Speaker Questions... Which to buy first? Placement?

[Erman_94]

I want to build my speakers slowly and with quality. So I just wanted to know, which speakers would I need to buy first? Two fronts? Sub? I'm a little lost on which to get, any help would be appreciated.

Also, if anyone can show me speaker placement for a 5.1 and 7.1 setup that would be great. Thanks.

[xboxweasel]

...which speakers would I need to buy first...

You want to make sure that your three front speakers match tonally. Therefore you want to stick to the same manufacturer and the same model line. This will ensure a seamless transition across all three speakers.

Since most speaker manufacturers change their line every few years or even yearly you should consider buying all three at the same time.

I currently have a set of three Klipsch speakers. Nothing else. Works great.

Then in your receiver you just disable the sub and surrounds and your set.

After that you can add a sub or surrounds at your pleasure.

...speaker placement for a 5.1 and 7.1 setup that would be great...

Your main speakers (left and right) should be to either side of your display slightly towed in. (ie: pointing towards you). Set up the speakers such that the tweeters are aimed towards the ears. Keeping your ear at seated height in mind too. The centre speaker can be above or below the display. But it too should be angles such that the tweeters are aimed at you. Some speakers some with adjustable feet to tilt the speaker up or down. Or you can use a piece of wood, door stops, etc. Just make sure the speaker is secure and won't slide down. A 40 pound centre channel speaker crashing into a large flat panel display is going to be costly.

The sub can go anywhere. One method of setting it up is to use the crawl method. This is when you place the sub in your seating position and you crawl along the floor at the subs height until you find a spot that sounds the best to you. You then place the sub in that spot. Here you can play around a lot with placement.

The surrounds can to in many places. It depends what you like and how your room is situated. To the sides. Behind you. Up high. Down low. Even on the floor.

A 7.1 setup (which you won't find on DVDs) is becoming more popular with Blue Ray movies. If you can afford it the extra speakers, cables, receiver, etc. then by all means go for it. As for placement, you will typically have 2 directly behind you and 2 at your side or just behind your head. Either way, you will get a lot of enjoyment with a 5.1 or 6.1 or 7.1 system that's set up properly.

Remember to configure your receiver correctly. Distance measurements from speaker to listener. Adjust individual speaker levels so that they are all at equal volumes at the listening position. Higher end receivers some with a microphone to do all this for you. Plus much more.

Hope that helps.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

Also, if anyone can show me speaker placement for a 5.1 and 7.1 setup that would be great. Thanks.

Check out this post on DTS speaker configurations.

[Erman_94]

thanks for the informative response xboxweasel...so i should buy the two fronts and matching center first

and for speaker placement the fronts and centre are pretty self explanatory i guess ...will worry about the other speaker placement when i buy them, but thanks for the link kpkelley...very informative

[Erman_94]

another question...how can you tell that the fronts match the centre? (i.e. same product line)

it seems they all have different names

[Erman_94]

for example i found some polk fronts that are called (RTIA5 or RTIA7 or RTIA9) but the available centre channels are called CSIA4 or CSIA6


(its from the futureshop website, im assuming the store would carry the matching centre/fronts...so how can i tell?)

[xboxweasel]

For instance...I am using Klipsch RF35 fronts and a Klipsch RC35 centre. They are all by the same manufacturer. From the same line or series (Reference System). And the same generation (Reference System III). Reference System IV came out a few years back. If I would have had the fronts from Ref Sys III and the centre from Ref Sys IV then they might not have matched tonally.

So, if dialog where to pan from left to right, on an unmatched set of speakers the voice would sound different from the left speaker when it hits the centre speaker. And back again when it gets the to right speaker.

[Erman_94]

i can see how those match because RF35 and RC35 makes sense (Reference Fronts 35 and Reference Center 35)

but is it always that obvious?

[xboxweasel]

The RTIA and CSIA are from the same line of speakers.
The CSIA4 would be better suited with the RTIA5 or RTIA7.
The CSIA6 would be better suited with the RTIA7 or RTIA9.

You want a large centre channel speaker since 90% of the dialog in movies comes from there. If you go with the bigger fronts then stick with the bigger centre.

[Erman_94]

but when you say "better suited" were they in fact made for each other? Or is there a chance the transition may not be completely seamless with those matches?

[xboxweasel]

I would have guessed that Polk Audio would have made a recommendation for a setup based on which line you were picking form. Maybe I just can't see it.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

but when you say "better suited" were they in fact made for each other? Or is there a chance the transition may not be completely seamless with those matches?

No, no. They're matched. Easy. Just go to the speaker manufacturer's website. They will tell you what is matched. It's fine. Don't be so panicky!

[xboxweasel]

Yes. Typically a manufacturer will make a line of speakers that compliment one another.

[Erman_94]

k guys, will look at the manufacturer's website for matching before purchase...thanks

Originally Posted by xboxweasel

Remember to configure your receiver correctly. Distance measurements from speaker to listener. Adjust individual speaker levels so that they are all at equal volumes at the listening position. Higher end receivers some with a microphone to do all this for you. Plus much more.

I just bought a Pioneer 1018 VSX-AH-K and its my first ever receiver, wouldnt know how to do this stuff...is it easy to do? (would the instruction manual tell me how?)

[xboxweasel]

...Pioneer 1018 VSX-AH-K...

I found a like to the 1018 AH-k. Not sure what the difference is. The AH-K comes with a microphone.

See page 10 of the manual.

Cool. On page 39 it shows that the AH-K can configure the receiver for 3 seating positions.

[Pelican170]

I see alot of people lately saying to just have only the front 3 matching, but i really tihnk that its best to have it all matching...

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by Pelican170

I see alot of people lately saying to just have only the front 3 matching, but i really tihnk that its best to have it all matching...

i think that would be ideal but not completely necessary ...im hoping that when i buy my fronts and center that the product line is still available when getting my sub and surrounds

[xboxweasel]

...product line is still available when getting my sub and surrounds

Do not assume that you have to stick to Polk for the sub. There are many companies out there that offer excellent subs. SVS and HSU are very popular in the states. More bang (literally) for your buck. For instance....while I was looking at the Klipsch (mentioned earlier) I was informed that their subs are not the greatest and that I should pick up a Paradigm for equal money but better value.

In all honesty this game comes down to the thickness of your wallet and how much time you want to invest in doing research. Listening to speaker before hand is important. However, also remember that room acoustics can drastically change the sound of a system. Just because it sounded great in the store does not mean it will at your place. I've been there. Actually still am. The Klipsch were absolutely AWESOME in the living room but sound 0K in the basement. Two completely different rooms with the identical setup.

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by Erman_94

i think that would be ideal but not completely necessary ...im hoping that when i buy my fronts and center that the product line is still available when getting my sub and surrounds

I like the way you put that, Ideal but not necessary.

[Erman_94]

Originally Posted by Pelican170

I like the way you put that, Ideal but not necessary.

also..is it crucial to listen to speakers before buying? how can one similar quality speaker differ that much from another similar quality? and wouldnt listening to them in store be different because of the size of the store compared to your room at home?

i mean i will definitely listen to them before buying, but is it that essential?