MY current setup .. trying to go 7.1 need the last 2 speakers

tpeter

So my setup is old but good. I have a old B&k AVR507 THX Ultra 2 receiver 7.1 that powers my Lsi15s my Lsi center and my LsiFX surround 4ohm speakers nice, I also use a SVS subwoofer powered by a separate amp.

Well im turning my 17x18 garage into a fully furnished room for my 3 young boys but decided to put my home theater out there as well. So before Lowes lays down the new carpet I wanted to place speaker wire underneath for my surrounds. I will put the LsiFX on the side of the listening position but need a set of rear speakers behind our heads to complete the 7.1.

I have been out of the loop so long and have no idea which speakers would work best for this..

I would like to stick with polk but I see most of their speakers are all 8ohm now from my current 4. Does this make a difference?

Can someone recommend a good set of rears to complete this? I would go with whatever is new from polk at this time.


ALso in the near future I would like to upgrade my receiver to something like the Onkyo 929 that is out soon. Would like the added HDMI inputs and blutooth and iphone ipod connectivity, audessy XT et. MY BK is great just lacking new features

plainoledave

polk has some black lsi7 in stock refurbed for $400 shipped right now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LSi7-EBONY-Bookshelf-Loudspeakers-Polk-Audio-PAIR-/360708524785?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item53fbe74af1

tpeter

Thanks for the link, those would probably work well with my setup!

Msabot1

Setup will sound great with those...however do not run cabling under carpets...will break down the cable and the carpet sooner or later.

tpeter

Crap , what would you recommend , this is on my garage so there is no crawl space.. Would I get super long cables and run along the border of the walls all the way to the back?

Msabot1

I guess if distance is a prob run it behind the molding along the baseboard.

tpeter

Msabot1 wrote: »

I guess if distance is a prob run it behind the molding along the baseboard.

Yeah ill figure out something,

One question, it may be hard to keep the rears "lsi7s" far enough apart based on where my kids bunk bed will be.

Question 1, could I use a rear center channel and go 6.1 with a 7.1 receiver? Or what is the shortest distance I can keep the 2 Lsi7s apart? Would I be able to put them both like inches apart in the middle of the room about 3-4 feet behind the couch?

Or I could put them in the corners of the back wall on speaker stands and angle them to the listener position on the couch.. The length of the back wall is 19 feet so they would be completely apart.

Which of the 3 options would you choose?

drummer86

What is the ceiling like? May be easier to go up there. Shortest distance is best. Lsi7s should be fine. Do not be ashamed about the age of your gear when it's great stuff!

Msabot1

Trying to picture your layout...my rears flank the center listening position about a foot out from the wall...center position is about fifteen to twenty feet from the screen

tpeter

drummer86 wrote: »

What is the ceiling like? May be easier to go up there. Shortest distance is best. Lsi7s should be fine. Do not be ashamed about the age of your gear when it's great stuff!

I can ask the guy doing my garage about the ceiling but not sure about that one.

tpeter

Msabot1 wrote: »

Trying to picture your layout...my rears flank the center listening position about a foot out from the wall...center position is about fifteen to twenty feet from the screen

Its like 19wx18l , a nice square room completely closed in when door is shut leading to house.. The Acoustics should be great. My HT now is in my living room which is a huge open area with vaulted ceilings, the sound is horrible.

I have 3 boys and a bunk bed that will sleep 2 and a normal bed the floor "racecar" bed for the other. I can fit these in but the bunk bed is about 99 inches long and putting it on the back wall where the rear speakers would go make is more difficult to have much space between them.

So my 2 choices now would be putting the Rears in the middle of the room but they will have to be very close together to keep them centered with the bunk taking half the wall.

Or put them on stands in each corner of that wall aimed at the middle couch.

Msabot1

Vaulted celings are nice,but trying to get good sound there is a prob...nothing for the sound to reflect off,just a void. Can you set your rears just slightly behind your center position? The trick is to be enveloped in the sound field.

Geoff4rfc

tpeter wrote: »

Question 1, could I use a rear center channel and go 6.1 with a 7.1 receiver?

Yes you can.

tpeter

Msabot1 wrote: »

Vaulted celings are nice,but trying to get good sound there is a prob...nothing for the sound to reflect off,just a void. Can you set your rears just slightly behind your center position? The trick is to be enveloped in the sound field.

My couch will be maybe 4 feet from the back wall im guessing? I can put the 2 Lsi7s right on the wall behind the couch either on a wall mounted shelf or mounted on the wall in the studs using screws.


But the 2 rears will most likely be 12 inches apart only if that makes a difference,

tpeter

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

Yes you can.

I wonder if that would be better or easier , since the 2 Lsi7s would be so close together anyway?

Actually EDIT:

For 400 bucks it seems stupid not to get the LSi7s when another center will cost the same or more.

leftwinger57

depending on the syle of your house most private houses have either scuttle holes more like 4' squares in either the mbr closet or another room or in the garage. If so you might be lucky if either way goes the length of the house.If you do this and go up STAY ON THE BEAMS!!!!!!Then you have both the ability of placing the wires were you want and very little to be seen then terminate where you want your amp/receiver.

tpeter

leftwinger57 wrote: »

depending on the syle of your house most private houses have either scuttle holes more like 4' squares in either the mbr closet or another room or in the garage. If so you might be lucky if either way goes the length of the house.If you do this and go up STAY ON THE BEAMS!!!!!!Then you have both the ability of placing the wires were you want and very little to be seen then terminate where you want your amp/receiver.

Ill have to ask the guy doing the garage, im a idiot when it comes to that kind of thing.. Sad and pathetic I know, my wife is better than that then me

HK_VIP

I personally used a pair of the Polk OWM3 because they can mounted in many ways. They are not high-end speakers but they perform well as rear speakers in a 7.1 system. You can also look into the OWM5 model if you need a lower profile look.