Define large room

section19

This is something that has had me puzzled for awhile. While searching for information about HT speaker packages (I'm talking about small sat/sub systems such as the 6700, Energy 5.2, Atl. Tech. T-70, Infinity Entra or HTS20, etc.) I've often read comments like, "recommended for small to medium sized rooms" or "may be not be adequate for larger rooms".

But nobody ever says what they consider a medium or large room.

My living room (where my system is setup) is 12' x 25'. On one 25' side there is a large (maybe 8' wide by 7' high) doorway into the dining room. On the other side is a pair of french doors that are always open leading into a small front room. The one 12' wall has the entertainment center, the other one is basically an open stairway going upstairs.

The way I have my surround placed the listening area is approximately 12' x 20'.

So would this be considered a large or medium sized room?

So far the 6700's seem to fill the space nicely. But I can't help wonder if my room is a little on the large size for such small speakers.

Fine, so I'm a little anal retentive. What can I say?

BRAD-TX

I would consider that a fairly large room, especially when you take into consideration the large opening into your dining room, and then another large opening at the other end because of the stairs.

But I could be wronge, I would wait for one of the more experienced posters to chime in here.

VR3

to me, thats not large...thats friggin huge...

section19

Yeah, I kind of figured it wouldn't qualify as a "meduim sized" space. Still the WAF (and sufficient funds) prohibits me from having a larger speaker system. She already thinks my little Entra sub is gigantic.

Like I said, to me, they are filling the space nicely plus I rarely feel the need to really crank things up.

Still, I will calibrate the system (as soon as I get a meter) and keep tweaking it so as to squeeze everything I can out the little guys.

Thanks for responding.

Tour2ma

s19,
Room size is not a simple function of square footage, but cubic footage, i.e., volume. So your ceiling height and confuiguration (vaulted, cathedral, etc.) plays a role as well.

Plus, as brad pointed out, openings and the size of the room(s) they lead to are a factor as well.

Rough guidelines and sample dimensions are:
Small - 1200 cu ft (12x12x8)
Medium - 2000 cu ft (15x15x9)
Large - 3000 cu ft (15x20x10)
XL....

At 12x20, assuming 8' ceilings, which I have a feeling you do not have, you are in the Medium range, but that 8x7 opening is very large and missing a whole 12' wall is huge. It would not surprise me to see that you are in the XL category...

Janusch

An example of under power. My wife friend invited us over for dinner and a movie. Her husband knew I was into HomeTheater and was looking forward to showing off his new system. I walked into his living room that dwarfts must humans and many local churchs. It is 30X27 with a two story cathedral ceiling that is open to his mamouth kitchen.
He then began to brag about his new Bose Lifestyle 35 that he stold at $2600. I tell you these poor front speakers strained to be heard, while the back ones that were right next to use caused me a headache. I think you are in pretty good shape with your system comparison wise.

mantis

Tour did a nice job of explaining room size.

A Bose 35 has no bussiness being in a XL room like that one.Also sounds like poor speaker placement.

wallstreet

THX says <3000 is small. >3000 is big. For small, thx select is fine. For large, thx ultra is recommended.

Tour2ma

Thanks Dan...
I was drawing on "general" knowledge from discussions here and other surf stops. Do you know of a good reference site or publication on room size, acoustics, etc.? Maybe a Tweeter reference?

ws,
Didn't know that. However, given that it is a standard for THX ceritified systems, IMO it's not applicable to a general discussion of room size.

wallstreet

Originally posted by Janusch
An example of under power. My wife friend invited us over for dinner and a movie. Her husband knew I was into HomeTheater and was looking forward to showing off his new system. I walked into his living room that dwarfts must humans and many local churchs. It is 30X27 with a two story cathedral ceiling that is open to his mamouth kitchen.
He then began to brag about his new Bose Lifestyle 35 that he stold at $2600. I tell you these poor front speakers strained to be heard, while the back ones that were right next to use caused me a headache. I think you are in pretty good shape with your system comparison wise.

This describes the vast majority of people in this world. Hopefully, you nodded your head and smiled approvingly. And it's not just Bose. Hell you can buy a 5 ch DD HT receiver for under $200 now. Of course is sports 20% distortion as well as making a long road for upgrades!:rolleyes:

wallstreet

Originally posted by Tour2ma
Thanks Dan...
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ws,
Didn't know that. However, given that it is a standard for THX ceritified systems, IMO it's not applicable to a general discussion of room size.

I disagree. It's got everything to do with room size. If you want reference levels in your HT, THX has already figured out the amount of power needed to achieve those levels. For those folks purchasing speakers and components that are not THX certified, they can compare the ratings on their equipment to the THX certified equipment. I wouldn't do it that way though. I would hook it all up. Crank it up as loud as I would ever want it. Does it sound good with little or no distortion? If yes, keep it, if no, send it back. The funny thing is, the older I get, the less I want to crank it up.:eek: It's been quite awhile since my volume knob has seen 1:00.

gidrah

THX standards may be a good baseline for a given room volume, but,....

Speaker sensitivities vary, as do room dimensions, listening tastes, room dimension variances (doors, ceilings, stairways, etc.), placement, hearing, flooring, etc.

I've yet to see a THX rated piece of tube equipment, yet it sounds so frickin good.

I would consider your room to be on the big end of mid-sized. If you can't do big speakers, I'd look for more speakers ala 6.1 or 7.1 set-ups.

section19

A lot of great info here guys. Just to clarify (for no particular reason, really) the back 12' wall isn't open to the staircase exactlty. It has the staircase running parallel to it upstairs so I have to place the surrounds infront of the staircase. So there is a few cubic feet of space (I estimate about 360) behind the surrounds.

Plus I would now call my listening area 12 x 18 x 7.5. That would be 1620 cubic feet of space. Of course there are the two doorways on either side to consider as well.

Still, considering that I am pleased with what I'm hearing and the speakers, IMO, aren't even broken in yet, have yet to be calibrated and aren't even in their final positions yet (no stands yet so the backs are on a table and bookshelf, different heights at that, and the mains are sitting on top of my old bookshelf speakers) I probably don't need to be sweating it.

Thanks for responding, everyone.

Tour2ma

19,
You're welcome... don't forget those stairs lead somewhere, and the sound goes there, too. But I agree that you shouldn't jump to any action right away. Still work to do with what you have.

Dan,
Damn that was a short honeymoon... I think... If I read your post correctly you said you disagree, then it seems you sort of agree, then I think you more or less agree.

EDIT: Dan, never mind, that wasn't you that was WallStreet :rolleyes: Memo to self: Get new Glasses.

So WS,
If I read your post correctly you said you disagree, then it seems you sort of agree, then I think you more or less agree.

Janusch

Originally posted by wallstreet
This describes the vast majority of people in this world. Hopefully, you nodded your head and smiled approvingly. And it's not just Bose. Hell you can buy a 5 ch DD HT receiver for under $200 now. Of course is sports 20% distortion as well as making a long road for upgrades!:rolleyes:

Yes I smiled and nodded, but still had to make the following statements:
- Hard to believe that you can get sound like this for just under three grand
- Yes, It hard to believe Bose makes products like this for enthusist like yourself that your wife likes too.
- Well maybe your right and one day I can have a system like yours, but I don't know if I ever could ever justify such a system.
- Yes I know my system is not in the same league as yours , but we listen to what we feel we want to and can afford.

Could not wait to get home to my Polks.

Tour2ma

Originally posted by Janusch
- Hard to believe that you can get sound like this for just under three grand
- Yes, It hard to believe Bose makes products like this for enthusist like yourself that your wife likes too.
- Well maybe your right and one day I can have a system like yours, but I don't know if I ever could ever justify such a system.
- Yes I know my system is not in the same league as yours , but we listen to what we feel we want to and can afford.

Could not wait to get home to my Polks.

Ok, if I borrow these if the occassion ever arises?

So Janusch, when are you inviting him over to your house to hear your modest, little off-brand system?

mantis

Tour2ma,
Man.........I don't know what you be saying
As far as a web site........I don't know of a good one.I Haven't done any research in awhile

Tour2ma

Dan,

My bad... read a reply. Thought it was yours, it wasn't.

It was just another in a long line of "DOH" moments for me...

Janusch

Originally posted by Tour2ma

Ok, if I borrow these if the occassion ever arises?

So Janusch, when are you inviting him over to your house to hear your modest, little off-brand system?

Of course you can use these. They are suppose to come over for my daughters birthday in August. We will see. Of course I've swithed over to the LSI since our last meeting, but it should be interesting just the same when he comes.:)