My new system has arrived!! (Pics)

jasonb01

It all arrived Friday. Finally finished setting everything up. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on what to get! I wanted to try to do it right the first time, and I think I did. It sounds great, but only after I tweaked it quite a bit. I wasn't very impressed with the way Audyssey set it up, and the Denon X4000 is supposed to have the best Audyssey out right now. I may run it again and see what it does. Maybe I didn't have the mic in the proper places. I'm still trying to figure out the features on the receiver. The manual is only 275 pages, so I'm pretty sure there's a feature or 15 that I don't know about. LOL I had to increase the dialog quite a bit and also the rears. The PRO660wi sub, as you can see, is in the corner behind my recliner. When I crank that all the way up, sitting in that recliner is quite an experience. Also the peerless mount for my center worked great. That mount is amazingly strong, I could probably stand on it. Here is the one I got, which was recommended on here. http://www.amazon.com/Peerless-Adjustable-Component-Shelf-AV/dp/B00155PSXS/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1392766180&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=center+channel+mou+nt The cherry is fantastic. I would love to apply the gloss technique eventually. Here are some pics of my setup. I know my media closet isn't the showcase that most of you have, but at least it's all tucked away. I ordered an ir repeater which should be in next week so I can leave the door closed.

Let me know what you think or any advice you may have. Eventually I want to get 2 more a3's and hang from the ceiling over that window and behind the sofa for left and right 7.1, vs the 5.1 I'm currently running.

gudnoyez

Sweet, very Sweet, congratulations, glad to see someone actually take my suggestions and got a Kicka$$ setup, it brings a tear to my eyes. You did not mess around, ordered, received, and set it all up, have you gotten any sleep? Did you receive all yor stuff in good shape it appears. I really like that Denon you need to utilize both sub outs and get a second sub when you recoup fund wise If you don't mind me asking where did you get those brackets to hold your A3's and the CSiA6? It makes me proud I got to help you spend your money. Nice very nice. Stick around and give us updates. Never mind checked out the link to your mounts, I might have to get one for my center.

jasonb01

Thanks! It took about 6 hours to set it up, but I was very careful with the mounts. I'm the type of person that would burn the house down and start from scratch if the center mount sagged 1/8" on one side. LOL The link to the brackets I used are below. I am very impressed with the brackets, esp the center. I got all of the equipment from Crutchfield except for the Onkyo CD player and the brackets which came from amazon. Everything came in great shape. I had a hole in the A6 center box, but it didn't do any damage. Polk does a great job packaging their speakers. I would love to have a 2nd sub, but my wife and I are on the verge of divorce after I bought all of this. LOL

Rear speaker mounts:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UV03MW/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Center mount:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00155PSXS/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hermitism

Very nice set up! You might want to pull your front speakers out away from the wall a bit. That was advice given to me on my RTi8's.

EndersShadow

I would move your left and right out a bit on either side. Also when you used Audyseey did you have the mic on a tripod, or how did you set it up? That can play a BIG role in how it EQ's things. Also what did it set your crossovers at?

jasonb01

Not gonna happen, Herm. Wife already gave me the evil eye when she saw how enormous the a6 center was and how far it sticks out. It's much larger in person. When I pulled it out the box, she said, "I know you don't think that's going to go in my living room under the TV, it looks like a giant tongue!". Women...LOL It sounds great though. So glad I went with the a6 vs. the a4. Maybe I'll pull the a5's out a half inch per week until I get them out about 1.5" and she won't notice. LOL

jasonb01

I just held the mic in my hand as I sat in each position, Shadow, so that could have been an issue with my big head in the way and my hand shaking. I do have a camera tripod. I didn't even think of that. I'll try it today. I can't remember what it set everything at as I've since changed all of it, it was that bad. I'll re-do it in a little bit and report back. Do I have to go through all of the seating areas that show on the screen or just the main ones, recliner, and a couple of locations on the sectional sofa? Thanks for the tip!

Hermitism

That's hilarious! There is a guy (mantis) in this forum that sets up HT systems for a living. I don't think you have the width to do this because of the door, but this is the advice he gave me on speaker placement...

"Measure the distance from your TV to your face when sitting down. Space the front speakers 3/4 of that distance and toe in behind your head so you can see the inside sides of the speaker from the chair but not when you're behind the chair."

Then you'll have a sweet spot in the middle of your couch.

Moose68Bash

Beautiful set up!

Enjoy in peace and good health for many years to come!

Or, start taking those slow, excruciating steps down the "rabbit hole" in pursuit of ever better sound!

Cheers!

Hermitism

Originally when I did my mic setup, I placed it on the headrest of my chair. I was not pleased with the outcome. Then they told me in this forum to always use a tripod. So I used a tripod, and laid down on the floor next to the chair during the calibration so I wouldn't interfere with the sound waves/reflections. The outcome was night and day. Much better the second time!

jasonb01

Funny you should say that Moose. It's only been in my home for 2 days and I already want a second sub and an external amp for the 2 fronts! LOL I should've chosen collecting Hot Wheels as a hobby...maybe I wouldn't have to eat as many Spam burgers after buying another piece of equipment. LOL

polk500

Looks great love the clean look. Did you do the wiring yourself?

Geoff4rfc

Very nice looking set up!!! Yeah, you're lucky for sure, my wife would NEVER go for a set up of any kind in her living room And that's coming from a guy who's wife let's him set up his rig ANY way he wants.

Her living room is her living room by golly!!

So, understanding the whole WAF in your position, you're doing the right thing by compromising with her as far as your speaker placement in the room however, you can do like brother Ken B. does, as soon as his wife is out of the house, he pulls everything out and toes in and proceeds to drown in the sweet spot

Good work once again, very clean, very sharp, at least your wife can give you points for neatness.............

jasonb01

Polk500, thanks! Yes, I ran all of the speaker wires and a coax run for the sub before the sheetrock went up. We had a house fire last year and lost the entire half of the house that had the bedrooms (fire started in the master due to either the TV or Directv box shorting out). We rebuilt that half back, but had to gut the entire house due to smoke and water damage. I also have all of the wires run in the master bedroom for a small system in the future. I want to put something like the Polk Blackstone's in there. Nothing too large. It'll be a while before I get that, but at least all of the wires are run.

Sherardp

That looks awesome!

zane77

Nice setup, looks very clean. Enjoy!

cfrizz

Very, nice, put some of your wife's favorite music on and see what kind of reaction you get. Congrats and enjoy.

apphd

Congrats and a very nice clean looking set up. Enjoy!

Zentish

Very nice setup - that room is a dream!

Love the center mount!

jeremymarcinko

jasonb01 wrote: »

Polk500, thanks! Yes, I ran all of the speaker wires and a coax run for the sub before the sheetrock went up. We had a house fire last year and lost the entire half........... They had to gut the entire house so I had the electrician run all the speaker wire in the walls and put jacks for me. He ran 14 gauge fire resistant wire.

Ok Jason, Let's keep it real did you or didn't you?

Oldfatdogs

Very, nice, put some of your wife's favorite music on and see what kind of reaction you get.

I agree with Cathy on this one,as soon as she hears her favorite music on your setup she will get it.

Dan

polk500

jasonb01 wrote: »

Polk500, thanks! Yes, I ran all of the speaker wires and a coax run for the sub before the sheetrock went up. We had a house fire last year and lost the entire half of the house that had the bedrooms (fire started in the master due to either the TV or Directv box shorting out). We rebuilt that half back, but had to gut the entire house due to smoke and water damage. I also have all of the wires run in the master bedroom for a small system in the future. I want to put something like the Polk Blackstone's in there. Nothing too large. It'll be a while before I get that, but at least all of the wires are run.

I have close to the same set up with all my equipment tucked away in a closet.

For a while I missed not haveing the equipment underneath the TV but now I wouldn't have it any other way.

It also makes for a few funny comments when we have people over; A lot of them thinks the TV powers the speakers until I open the closet door and they see how much gear it takes to get great sound and vidio.

Cheers
Roger

jasonb01

jeremymarcinko wrote: »

Ok Jason, Let's keep it real did you or didn't you?

Well, I gave specific instructions and even put a mark on the studs with a Sharpie as to where the speaker terminals needed to be, that's 85% of the work. The rest is just the labor of cutting a piece of wire and working a T-50 staple gun, which I didn't actually, technically do. LOL

B Run

Very nice looking setup, congrats!

treitz3

I think this might actually be a living room OCD sufferers may actually breathe in without an effort. Nice, clean look and layout. Congrat's on the new (old) digs.

Tom

monepolk

Very nice setup, looks great and I'm sure it'll sound better & better as it gets broken in.

mantis

Very Nice setup man, nice work. Almost looks professionally Installed.
I completely understand about your wife and how she is a bit upset with the center channel. What you could have done which would look a whole lot better is go with a In wall version center channel. The model I would suggest if the center continues to be a problem is
the 255c-RT. I have Installed this center channel and it blends in with the rest of the RTIA line extremely well. Not to mention it looks so much better ( to the wife) then the center channel sticking off the wall. The TV is what really gives the issues with Tv's today being so thin and picture like look. It really ruins it for guys like us who love speakers. But polk has addressed these issues with the in walls they have designed and you can do the same thing for the surrounds. They will perform very close to the book shelf models as polk really did a great job.

Here is a link to the center channel just to check it out
http://www.polkaudio.com/products/255crt

The surround and surround back speakers to consider IF your wife just needs all of it out.
http://www.polkaudio.com/products/65rt

As far as the Floor standers go, well it's a place where I personally would draw the line IF you are using this system as a music first system. Not that a pair of the same in walls for surrounds wouldn't work wonders as main channel speakers. They just don't have the ability to create that sweet spot like floor standing speakers can once positioned correctly for where your going to sit.
I read your comments when it was suggested to tweak your front positioning of the main channel speakers. Your wife would probably want you out if you put them where they should be. I know I go threw this with many of my customers who wants a huge system in a family room and the wife wish it didn't exist. What's cool to know is that the ability of the RTIA speakers to sound good even pushed against the wall and pointed straight out, will still give you some very nice sound.

If I lived near you , I would come over and position everything correctly and maybe see if I could work with your wife to meet in the middle somewhere. A few inches here and there just make such a huge difference on overall performance. I find placement and calibration even more important then most other things in ones system design. I have worked some magic with some very difficult rooms.

Congrads again on a pretty awesome system . Hopefully your wife will allow you to keep it , just keep in mind you do have options if it comes down to sleeping in the dog house night after night.

danz1906

Sweet System..........Congrats!!!

ken brydson

Nice clean install. Congrats!!

Inspector 24

Fun looking setup!

Curious, Had you considered FXiA6's for the rear?

jasonb01

Oldfatdogs wrote: »

I agree with Cathy on this one,as soon as she hears her favorite music on your setup she will get it.

Dan

I've won her over, she loves it. The cherry finished helped a lot. I put in our best of James Taylor cd while we were making dinner tonight and she kept commenting on how good it sounds. Then I put in best of Otis Redding, and when the intro to Try a Little Tenderness came on she made another comment. She makes fun of all of my forum reading and laughed when I told her just wait, "the guys" said it would only sound better with time. LOL

I'm so glad I got the stand alone Onkyo cd player. We are old school, I'm 38 and she's 40, and while we have a lot of music on mp3, most of our "good stuff" we like is on cd. In the past, playing a cd on an xbox or dvd player was such a pain, especially having to use the xbox controller to navigate. I'm almost tempted to get a blu ray player so I don't have to use the xbox for that either.

One thing we both like that we're not used to is that I can really crank it up and it the sound stays clean. With the garbage I had in the past, when I turned it up it just sounded like loud noise, if that makes sense. Everything is so clear and the Polk sub just sounds great. I even won over my 2 boys, 10 & 5, with their xbox games. My oldest put in Call of Duty Ghosts and was blown away when the choppers would fly over and the grenades started blowing up.

I don't think I've ever spent this much money on something and truly had no buyer's remorse. I even like the BIG feel of everything. I think of it all as pieces of furniture. I had a friend of mine tell me I was crazy for spending what I did and that I could go to the local Sam's club and get a Bose in a box for $599 and it would sound just as good. Needless to say, he'll be invited over for a demo real soon.

Thanks for all the comments of approval. You all have been a great help, I just hope I learn enough about this hobby to be able to pass it along to someone else.