Advice for dedicated home theater

kturner9226

Hi,

I figure this type of question comes up frequently, but here goes...

I am having a house built and the bonus space will have a dedicated home theater. Room is 24' x 25' with an 8' ceiling. The speakers I have been looking at are the LsiM series as follows:

Front: 705's or 707's
Center: 704
Side: 702's
Surround: 703's
Sub: MicroPro 3000

I am planning on using a Denon or Onkyo 9.2 receiver for 7.1 (bi-amp the front's using the extra channels). As far as seating distance, probably 10 - 12' for one row of seats, then another row behind that.

Question 1: Since I am planning on a sub anyway, do I benefit from having the full-size front speakers? Mainly I want to make sure I can fill the room at a decent volume.

Question 2: 705's vs 707's if I have a subwoofer - any merit to the larger speakers?

Question 3: For the 24x25 room, should I look at 2 subwoofers instead of 1?

Thanks,

Kevin

Geoff4rfc

Welcome to club Polk!

Congratulations on your new to be set up.

I've done some digging myself in the LSiM territory and have found form voices of experience, the 705 will do fine over the 707.

Yes to towers.

2 subs would do great in a room that size, mine is 26.5 x 15.5 x 7.5 and I'll be adding a second Empire.

It sounds like your avr choice is going to be a good size one power wise, however, with these speakers, I'd suggest looking into have some dedicated power amps especially since you plan on running a 7.1/2

newrival

yes to floor standers, yes to multiple subs. 3 even better than 2 to even out frequency response (eliminate boominess, nulls, etc.). One in a front corner, another somewhere midpoint along a side wall, and the third (ideally elevated, even to the ceiling) along the rear wall. You'd be good running the 705's especially if following a THX style setup.

kturner9226

Thanks for the tips. Sounds like the 705's will be fine and I should think about adding a sub or 2. What sub do you recommend? - especially if getting 2 or 3?

Kevin

kturner9226

Regarding amplifier power -

I did some checking and the Denon and Onkyo 9 channel receivers I was looking at are 135/140 watts (@8 ohm) and both have support for 4 ohm. I also noticed that stepping up to the 9 x 150 watt Onkyo PA-MC5500 power amp has continuous 4 ohm OK, but the receiver is 6 ohm continuous OK, and 4 ohm certified.

Both the Denon and Onkyo recievers were in the $2000 range. All of these 9 channel products have capability to bridge the 2 extra channels for the front 705 towers if doing 7.1/2. If I get the 9 channel Onkyo power amp and A/V preamp, it would be about $3300. Still, I don't think I could touch that cost level with separate amps.

Kevin

mystik610

kturner9226 wrote: »

Regarding amplifier power -

I did some checking and the Denon and Onkyo 9 channel receivers I was looking at are 135/140 watts (@8 ohm) and both have support for 4 ohm. I also noticed that stepping up to the 9 x 150 watt Onkyo PA-MC5500 power amp has continuous 4 ohm OK, but the receiver is 6 ohm continuous OK, and 4 ohm certified.

Both the Denon and Onkyo recievers were in the $2000 range. All of these 9 channel products have capability to bridge the 2 extra channels for the front 705 towers if doing 7.1/2. If I get the 9 channel Onkyo power amp and A/V preamp, it would be about $3300. Still, I don't think I could touch that cost level with separate amps.

Kevin

I would take the power ratings for any receiver with a grain of salt, as most are rated aggressively and are based upon the output with 2 channels driven (WPC decreases as you add channels). The more expensive receivers have discrete amps and are somewhat better, but a full-on separate amp really is the way to go. Pick up one of the cheaper receivers to use as a pre-amp, and add a separate amp of your choice/budget. If you scour the used market, good quality amps can be had for much less than the Onkyo amp you're looking at. (don't get too caught up in the WPC).

Also, I'd recommend looking into a non-polk sub. Unless you really like the compact form factor of the Micropro, there are a lot of internet direct subs out there that will flat-out obliterate the Micropro. Look into SVS, Hsu, Epik, and Rhythmik subs.

txcoastal1

I would spend less on a receiver with pre-amp out and get a sperate amp as mentioned before

The 705 are 90db efficient @4ohm and have seen them run off 12 watt "high current" single ended tube amp (last month) for hours but would not recommend 7-chnl LSiM surround with an Onkyo receiver.

I have also seen the 707's run off the 2chnl version of the Jaton AP5140A amp nicely ant Lonestar Audiofest 2 yrs ago

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/jaton-ap5140a-s-operetta-5-channel-modular-amplifier--4

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/jaton-ap2140a-s-operetta-2-channel-modular-amplifier--4

Geoff4rfc

mystik610 wrote: »

I would take the power ratings for any receiver with a grain of salt, as most are rated aggressively and are based upon the output with 2 channels driven (WPC decreases as you add channels). The more expensive receivers have discrete amps and are somewhat better, but a full-on separate amp really is the way to go. Pick up one of the cheaper receivers to use as a pre-amp, and add a separate amp of your choice/budget. If you scour the used market, good quality amps can be had for much less than the Onkyo amp you're looking at. (don't get too caught up in the WPC).

Also, I'd recommend looking into a non-polk sub. Unless you really like the compact form factor of the Micropro, there are a lot of internet direct subs out there that will flat-out obliterate the Micropro. Look into SVS, Hsu, Epik, and Rhythmik subs.

+1 My sealed Epik Empire is huge on LFE and does quite well with music and movies. The other sub recommendations are a list of awesome subs.

If you're trying to work with a budget, emotiva amps get slammed a lot on this forum, but in my experience work well with my PolkAudio speakers from my Monitor series to my RTiA series.

There are far better amps out there, but IMO, Emotiva offers an excellent budget amplifier.

Integra offers an excellent line of pre-pros as well as Onkyo. Or, as mystic suggested, a less expensive AVR could be used as a pre-amp.

Many choices out there, happy hunting.

bansheesho

At the cost of that micropro 3000 you could be close to a dual epik empire setup.. If you are planning on the high quality build that you have listed then I would also recommend you get a separate power amp and spend a little less on the receiver to help make up the cost difference. You could nab a good one on the used market or if you want new and are looking into controlling costs an emotiva xpa5 might be the ticket... Though you might want to ask around and see what amps sound good with the new Polk line..

kturner9226

Thanks to all for the advice - I'm sold on the separate amps now

codyc1ark

Good choice. With that kind of coin I'd certaintly go dual subs, why go with the least expensive option for the most important speaker in your HT? Look at the offerings from epik, hsu, Ed or outlaw. A pair of some modestly prices subs will be very impressive. Good luck, let us see pics of your build and welcome to CP!

dcmartinpc

If it were me, in that setup, I would go with Dual Epik Empires. I used Epik subs until I started building my own. They work well and the dual drive design keeps the cabinets completely inert.

http://epiksubwoofers.com/dualempire.html