JJ's Year 12: First Year of the New HT in a New House

[JJ]

Ah, just added you, Ryan.

I'm moreso on Twitter these days, but alas!

[liquidice]

so where are those damn pics!

[Colglizity]

Originally Posted by liquidice

so where are those damn pics!

second....

[JJ]

THERE.

I just snapped a few quick shots to see how the place would photograph and get an idea of compositions, lighting, and planned shots for when I take the time to do it this weekend.

But now theres a good 13 or so pics in the gallery. But these are test photos!

SO CHECK IT OUT!
<-------click there.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by JJ

THERE.

I just snapped a few quick shots to see how the place would photograph and get an idea of compositions, lighting, and planned shots for when I take the time to do it this weekend.

But now theres a good 13 or so pics in the gallery. But these are test photos!

SO CHECK IT OUT!
<-------click there.

The place looks fantastic so far JJ......you have excellent taste and a great eye for color. Everything just blends in together so well. The red rug was a brilliant idea to give the room that "splash" of color to break the white/black up a bit.

You know what is funny, the first thing I think of when I see that room is "that guy must not have any kids" LOL!

[Aerodude73]

Very nice

[liquidice]

Originally Posted by Fors*

You know what is funny, the first thing I think of when I see that room is "that guy must not have any kids" LOL!

First thing I think of is American Psycho

Only thing is that loveseat kinda blocking the front right speaker, but doesn't seem there is anything that can be done about that.

How is the bass JJ? When I first moved into my place, I put my couch in the center of the room, but that had a serious bass "lull" in that location. I had to move the couch back more to get the bass at the seated location.

[Waboman]

Originally Posted by JJ

THERE.

I just snapped a few quick shots to see how the place would photograph and get an idea of compositions, lighting, and planned shots for when I take the time to do it this weekend.

But now theres a good 13 or so pics in the gallery. But these are test photos!

SO CHECK IT OUT!
<-------click there.

Very nicely done. That's quite the contemporary place you have.

Originally Posted by Fors*

You know what is funny, the first thing I think of when I see that room is "that guy must not have any kids" LOL!

Lol. So true.

[JJ]

Thanks chaps.

The only thing I'm sorta kinda upset about is that I can no longer call this a home theater - it's more of a "home entertainment" system now.

Ryan the bass needs tweaking. It needs my Dynamo more than anything, lol. I have no other place for the subwoofer, so it's not as if I have a choice. I've never used the AA-10 by itself (outside of testing), so I didnt know what to expect. And yeah, that love seat blocking part of the 683 is an issue - but it's only blocking the low frequency woofers, so it's not a big problem.

It's fine. No Dynamo, but it's fine.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by JJ

Thanks chaps.

The only thing I'm sorta kinda upset about is that I can no longer call this a home theater - it's more of a "home entertainment" system now.

Ryan the bass needs tweaking. It needs my Dynamo more than anything, lol. I have no other place for the subwoofer, so it's not as if I have a choice. I've never used the AA-10 by itself (outside of testing), so I didnt know what to expect. And yeah, that love seat blocking part of the 683 is an issue - but it's only blocking the low frequency woofers, so it's not a big problem.

It's fine. No Dynamo, but it's fine.

My chairs on the left side of the room are blocking the woofers on my front right Rocket as well......but I feel it hasn't presented a problem either JJ.

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by Fors*

My chairs on the left side of the room are blocking the woofers on my front right Rocket as well......but I feel it hasn't presented a problem either JJ.

Yea, it's called having 2 SVS PC12-NSD's

[JJ]

Well, I just completed going HD in the office loft w/ a Panny 42" plasma and a Panny 75 BRP. I think I'll get some stands, hook up the KEFs to the backup sony receiver, or maybe finally put my Sennheiser cans to good use.

Anyone know if I need an external headphone amp for better sound, or is plugging the cans into the phones out on the receiver is okay?

(also good to know for downstairs)

[ZIPPO]

Originally Posted by JJ

Well, I just completed going HD in the office loft w/ a Panny 42" plasma and a Panny 75 BRP. I think I'll get some stands, hook up the KEFs to the backup sony receiver, or maybe finally put my Sennheiser cans to good use.

Anyone know if I need an external headphone amp for better sound, or is plugging the cans into the phones out on the receiver is okay?

(also good to know for downstairs)

CONGRATS on the new pad, LOOKS GREAT!

Sennheiser HD280Pro?
If so, they are easy to drive off your receiver headphone output. A headphone amp couldn't hurt, but the best way to determine if you might need one is to try your cans plugged into the receiver. If you don't like what you hear or find yourself cranking the volume with little to no results, then you probably should get an amp. I run all my cans( Grado SR80, Grado SR80i, Audio-Technica ATH-A700, Ultrasone HFI-780 ) off my receivers, except for my Grado RS1, which I run off a Grado RA1 DC Headphone Amp. All my cans have 64 Ohms or lower Impedance & get good results running off my receivers, iPod, computer, etc... without a headphone amp.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by ZIPPO

CONGRATS on the new pad, LOOKS GREAT!

Sennheiser HD280Pro?
If so, they are easy to drive off your receiver headphone output. A headphone amp couldn't hurt, but the best way to determine if you might need one is to try your cans plugged into the receiver. If you don't like what you hear or find yourself cranking the volume with little to no results, then you probably should get an amp. I run all my cans( Grado SR80, Grado SR80i, Audio-Technica ATH-A700, Ultrasone HFI-780 ) off my receivers, except for my Grado RS1, which I run off a Grado RA1 DC Headphone Amp. All my cans have 64 Ohms or lower Impedance & get good results running off my receivers, iPod, computer, etc... without a headphone amp.

Thanks, Zip.

No, I no longer have either the HD280s or the HD555s I had 18 months ago.

My sister got me HD201s (the entriest of the entry levels) for Christmas, and I've been using those since. Given the acoustics of the place, I can't really be blaring things when my gf is in the loft doing work, etc.

So I popped the HD201s into the receiver and watched some Clone Wars episodes when I got home from work last night, wanting to relax. The ol' lady was doing some lesson planning. It was clearly audible - but it lacked bass and some detail.

Despite seemingly always being on the forum, I've been putting in crazy work these past two weeks, so a big paycheck is coming in, and the mod bug has bitten.

I'm wanting to:

1. Get some short 16" stands for my unused KEFs in the loft space (TV speakers are just UNBEARABLE)

2. Get 2 dipole surrounds similar to my BFXs to put on the loft railing wall. I think this will look great and sound great, and I do want to go 7.1 after all.

3. Acoustic panels. I have their design already saved as a cad file. I just need to buy the materials and BUILD them.

4. New headphones? Or a headphone amp? Maybe $100 max for new cans, or for a entry level headphone amp? I know little on this subject. Would this make a better improvement over my $20 cans out of my receiver phones output?

Probably can't do all 4 at once, but I'd like to knock a few out, maybe 2-3.

[ZIPPO]

I'd go with new cans before an amp.
My under $100 recommendation would be the Grado SR80i.
http://www.gradolabs.com/
http://www.gradolabs.com/page_tour.php
http://www.amazon.com/Grado-Prestige.../dp/B000G3LCQC

In the meantime, you may be able to tinker with the sound & tone controls on your receiver, to get better results from your HD201s.

[spaceape]

Some headphone reviews in here mate --> http://www.trustedreviews.com/headphones

[JJ]

Zip, we may not agree on this - but I'm more of a balancing form/function kind of guy - the Grado's may be amazing sounding, but I could swear I've seen those in 1940s era war movies being used by radar operators...



What can you tell me about Audio Technica and AKG? I was looking into those.

[Hammie]

JJ, make sure you get closed ears cans if you get new ones. open ear will still allow sound out which may bother/distract C. When she is doing her work.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Hammie

JJ, make sure you get closed ears cans if you get new ones. open ear will still allow sound out which may bother/distract C. When she is doing her work.

Ah, dammit, just as I had fallen in love with Audio Technica ATH-AD700s. I was reading about how open-back provided a more natural ambience, while closed back gave the illusion of the sound coming from your head.

What kind of dBs are we talking about as far as sound leakage? She'd be 16' away upstairs, and I'm sure most of the sound will dissipate over the big ol' volume of air that my place has.

I had my HD201s on last night, and at -15dB on the receiver, you could only hear them from around the couch or so with full effects. And I was fine with them on my ears, they weren't too loud or too quiet, just fine. Upstairs, they were barely audible. I didn't test w/ my SPL meter, however, which is what I should've done.

The total volume of my place, counting only what is open-plan and open-air (loft) is about 8,400 cu. ft. Jesus.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by JJ

Ah, dammit, just as I had fallen in love with Audio Technica ATH-AD700s. I was reading about how open-back provided a more natural ambience, while closed back gave the illusion of the sound coming from your head.

What kind of dBs are we talking about as far as sound leakage? She'd be 16' away upstairs, and I'm sure most of the sound will dissipate over the big ol' volume of air that my place has.

I had my HD201s on last night, and at -15dB on the receiver, you could only hear them from around the couch or so with full effects. And I was fine with them on my ears, they weren't too loud or too quiet, just fine. Upstairs, they were barely audible. I didn't test w/ my SPL meter, however, which is what I should've done.

The total volume of my place, counting only what is open-plan and open-air (loft) is about 8,400 cu. ft. Jesus.

I cannot comment on how much sound will leak out, but you will not be able to hide your secret love for the Backstreet Boys and Tiffany.

I have read that some like the open ear ones because they sound more natural, however, you can also hear what is going all around you, which may become distracting in busy areas.