the control center passing the sda signal and the 218 feeding direct to the stereo array on the mains.
I'm pretty sure you could add an external amp and biamp them, feeding the receiver to the SDA array and bigger power amp to the stereo array. I've run the stereo array on its own without the SDA array running and the imaging and sounstage are back to any run of the mill speaker.....

SDA's need room from what i've read and the amount is model dependent. FWIW i have a 24db reduction an bass when listening to music. I need to reduce the movie mode bass level aswell, but love that pounding ya get

[Driver_King]

They aren't biampable though. I have them about 5 feet apart. That's about how far I can have them until the door gets in the way.

[SRTCraig]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

They aren't biampable though. I have them about 5 feet apart. That's about how far I can have them until the door gets in the way.

Well thats a surprise! The crossovers in them must do all the cancellation.

To get the most out of them imaging wise you need to have the triangle thing happening, with no toe-in (as strange as it sounds). If they're 5 feet apart the best imaging will be about 5 feet from the speakers. In saying that though i am a little further back than the optimum. I also have the problem of one placed near a wall and the other at the opening to the dining room. Mine sound really good so much so that another SRT owner here commented that set-up was one of the best he'd heard.... so different things can work with them if the basic no toe-in thing is adhered to.

Just out of curiosity, how bigger soundstage do the REAL sda's create? The SRT's extend so high and so wide i scratch my head in amazement sometimes.

[Driver_King]

I have my speakers about two or three feet from the wall also. As for imaging, I still can't find where it ends. When I looked out the window, I only saw my neighbors house and nobody playing music.

[SRTCraig]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

I have my speakers about two or three feet from the wall also. As for imaging, I still can't find where it ends. When I looked out the window, I only saw my neighbors house and nobody playing music.

LOL
Priceless aint it??? I actually find it disconcerting sometimes in movies when sounds come from so far left or right. Even in music the separation and placement is so noticeable even the wife asks what sounds are here and there, where she never noticed before.

[Beta Man]

Great work! I'm considering a sub build..... but I'm wary of my lack of skills!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by SRTCraig

Well thats a surprise! The crossovers in them must do all the cancellation.

To get the most out of them imaging wise you need to have the triangle thing happening, with no toe-in (as strange as it sounds). If they're 5 feet apart the best imaging will be about 5 feet from the speakers. In saying that though i am a little further back than the optimum. I also have the problem of one placed near a wall and the other at the opening to the dining room. Mine sound really good so much so that another SRT owner here commented that set-up was one of the best he'd heard.... so different things can work with them if the basic no toe-in thing is adhered to.

Just out of curiosity, how bigger soundstage do the REAL sda's create? The SRT's extend so high and so wide i scratch my head in amazement sometimes.

Sound stage is...gianormous!!!! Things sound like they creep up from behind you in 2 channel music! And yes all of the SDA stuff was done in the crossover originally. Polk and Carver were pioneeres in phase cancellation techniques! What Carver did electronically (Carver Sonic Hologram) the Polks did acousticly through the crossover. In your series Polk went to the electronic version. Unlike Polk -Carver requires a toe in to get the holographic effect. The Polks need to be straight forward. The larger ones like the SDA-SRS, SDA-SRS 1.2, and SDA-SRS 2.3's (one of the all time favorite speakers that I have owned) also have a brace bar that can couple the speaker directly to the back wall. You guys have some nice stuff there! I'm actually using a Carver C-9 in my system also - I know what you are experiencing - and it is nice Some people like it - some people don't - I actually enjoy it !!!!!

[Driver_King]

I just ordered a pair of Polk Monitor 5Jr's for surrounds for $30 and a pair of Polk Monitor 4's for back surrounds for $20. Next is the CSi A6! Then the screen! Then ceiling mounting the projector! Then rearranging my room! What will I think of next?!?

[bigred7078]

Loving the setups man! Those SDA's sure are sweeeet

Beautiful work on the DIY sub, lookin good

[Driver_King]

Thanks for the kind comments. It's all a work in progress. And yes, the SDA's sound great and my DIY sub is a beaut'.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

No, they are my HT. My 805 is only powering them right now. I need to find a good deal on an older amp before I go separates and properly power them. First, I'll be working on upgrading them. Then, I'll go separates. Then, I may upgrade my surrounds. Maybe later on if I find a proper center, I'll get one. Later, I'd upgrade the center. Before I get the center, I'd get a new TV with a new entertainment center. Then, I don't know. I won't be doing any room treatments or proper wire hiding (in-wall). My room is just too small to be doing that as far as improvements there would go. I'd have better results with a bigger room. Any suggestions?

You will be broke in a short time. Find the closest Social Security office to apply for welfare.

P.S. Find a good and powerful two-channel amp (200w+++++) to drive the SDAs and let your 805 power the rest of your speakers.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

You will be broke in a short time. Find the closest Social Security office to apply for welfare.

P.S. Find a good and powerful two-channel amp (200w+++++) to drive the SDAs and let your 805 power the rest of your speakers.

I wonder what kind of power I'm getting right now with my 805. Onkyo's site and manual don't mention how it handles 4ohm speakers power wise. I want to try to get around 500 watts per speaker at the lowest price possible, without sacrificing quality. It can be done, it's just I need to look harder.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

I wonder what kind of power I'm getting right now with my 805. Onkyo's site and manual don't mention how it handles 4ohm speakers power wise. I want to try to get around 500 watts per speaker at the lowest price possible, without sacrificing quality. It can be done, it's just I need to look harder.

Find a used Cinepro amplifier. I own one. They can handle up to 750W per channel for 4 ohm speakers. They cost mucho dinero.

[Driver_King]

Like this? $1200 less and we're talkin'!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

Like this? $1200 less and we're talkin'!

Mine is a slightly different model. I bought it directly from the manufacturer at a high-end show in 1998. I had no intention of buying anything, but I liked it so much and the representative gave me a bit of a discount. It cost me $2,850, including sales tax. I still have the Visa receipt inside the manual. My wife was with me so I didn't need to hide anything. She had to help me carry it inside the house. It is a monster.

Review: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...inepro3k6.html

[SRTCraig]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Find a used Cinepro amplifier. I own one. They can handle up to 750W per channel for 4 ohm speakers. They cost mucho dinero.

Or the newer Cinepro, now called Verastarr.... They are a sight and sound to be heard. 6 x 400w @ 8ohms. Words just cant describe it, raw power and musicality all wrapped up in one package. Survived a serious torture session to find its limits that left our jaws dragging on the ground.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

You will be broke in a short time. Find the closest Social Security office to apply for welfare.

P.S. Find a good and powerful two-channel amp (200w+++++) to drive the SDAs and let your 805 power the rest of your speakers.

That's it Daddy!!!! Work that audio bug in good and deep to our young new club member (graduated from HTIB to furniture grade speakers - as in made solid)!
Driver - Daddy is right, get a beast for those SDA's to hear them really sing! You can also go to A'gon and find stuff on the used market. That's where I got my Yamaha M series amps from. They're working like a swiss watch - and built like a tank!

[Hammie]

I would go to a custom car audio shop and get the grill material. Most places will sell you a small swatch large enough to wrap your frame for the cover.

BTW, nice looking sub.

[Driver_King]

Thanks for all the advice and comments there. I need to keep my eye out for any good deals on amps for my SDA's. I keep procrastinating. Thanks for the sub compliment too. It is one of the first things you see in my room after you walk in (other than the SDA's you have to walk around, and the furniture, ect.) and I'm glad it is. It was worth the $60 or so I put into it.