Speaker and amp choices for HT setup

naturallight

I have finally givin in to the HT thing. I have a 50" Panasonic plasma and a blueray DVD player. But my wife half the time can't hear the dialog, and when i turn it up, you get blasted by music. So at this point i need an HT setup.
I don't want to spend big bucks on this...not looking for massive kick butt sound. Just looking to make watching a DVD more pleasent, and can hear the dialog, more then the music or explosions. This is what i came up with.

Yamaha RX-V471BL 105watts@8 ohms per channel
Center Polk CS10
Back speakers Polk R150 (pair)
I have an old set of Large Advents, that i had the woofers redone....they will get very loud and work perfectly.
I would use these for the front mains.

I don't really feel i need a sub...I'm not interested in having my **** knocked off the seat on every explosion, or cannon fire. I figure just put the front channel to large and let the Advents deal with it.

I'm not sure the speaker match is that great...but i can't find major fault with it either.
This way i can turn up the volume on the center channel to match the music volume. I don't intend to run this at massive volume..just to make it pleasant for my wife in a 12X14 room. At least so she can hear and understand the dialog.

Dose this setup make sence??
Any comments about it..good, bad....????

rebuy

If this is your answer to please the wife then I would say that it's a plan.
Seems like you thought this through and have made up your mind.
I think the unit you are considering will be OK for low volume to moderate sound levels.
I have been looking at other Yamaha units in this range and the only fault I can find is the
Drastic Power Drop when switched to 5 channel mode. Other Yamaha units that are 105 wpc, such as the RX-V463 drop the power output to 32.6 wpc in 5 channel operation. That's why you will be forced to be careful with the volume knob, you don't want to burn up your speakers. It really should be pretty easy for your wife to operate too and that will make her happy.

Good Luck.

go here for more info:

http://www.hometheater.com/content/yamaha-rx-v463-av-receiver

naturallight

Well nothing is set in stone, This is my first try at an HT system. The AVR is the big expence here, but i don't understand these power ratings at all. The Yamaha RX-V471 seems to be a good receiver but i can't find a reveiw or anything thats states the power if all 5 channels are running. If all these receivers drop the power that drasticly, so you really only running 30 watts per channel, then how can you run any type of decent speaker on them? Dosen't give me the warm and fuzzys to put the Advents on there. It would almost seem like false advertising to me, if they drop that low.

Whats the real story with these AVR's??? Do they all drop like that..only some of them? In the $3-400 range, is there no AVR that at least gives you 50 watts per channel in the 5.1 mode???

tonyb

I would bump up that center channel to the cs20, if dialog is that important to you. As far as receivers go, in that price range your looking at, all would be considered entry level. A standard 100 watt receiver in 5 channel mode is probably around 60 watts, and seven channels is where they drop off a cliff at 30 watts per channel roughly. Since your not into the big bangs and sound effects, and you don't jack up the volume to ear splitting levels, then it shouldn't concern you all that much. Of coarse assuming all your speakers are 8 ohms, and not terribly hard to drive.
Now that said, I think once you get into surround sound, you'll get hooked like Charlie Sheen and a pile of white powder. Also, if you want to stretch that receiver budget, buy used, either here in our flea market, or Audiogon.com. Your local craigslist is also a good place to scout out some good used gear. You can find 2 year old pioneer elite receivers for 3-4 hundred easy and would power your stuff no problemo. Just a thought,Take it for what it's worth.

naturallight

Thanks for the info Tony. 60 watts sounds much better then 30...LOL I will bump the center to the CS20's.

To me the TV/HT thing...is basically OK, it's nice to hear a good DVD with some decent sound and decent dialog volume. But other then that, dosen't float my boat that much. Explosions, cannon fire, whatever...don't really care.

My big money sits downstairs in my music room. 2 channel stereo only. Thats were my separate poweramps, preamps, tube cdplayer, TT and my RTi12's sit.

rebuy

I also am not to concerned with explosions and the like with home theater. What I enjoy is the music mostly on some movies. Any old HTIB can boom out cannon fire and car crashes. Music accentuates the viewing experience and can make or break a show, for the most part. When a full orchestra is playing during a film it can require a decent amount of power and headroom to make it sound good.

naturallight

No..i agree...more and better power is always a good thing..can never get enough...LOL So looking for a used upgraged AVR with more power..a good thing.

But again...a movie to me..is the dialog and the action...I don't need to be blasted with Starwars music, so my ears bleed. Or any other movie music. It's there for a backup..nothing more....I don't need to be blown away with the volume.

If i want to listen to good music reproduction...I go downstairs, crank up my 180 true high current watts per channel, and put on whatever music i want to hear.

To me..as long as movie music don't sound like crap....then it works. I just don't need to turn this stuff up to stupid levels...I just have no interest in it.

Let me put it this way. To listen to the 1812....you need massive power massive speakers..a great cd player. To listen to Starwars music....if the sound don't completly suck...then it's usable for watching a movie.

rebuy

I really have to disagree with you on why music is in movies. Watch T-2 without the music and I'd bet it isn't as exciting as it is with the music. The music in the Harry Potter movies is great and adds a lot to the flick. How you gonna watch "7 brides for 7 brothers" without the tunes? Star Wars was not a very good choice for music in movies as Star Wars are not great movies to begin with. They might be good action flicks but I never thought the sound AND editing was up to par. Music can set the mood and bring atmosphere to the visual side of a movie instead of being just a filler.

Just my .02 :cheesygrin:

nwohlford

Realize that the 105 Watts is one channel driven at 1 Khz 0.9% THD. I have not seen the more standard (honest) Watts for two channels over 20 hz to 20 khz at lower THD, but I would guess it is more like 50 Watts for two channels. While that is adequate for smaller speakers in a smaller room, I would think that the Large Advents would present a bit of a challenge.

Unless there is something that you really like in this year's models, I would look for the RX-V667 and RX-A800 first. Newegg has had good prices on recertified models. Right now they have the RX-A800 for $300 and RX-V667 for $260.

evhudsons

I just picked up a nice pioneer elite because it has preouts. I
Also picked up an external parasound amp to utilize the preouts to run my front speakers. I have a newer pioneer now that sounds great but doesn't have preouts. Preouts give you future capability in case you add more power or decide to add a sub. That's good advice on a used elite. As I am finding out, more power allows for cleaner listening without the need to be louder.

nwohlford

I definitely agree with rebuy. I don't care much about explosion and such in movies (don't watch many action movies), but I definitely want the music to sound like music. I think that you will be surprised with the difference and what having a decent HT setup will add to movies.

evhudsons

I love deep bass in movies, like when a spaceship is landing in star wars. I have a separate sub with a separate amp. My sub signals are sent there. If you have decent speakers and power you will still benefit with not only a better overall experience but also easier to hear dialog. I had a real problem before, so I upgraded the speakers and amp and have no problem hearing dialog without having to power up the volume. You also don't need a sub, I just like mine. You might check to make sure you set up your receiver to correctly output the center channel. Also some receivers allow you to narrow or spread out the center channel signal.

naturallight

OK guys...now keep in mind, i don't want to spend more then $500-600 or a little over on this system.
Pretty much so my wife can hear the dialog off these blueray DVD's. I figure no matter what, the sound has to be better then what comes out of the TV. I have the Advents sitting here doing nothing at the moment..so i figured they would be good front speakers.

This setup will do nothing but play DVD's..watch movies...thats it. All i want it to do is give my wife the volume in Dialog..so she understands whats going on in the movie. The movie music..thats fine as long as you don't get your head blasted off with it. As long as it dose not sound like junk...then it works. Thats it..pretty much the bottom line.

If i want to hear Mozart, Beethoven, or Hendrix I go downstairs to the big money system.

evhudsons

I just picked up a nice pioneer elite vsx90 and power conditioned for $189 shipped. It's about two or three years old, but for your system I think you can find a steal. If you run two fronts, a center, two surrounds, you will have clear dialog. I don't use a center but that is because I'm using a SDA speaker. The elite will also have a calibration mic which for simpletons like me automatically calibrate your setup so that your center will produce the perfect amount of dialog. There are other great receivers which calibrate. I would look at them and get a used one. I only commented on my external etc because you may one day find yourself wanting more, and you don't need to swap out gear like im doing now. I haven't made up my mind but I may sell my vsx1020. It is excellent, nice power but doesn't have preouts. Or I may keep it to run my subwoofer.
Look around but a used receiver with more power and self calibration will dramatically help with vocals and can be found very cheap you don't have to pay audiophile prices.

evhudsons

My bad, I just read your last line. Never mind, just get her some good wireless headphones, head downstairs, pop a cold one and know you are a great husband.

nwohlford

naturallight wrote: »

OK guys...now keep in mind, i don't want to spend more then $500-600 or a little over on this system.
Pretty much so my wife can hear the dialog off these blueray DVD's. I figure no matter what, the sound has to be better then what comes out of the TV. I have the Advents sitting here doing nothing at the moment..so i figured they would be good front speakers.

This setup will do nothing but play DVD's..watch movies...thats it. All i want it to do is give my wife the volume in Dialog..so she understands whats going on in the movie. The movie music..thats fine as long as you don't get your head blasted off with it. As long as it dose not sound like junk...then it works. Thats it..pretty much the bottom line.

If i want to hear Mozart, Beethoven, or Hendrix I go downstairs to the big money system.

In that case, I would skip the rear speakers for now and just get the center channel to go with the Advents. If you want HDMI audio/video, I think that the Yamaha RX-V800 at Newegg is a great deal for $300. If you are fine with just optical and coax for audio, then you can find lots of great used AVRs in the $100 to $200 range (or less).

naturallight

LMAO....no she is NOT that bad. On the stock Panasoinic type speakers..out of a Plasma TV..yeah she can't really get all the dialog. But on a somewhat decent HT set up...she probably could.

Again she or i don't need to be blasted with movie music..it just needs to be nice..not over the top.
I'm sure all this surround sound is nice..but for listening to regular music ...i don't get it.

When i go downstairs....I sit....I listen....the music is about what you would hear in a concert .

NewHTguy

nwohlford wrote: »

In that case, I would skip the rear speakers for now and just get the center channel to go with the Advents.

+1. My tastes also lean toward two-channel and I am content with 3.1 or even 3.0 (if the fronts are Lsi 25s). If I could get the rears set up correctly I might feel differently, but my space does allow it.

naturallight

OK..first off..i'm old...I come from the 2 channel stereo age. The only thing at all is i get the HDMI hookup...the opitcal, coax hook up...i don't understand at all.

I guess i don't get this stuff at all. If i have a tv, a blueray player..then a AVR...do they all not get connected with a HDMI cable..I'm lost then.

rebuy

Well, if it is that simple and you don't care, get a pair of powered computer speakers and hook them up to the TV while you listen to your pure power rig downstairs.

tonyb

naturallight wrote: »

OK..first off..i'm old...I come from the 2 channel stereo age. The only thing at all is i get the HDMI hookup...the opitcal, coax hook up...i don't understand at all.

I guess i don't get this stuff at all. If i have a tv, a blueray player..then a AVR...do they all not get connected with a HDMI cable..I'm lost then.

If you have a HD tv, then yeah, you'll have a bit of a setup process for each input you use on the receiver. They aren't plug and play like the old days.
Where you located ? I forsee you racking your brains out setting up a HT receiver, if any of us are close to you, I'm sure another one of us old farts could help ya out.

naturallight

OK..you guys are throwing far to much info at me that i don't understand at all......

If i buy a 5.1 receiver....I can run it with only the fronts and center channel....and everything will sound fine??????

I don't need the back speakers??? will the receiver work right??

nwohlford

naturallight wrote: »

OK..first off..i'm old...I come from the 2 channel stereo age. The only thing at all is i get the HDMI hookup...the opitcal, coax hook up...i don't understand at all.

I guess i don't get this stuff at all. If i have a tv, a blueray player..then a AVR...do they all not get connected with a HDMI cable..I'm lost then.

It is probably easier to stick with an HDMI AVR then. You should be able to find a good quality used one (I assume you do not need 3D) for $200-$300. When getting a used one, probably best to make sure it is HDMI 1.3 or later (this will ensure that you can pass full audio over the HDMI cable).

Or you could look recertified such as the Yamahas at Newegg. You can also look at unitedonlineshopping.com for Pioneer.

cnh

naturallight wrote: »

OK..you guys are throwing far to much info at me that i don't understand at all......

If i buy a 5.1 receiver....I can run it with only the fronts and center channel....and everything will sound fine??????

I don't need the back speakers??? will the receiver work right??

Most AVRs can be configured for 'any' number of speakers you have. 2.0-7.1. The set up menu will ask you what you have. In your case, yes, you can run in 3.0...might not be as spectacular as 5.1 or 7.1 but should meet your needs. I have a set of Large Advents in a 2 channel vintage system so I'm familiar with the Bass on those speakers. They should be OK for movies but certainly no substitute for those who love huge explosions and room filling Low Frequency Effects.

Any good speaker system will 'trounce' your TV sound!

cnh

rebuy

I think the problem here is that everyone is trying to help and you come off as a total asshat.
Go to Radio Shack and spend 200 dollars for a Yamaha receiver for you wife to listen to and be done with it.
Hook it up and let your wife enjoy the TV as much as you enjoy your own system.

naturallight

OK..let me ask some stupid questions... Right now, all i have is the TV a Blueray player and the cable box. The BR and cable get hooked up to the TV with Hdmi cables..thats it. If i want to see a DVD then have to pick the channel that the player is hooked up to.

If I throw a AVR into the mix...how in the hell do you hook all this mess up??? dose the cable and DVD player get hooked into the AVR...and just 1 HDMI cable go to the TV???
Pretty much how dose all this work???

BlueFox

naturallight wrote: »

If I throw a AVR into the mix...how in the hell do you hook all this mess up??? dose the cable and DVD player get hooked into the AVR...and just 1 HDMI cable go to the TV???

Yes. You will then select the AVR input that you want to send to the TV. For example, for my AVR I use Video 1 for the Tivo/cable, HDMI1 for the Bluray, and HDMI2 for the X-box.

rebuy

So easy a caveman can do it. Maybe you too.

evhudsons

Actually, to make it wife friendly use your tv as the hub. Run your cable, bluray whatever to the tv, then run your audio out from the tv to the audio in of the avr. That way she can either just use the tv sound, or turn on the avr for enhanced sound. Much less brain damage. Its not the ideal for sound, but user friendly. I have to say too that sticking with the 3 speakers sounds best for you. If you do the described connection you can use both Tv sound and avr sound at the same time, independently controlled. Just make sure your tv has inputs and outputs, and select your internal speaker setting to on or both internal and external. If you list your make and model of tv and avr I'll tell you exactly what to plug where.

rebuy

I think a Yamaha would work since you need to keep it easy for the wife to use.

evhudsons

Look into Polks sda sound bars, that is in budget and would fix everything.