Is my setup ok, or should I make some changes?

mva5580

So here's what I have:

- Front: RTI 10's
- Center: CSI 5
- Surround: Monitor 60's
- Sub: MicroPro 3000
- Receiver: Onkyo TX-NR809

My living room setup is essentially one long "rectangle" room where half of it is the kitchen, and the other half is the living room. In the living room, couch is against one wall, the wall to the right of the couch has a sliding glass door (I know this isn't optimal, but it is what it is,) the wall across from the couch is obviously the TV/speakers/etc, and the left is open to walk into the kitchen.

I currently have my sub in the corner where the "front" TV wall and right side wall with the sliding glass door meet. The sliding glass door starts pretty much right on the corner of that wall. My front speakers are, I would say.....roughly 9 feet from sitting position.

So I guess my question is, what do you think of the setup that I have for this room? I ask because I'm starting to wonder if bookshelf speakers might be more appropriate for my space, both front and rear. Thoughts? Or am I just fine with what I have? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

HTguru1982

Sounds good. You could maybe change out your Monitor 60's for FXi3's or FXi6's. Another option is RTi6's from Newegg for $179 w/free shipping. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290252

With either option, you will at least have a system that's timbre matched.

EndersShadow

I would keep all the speakers you have now but look at a dedicated amp for at least your RTi 8s if not your front 3 speakers.

Timbre matching doesn't matter as much with surrounds. I ran both Minitor 40s and Infinity Primus 162s with my Polk LSi fronts and it worked great. I stepped up because I wanted bipolar and I found em at a steal of a price.

Also start looking to invest in some midrange speaker cables for your front three. Suggest either blue jeans cable or signal cable. Their cables are good quality and not super expensive.

mva5580

Yeah, my only other consideration has been to pickup an amp. I've had my eye on the Emotiva XPA-3, everything I read people say they're great. So would an amp like this really make as big a difference as people make it out to be?

HTguru1982

When I added amps to my system, the difference was night and day.

EndersShadow

Yes however I would suggest a used amp as you can get one from a more respected company that emotiva. Emo makes entry level but for the same price you can get more on the used market.

Some companies to check out are: Carver, Sunfire, Parasound, Adcom, Rotel.

To give you an idea I was looking at the UPA or XPA-5 at one point. Instead I found a used Carver AV-795x 5 channel amp for 250. It works great and does IMHO as well if not better than the Emo's I was looking at.

At the end of the day it's not just about spec's like wattage. Current draw and synergy between components matter as well.

VTO888

mva5580 wrote: »

Yeah, my only other consideration has been to pickup an amp. I've had my eye on the Emotiva XPA-3, everything I read people say they're great. So would an amp like this really make as big a difference as people make it out to be?

My buddy bought the XPA3 which is connected to his def techs and there was a big difference. I have 3 upa1s hooked up to my Lsi15s and Lsic. I think there is a big difference!

mva5580

Any thoughts on these 2 models?

- Carver M-1.5t
- Adcom GFA 5500

EndersShadow

mva5580 wrote: »

Any thoughts on these 2 models?

- Carver M-1.5t
- Adcom GFA 5500

Either of those are good choices. The M1.5t is what I would get but keep in mind given its age it might need service in the next few years. That said I just bought a M1.0t for my LSi 15s and can't wait to hook it up.

Getting the Carver fixed when/if it needs it isn't too expensive and will make it last any longer do don't let that scare you away.

All old amps (the Carver I bought was made in 89) need new capacitors as they eventually break due to age. Newer caps no longer have this problem as much from what I understand.

I am more familiar with Carvers than Adcom so I don't know how old the Adcom may be.

mva5580

So if I could land that Carver for $250, you're saying that's a solid deal and it will be a good match with my RTI 10's. Correct?

EndersShadow

I paid 270 for the M1.0t so yes that's a good deal if it's in working condition. They normally sell north of 350 I believe.

mva5580

Ok thanks. I guess my only other curiosity question would be if I get an amp like that and I use it for my 2 front L/R's, is it going to overwhelm the other 3 speakers? I mean if I'm watching a 5.1 movie, are those 2 speakers just going to take over the room? I feel like to some degree, it's going to degrade what I hear from the other 3. I guess it really doesn't matter much for the surrounds...it's not like there's a lot of heavy lifting being done by those anyway. But what about the center?

zane77

Go through the Audysee setup after you add the amp and the receiver will set everything up for you

EndersShadow

zane77 wrote: »

Go through the Audysee setup after you add the amp and the receiver will set everything up for you

^This. The levels will be set so that you have the same SPL at the listening position. It might set the levels different between your front left right & center but that's fine.

mva5580

So I got the Carver. All seems to be well, just 2 questions:

1) There is a faint buzz coming from both speakers when hooked up to the amp, I have to put my ear up to the speaker grille to hear it. Is this ok? From what I've seen a few other places, this sounds like fairly normal behavior.
2) is it ok to leave this thing on full-time? It has no power button....I just want to make sure that's not a problem.

HTguru1982

It's normal. My Adcom 6000 does the same thing. My 545 on the other hand is relatively quiet. Just depends on the amp.

tonyb

HTguru1982 wrote: »

It's normal. My Adcom 6000 does the same thing. My 545 on the other hand is relatively quiet. Just depends on the amp.

Well. yes and no. Adding an amp will sometimes magnify a ground loop that may already be present or even add to it. Also it may even bring out audibly a bad cable somewhere in the chain. Point is, don't be so quick to blame the amp and look elsewhere in the system if the buzzing bothers you. Also, Carvers are pretty old so some updating to the innards may be in order. Price you pay when buying vintage.

EndersShadow

It is ok to leave it on 24/7. My AV-705x has been on for 2 years running minus when we have power outages. The ONLY thing I turn it off for is when I am plugging or unplugging in speaker wires or interconnects. And thats just cause I am paranoid.