callas01 Home Theatre

[callas01]

Originally Posted by aces high

That'd have to be a pretty tall stand . What I should have done when we reno'd the basement was built an equipment closet, unfortunately that's just not a possibility now without spending a bunch of money to tear things apart again and rebuild.

I'd like to add a pj setup in that room eventually and at this point in time I don't know how low the screen would hang down. That will be something I'll have to investigate before buying anything else.

Do your Dyn's sound best when point straight or toed in at all? That's something that I need to play around with upstairs, I don't think I've got my S20's paced 100% optimal yet. Right now they're slightly toed in but I find that keeps the soundstage in between the speakers all the time.

I don't toe in at all, they sound best straight forward, about 12 inches from the blinds which is 16"s from the windows.

Maybe you can find yourself some longer shorter racks that will fit everything? Its funny how much placement plays with your setup.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by callas01

I don't toe in at all, they sound best straight forward, about 12 inches from the blinds which is 16"s from the windows.

Maybe you can find yourself some longer shorter racks that will fit everything? Its funny how much placement plays with your setup.

From the Totem website and the recommended guidelines for my Sttafs.

Toe-in: Due to the fact that all Totem speakers have great off-axis dispersion, toe-in is generally not needed. Imaging will therefore be more stable from any point in the room. If the speakers are placed very far apart (over 7 feet) then a slight toe-in may be experimented with. However if room geometry does not permit a straight-ahead aspect they will also perform very well with a slight toe-in.

I've actually experimented with toe-OUT, and while I thought it helped the soundstage when the Sttafs were placed 6ft apart, I finally concluded they sounded optimal at between 7-8ft in a straight-firing position.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by callas01

I don't toe in at all, they sound best straight forward, about 12 inches from the blinds which is 16"s from the windows.

Maybe you can find yourself some longer shorter racks that will fit everything? Its funny how much placement plays with your setup.

The thing that I'm kicking myself about is I could have easily built a closet as we completely gutted the basement and started from scratch. I never considered my stand wouldn't hold everything or that the system would get this out of hand. Eventually I'll come up with something that'll work.

Upstairs the system placement wise sounded better when the gear was on the fireplace, it looks much better now but the placement isn't the best. I have to have the speakers much closer to the wall or they're right in the way of us walking through the room. It would have been much better if the fireplace was on the wall were the stereo is now and put the stereo where the fireplace is. I could then have the speakers roughly 2ft out into the room and not have to worry about people running into them.

Something that has surprised me is that I think the best imaging speakers I've ever had in our living room were the PSB Imagine B's. They were compromised in other areas but the soundstage they through was awesome. I only had them for a weekend, it'd be nice if I could try out a set of the towers for a couple of weeks.

[callas01]

Got Abbey road on vinyl and another classical cd, Beethoven

[callas01]

Originally Posted by aces high

The thing that I'm kicking myself about is I could have easily built a closet as we completely gutted the basement and started from scratch. I never considered my stand wouldn't hold everything or that the system would get this out of hand. Eventually I'll come up with something that'll work.

Upstairs the system placement wise sounded better when the gear was on the fireplace, it looks much better now but the placement isn't the best. I have to have the speakers much closer to the wall or they're right in the way of us walking through the room. It would have been much better if the fireplace was on the wall were the stereo is now and put the stereo where the fireplace is. I could then have the speakers roughly 2ft out into the room and not have to worry about people running into them.

Something that has surprised me is that I think the best imaging speakers I've ever had in our living room were the PSB Imagine B's. They were compromised in other areas but the soundstage they through was awesome. I only had them for a weekend, it'd be nice if I could try out a set of the towers for a couple of weeks.

you know PSB and Energy came away from the NRC research designing speakers with flat frequency response, wide dispersion and low distortion. So it doesn't surprise me that you say the Imagine B threw a wide soundstage, the Energys did that too.

Sucks that you can't position the speakers where you want them upstairs. You want to know what else sucks.... my son somehow damaged my new Sumiko cartridge. This really sucks. I re-arranged my whole setup, the TT and Blu-ray player is down where the center was, and the center is up on the top shelf. Actually looks much better this way, my wife and I agreed.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by callas01

you know PSB and Energy came away from the NRC research designing speakers with flat frequency response, wide dispersion and low distortion. So it doesn't surprise me that you say the Imagine B threw a wide soundstage, the Energys did that too.

Sucks that you can't position the speakers where you want them upstairs. You want to know what else sucks.... my son somehow damaged my new Sumiko cartridge. This really sucks. I re-arranged my whole setup, the TT and Blu-ray player is down where the center was, and the center is up on the top shelf. Actually looks much better this way, my wife and I agreed.

Is your new cart completely destroyed again? That really sucks!

I would imagine that your center would sound better on the top shelf too, hopefully with the new position your son won't be interested in it. You don't seem to have much luck with a TT.

Listened to Star Tracks downstairs today and it sounded really good, I was really surprised at how much bass I was getting out of the S6's on the Empire Strikes back track. Those drums were hitting with authority.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by callas01

you know PSB and Energy came away from the NRC research designing speakers with flat frequency response, wide dispersion and low distortion. So it doesn't surprise me that you say the Imagine B threw a wide soundstage, the Energys did that too.

Sucks that you can't position the speakers where you want them upstairs. You want to know what else sucks.... my son somehow damaged my new Sumiko cartridge. This really sucks. I re-arranged my whole setup, the TT and Blu-ray player is down where the center was, and the center is up on the top shelf. Actually looks much better this way, my wife and I agreed.

Really?

[callas01]

Originally Posted by aces high

Is your new cart completely destroyed again? That really sucks!

I would imagine that your center would sound better on the top shelf too, hopefully with the new position your son won't be interested in it. You don't seem to have much luck with a TT.

Listened to Star Tracks downstairs today and it sounded really good, I was really surprised at how much bass I was getting out of the S6's on the Empire Strikes back track. Those drums were hitting with authority.

yep, the needle is bent in half..... can you beleive that...... I was so pissed.. I swear I really felt like my wife doesn't pay attention to wtf he is doing when Im not here... shit the kid has been hit in the head by another kid on a swing, and fell off a 3' high chair, all in the last week. I told her Ill wait a while to get a new Cart, but she said she'll go buy it if i don't. IDK, Im kinda pissed. I know it wasn't her fault, but damn, how does a kid get into that much f-ing shit in one week.

you know something funny, it sounds like the center channel is on the top shelf now. before it didn't sound like the center channel was there at all.... Maybe Ill just have to get used to it there.

Its amazing that the Empire Strikes Back audio track has that much bass when those tympani's hit. Nice to know that your system throws some serious bass with that track.... was that with just the S6s or the sub also?

[callas01]

Originally Posted by HAMP

Really?

I know I know.... I knew posting that sentence you would get you going...

[aces high]

Originally Posted by callas01

yep, the needle is bent in half..... can you beleive that...... I was so pissed.. I swear I really felt like my wife doesn't pay attention to wtf he is doing when Im not here... shit the kid has been hit in the head by another kid on a swing, and fell off a 3' high chair, all in the last week. I told her Ill wait a while to get a new Cart, but she said she'll go buy it if i don't. IDK, Im kinda pissed. I know it wasn't her fault, but damn, how does a kid get into that much f-ing shit in one week.

you know something funny, it sounds like the center channel is on the top shelf now. before it didn't sound like the center channel was there at all.... Maybe Ill just have to get used to it there.

Its amazing that the Empire Strikes Back audio track has that much bass when those tympani's hit. Nice to know that your system throws some serious bass with that track.... was that with just the S6s or the sub also?

So are you going to replace the cart anytime soon? Are you comfortable with putting the cart on yourself now? If you are I've got an Ortofon 2M Red collecting dust.

I was listening with just the towers this afternoon and was pleased with the sound I was hearing, I'm very happy with the S6's but I still wonder about the S8's. You should see the meters on the amps jump when the tympani's hit, I was listening at -20 and I bet when those drums hit the speakers were pulling 250w for those peaks.

You probably just need to get used to the new position of the center. Did you re-run Audyssey?

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by callas01

I know I know.... I knew posting that sentence you would get you going...

My bad!!!
I didn't know you were pissed about everything, I would have waited. I figured you would be mad about the needle, but the other stuff, thats another subject.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by aces high

So are you going to replace the cart anytime soon? Are you comfortable with putting the cart on yourself now? If you are I've got an Ortofon 2M Red collecting dust.

I was listening with just the towers this afternoon and was pleased with the sound I was hearing, I'm very happy with the S6's but I still wonder about the S8's. You should see the meters on the amps jump when the tympani's hit, I was listening at -20 and I bet when those drums hit the speakers were pulling 250w for those peaks.

You probably just need to get used to the new position of the center. Did you re-run Audyssey?

I was really thinking about you and your 2M Red. I was also gonna check to see if they just have replacement stylists and if so seeing how much that is and what I can do to just replace it... I would rather do that then take the cartridge off again... Ill let you know....

[aces high]

My son did the same types of things when he was that age, he knocked over one of my Studio 20's. The grill and one of the corners were completely smashed. I ordered a single speaker a few days later and gave the damaged one away to some who didn't care and they bought a single as well. He also knocked over one of my Atom Monitors, luckily that only broke the grill and I got that replaced for free. There's a bunch more stuff that he's done but I won't go on too much. Girls don't seem to get in as much trouble, just wait until he's a teenager.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by HAMP

My bad!!!
I didn't know you were pissed about everything, I would have waited. I figured you would be mad about the needle, but the other stuff, thats another subject.

Oh, Im pissed about the needle, but otherwise you can give me shit about the rest of it..... I figured at a lower shelf where the needle and tonearm aren't exposed, and Ill keep the dust cover over it, but not on, that way I can pull the dust cover completely off when I need to get in there to play LPs, and over it when Im not home. Perhaps he won't be able to fiddle with it and I might be good. If he gets to it again, then Im gonna put the f-ing thing is storage and pull it out in a year or two.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by aces high

My son did the same types of things when he was that age, he knocked over one of my Studio 20's. The grill and one of the corners were completely smashed. I ordered a single speaker a few days later and gave the damaged one away to some who didn't care and they bought a single as well. He also knocked over one of my Atom Monitors, luckily that only broke the grill and I got that replaced for free. There's a bunch more stuff that he's done but I won't go on too much. Girls don't seem to get in as much trouble, just wait until he's a teenager.

when he's a teenager, i can slug him.... he'll know to leave it alone. I know what you mean, I could tell the girls 3 times don't touch... they didn't. I have told that fool and made him cry about touching it like 100 times... he still goes for it. Somehow tho, he knows for the most part not to touch the speakers, the Oven, the Stove...... whats the love of the TT.

so did you only have the S6s playing or the sub with star tracks?

[aces high]

Originally Posted by callas01

when he's a teenager, i can slug him.... he'll know to leave it alone. I know what you mean, I could tell the girls 3 times don't touch... they didn't. I have told that fool and made him cry about touching it like 100 times... he still goes for it. Somehow tho, he knows for the most part not to touch the speakers, the Oven, the Stove...... whats the love of the TT.

so did you only have the S6s playing or the sub with star tracks?

Maybe he'll be a DJ one day?

My son used to be the same way with rubbing handfuls of gravel on the hood of the car, the good part about it was he always chose the old car to do it too. The hood was scratched to shit and by the time we got rid of it rust taking over the scratch's. No matter how many times I told him not to do it he still would go for it every time my back was turned.

Look up a few posts and you'll see the answer, joking.
No sub, just the towers this afternoon. From the ARC graph's the S6's are starting to roll off at 30hz, I think room gain is contributing a lot to the low end but ARC flattens the peak so it sounds pretty good. I've got a nasty hole from 100-150 hz on the left front that ARC can't completely get rid of, I need to invest in some corner traps but not in this room.

[Travis]

Reading about your kid issues with your setups. Thinking I should at least mount my speakers to the walls as soon as Michelle starts walking. I also think maybe a fence across the front will be needed. Idk, girls are different than boys.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by aces high

Maybe he'll be a DJ one day?

My son used to be the same way with rubbing handfuls of gravel on the hood of the car, the good part about it was he always chose the old car to do it too. The hood was scratched to shit and by the time we got rid of it rust taking over the scratch's. No matter how many times I told him not to do it he still would go for it every time my back was turned.

Look up a few posts and you'll see the answer, joking.
No sub, just the towers this afternoon. From the ARC graph's the S6's are starting to roll off at 30hz, I think room gain is contributing a lot to the low end but ARC flattens the peak so it sounds pretty good. I've got a nasty hole from 100-150 hz on the left front that ARC can't completely get rid of, I need to invest in some corner traps but not in this room.

haha.... maybe he wants to be a DJ now? He's in training! At least one of us is happy about it. Ill take a pic of the setup redone again and post it up later tonight. I think Im gonna get the replacement Stylus for the cartridge... its not too much, thank God. What sucks is that this cart really got me enjoying my TT and vinyl even moreso then before. It provided very good mid-range and highs, and had enough bass to satisfy without being over-bearing.... like it was when I first got it. BUT, I might just get yours in a couple months anyways so that I have a good spare on top of the other spare I have right now..

That is pretty incredible that your speakers are getting down to 30 hz.... OH, and you have ARC to confirm it too. I know Rhett said when that Empire Strikes Back played on his system for the first time it hit really hard and he wasn't expecting it at all. Over at Marios it did the same, that first 'thwack' took me and Mario by surprise. Hopefully when you get to your main HT room you can work that dip out, maybe some room treatments or better placement.

BTW, when are you getting your HT room back??

In this whole reconfiguring of the items I moved the speakers further apart also and still maintained enough distance so that the kid can't get to them... I noticed the soundstage open, esp. with classical. Now the two sides of the orchestra sound broader. Im sure that will help with other forms of music as well.

OH, and FWIW, if you want to find Classical, look for things where Leonard Berstein is the conductor. I find him to be pretty good. And I look for full length symphonies, not the sample platters. The one I bought yesterday is Beethoven's 9th Symphony done in Berlin.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by Travis

Reading about your kid issues with your setups. Thinking I should at least mount my speakers to the walls as soon as Michelle starts walking. I also think maybe a fence across the front will be needed. Idk, girls are different than boys.

Jillian and Meeghan were easy to train not to touch something... Josh has proven to be a little more of a PIA. Maybe this is the whole girls mature faster then boys deal. My suggestion would be to get a Playpen enclosure that can be adjustable so they don't get to it. Ill post a pic of what it looks like without and with the playpen so you can see what Im doing maybe to help you decide what will work best for you.

[hometheatergeek]

Hi Steve, I've been real busy at work so I am falling behind on the topics here on BR. So can you give me the cliff notes on what happened?