Q's of my new speakers

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

My new side speakers for 7.1 (FXi30's) will have to be 9.5ft high. I can't move this down any without being off forward by 3 or 4 ft. but even this would mount them at 6.5 left but 9.5 right side.
At lease at ears on the side both would be at 9.5ft.

Any big big problems with this? It's higher then I seen it should be.

Tour2ma · February 2004

I'm guessing a conflict with an opening here on at least one side... yes?

Actually for side surrounds I'm thinking 3 feet forward of even with your listening position is the lesser of two evils. The ideal position is a foot or so in front anywho...

But let's see what others have to say...

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

Thanks Tour,

Again the first to jump in....

Yes to your question. I will take some pictures so everone can see what I'm going to be working with. I will post tomorrow.

>I'm guessing a conflict with an opening here on at least one side... yes?<

Ceruleance · February 2004

in my humble opinion the greatest evil of all is having surround speakers (or any speakers for that matter) that are not symmetrically spaced. Feel free to disagree, this is what my ears tell me and so I feel strongly enough to share my opinion. Some members have had success with angling their surround speakers down. If you do a search for it on the forums or look in the system showcase you should see what I mean

Tour2ma · February 2004

Originally posted by Ceruleance
... greatest evil of all is having surround speakers (or any speakers for that matter) that are not symmetrically spaced. Feel free to disagree...

I might if I knew exactly what you meant (but probably wouldn't). "Symmetrical" is just not a very precise term.

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

Possible left surround location just above cabinet near ceiling.

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

Close up of left locations

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

Possible Right Surround locations just to the right of slider near ceiling.

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

Right picture.

hoosier21 · February 2004

Could you live with in-ceiling speakers?

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

?

>>Could you live with in-ceiling speakers?<<

You think that could be an improvement over FXi30 angled down some?

>>Ceruleance

in my humble opinion the greatest evil of all is having surround speakers (or any speakers for that matter) that are not symmetrically spaced. Feel free to disagree, this is what my ears tell me and so I feel strongly enough to share my opinion. Some members have had success with angling their surround speakers down. If you do a search for it on the forums or look in the system showcase you should see what I mean<<

I agree with you Ceruleance. So I do think angled down both at
equal to front or back of ears.

Then heres the kicker my Rear Surrounds now are not symmetrical one is 2ft and the other is 8ft. Not ideal I know this house wasn't made for HT I can tell you, but I do enjoy watching a movie in this room. I think my RT800i have a hard time filling the room with bass, I think my new 150's (when I get them) will do a better job on the low end.

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

Ok, So I didn't get a warm fuzzy about to kitchen side surround location or the other wall spot.

I'm posting 2 new pictures to help (I hope) understand this room.

I'm thinking of scrapping the Kitchen / Slider idea for a surrounds on the back wall of dinette area. This would make my back surrounds now side surrounds. I would make new FXi30's my rear surrounds.

First Pix is looking at TV from sweet area.

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

Is the back wall in question, also view from TV.

PolkWannabie · February 2004

A couple of unrelated comments / questions ...

Electronics inside a closed cabinet ?!

I would think the low end of the left main is being cut off, no ?

Now to your real question ...

Could you possibly place the surrounds on stands to the left and right ?

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

>>Electronics inside a closed cabinet ?!<<

And to think I'm an Electronic Technician. The back is removed on this side, I keep an eye on temp. Electronics are very placement sensitive, Placement is everything;)

>>Could you possibly place the surrounds on stands to the left and right ?<<

Are you saying keep this 5.1 (which doesn't sound bad) and replace the back towers? I don't see how I could do back and side in the space.

PolkWannabie · February 2004

No ... Just asking if maybe putting the FXi's on stands to the sides of your area is workable. It looks like it might be but it's tough to tell from the pictures.

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

I could post a new picture, but really I think there's no room there. The 2 towers in the rear are about 6" from wall (half wall) the one to the left of picture is in the corner.

HBombToo · February 2004

Originally posted by disneyjoe7

Could you possibly place the surrounds on stands to the left and right ?

Absolutely and that is what I was thinking. I bought 48" ceramic roman style pillars that have an ~8"sq top and bottom that I sat my RTi55's on top just behind the seating area. In fact the set I bought is a yellowish and would match you couches perfectly. I bought them from a store much like the Hobbie Lobby but can't remember the name. Your 30's would perch very nice on them.

HBomb

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

Is your setup 5.1 ?

And my last post was wrong or unclear sorry, it was by PolkWannabie. I edited that message to make it clearer.

Originally posted by HBombToo
Absolutely and that is what I was thinking. I bought 48" ceramic roman style pillars that have an ~8"sq top and bottom that I sat my RTi55's on top just behind the seating area. In fact the set I bought is a yellowish and would match you couches perfectly. I bought them from a store much like the Hobbie Lobby but can't remember the name. Your 30's would perch very nice on them.

HBomb

HBombToo · February 2004

I'm in the process of going with a 6.1... IMHO I don't think there is much difference between the (2) plus its just more convenient to go with another cs400i for my rear. All I need to do is hang a shelf on my rear wall, run my 12awg and walla. Real easy but after some of the weeks I put in I just like to decompress and enjoy. I have the equipment for 7.1 but just choose not at this point.

HBomb

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

My receiver TX-DS898 like the new TX-NR901 is I think 7.1 or 5.1 so I don't think I can do 6.1.

So I think the feeling is to keep it in the same listening area, and not to consider the open floor plan.

BTW given this open floor plan thing I do think that the new 150's will be just what I needed in this room. Now let see how long it takes me to buy an amp to feed them.

Tour2ma · February 2004

Yup. Kinda tough when you have no left hand wall. As tough a room as I have seen.

I think hoosier's in-wall/ ceiling idea has merit here.

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

Tour,

This room is the toughest room you have ever seen?

I given 2 idea's in mind.

1) In wall behind sofa and either keeping the towers as side surrounds or replacing them with the FXi30's

2) Placing the FXi30 on stands. Keeping the towers as rear surrounds.

3) or something else ?

Originally posted by Tour2ma
Yup. Kinda tough when you have no left hand wall. As tough a room as I have seen.

I think hoosier's in-wall/ ceiling idea has merit here.

Tour2ma · February 2004

How tough... Let me put it this way, it's the first time I've seen someone post pics of his kitchen walls for potential side surround installation...

Bi-/di-poles are generally better choices for side surrounds. And they are probably better choices for your rears as well given that your sofa is right against that wall...

I'd suggest you get a pair of f/x's and try them as sides and rears with the towers filling the other duty. Use ladders or barstools or whatever as temporary mounts. Try the f/x's in both bi- and di-pole mode in both services...

It's very possible you'll like the f/x's in both places and end up selling the towers.

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

Tour,

Thanks for your input. My RT600i are 6" from wall, there is a sofa table behind sofa (not seen directly in pictures). I liked my rear surrounds in my old house, the speakers where like 4ft behind sofa. So in this house is a little tougher to get it all adjusted right but the sound meter says I'm on target. Overall I'm so so on the rear surrounds because they are so close to me.

So your idea of using both Bi-/di-poles maybe better then my towers here:(

Thanks

>>Bi-/di-poles are generally better choices for side surrounds. And they are probably better choices for your rears as well given that your sofa is right against that wall...<<

wallstreet · February 2004

Looks like to me you've done about all you can with what you've got. Adding a back channel in such a tight area won't improved things much and may in fact muddy things up a bit. Kick back and enjoy the 5.1 surround system you've got. If you absolutely must have a 6.1, the only place I can see placing it is on the ceiling. One of the Polk outdoor speakers might work well. And whatever you do, don't cheese up the house by placing speakers on the kitchen wall. That has such a low WAF, I wouldn't even bother to ask!

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

>>And whatever you do, don't cheese up the house by placing speakers on the kitchen wall. That has such a low WAF, I wouldn't even bother to ask!<<

Ok ok, no I never want to cheese up the house, everything I do is 1st class.

I may consider replacing the back towers for FX speakers on stands. Keeping this all 5.1;)

Thanks to everyone for your input so for.

PolkWannabie · February 2004

Get a pair of F/X's someplace that has a 30+ day return policy like Cructchfield or wherever ...

Try 'em on the sides ... Try 'em on the backs ...

You like 'em, you keep 'em, you don't, you send them back.

No cost except potentially return shipping

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

Well I got (or should I say have) the FXi30's now from Crutchfield.

I do like them over the towers think the FXi50's maybe better for me. Changing my fronts to RTi150's so this maybe a better match.
They are on a trunk somewhere

With everyone idea of keeping this in the same small area, I don't think it's 7.1 feasible.

BTW first a picture to show this sofa table & tower locations now. How I'm testing the FXi30's. Second given this open area room I do think the RTi150's is what I needed. The RT800i's are missing bAss this is what I'm missing. And third if I have FXi in back RTi front then the CS400i should go also?

Tour2ma · February 2004

dj7,
The 50's might make better side surrounds, but the rears look to be awfully close to listening position.

Really need to think about the 150's. I'm sure you've read 'round here how many AVR's they've shutdown.

If bass in music and "gut rumbles" in HT lingo are what your 800's are missing, consider a good sub. Be warned though that with the volume of room you have there (I'm guessing 5000 to 6000 cu ft) you are looking at serious sub to get any impact.

In the SVS line we're talking either twin cylinders or a single pb2.

disneyjoe7 · February 2004

Tour,

Agree with you on the listening position and the Towers, this is why I'm considering replacing the Towers seen in the last picture with the FXi30 shown in top of Towers. I would sell towers and replace them with stands for the FXi30. I would keep the 5.1 so FXi30 rear RTi150 front and right now the CS400i I would sell or give away to in-law the Towers.

The 150's I know are bad on AVR, but I considering an AMP in the future to feed them. I like my Onkyo AVR 898, but for 2 channels not the sub. The sub can sound OK/ adjusted with the fronts, but for music I just don't like it. This is why I jump on the 150's to replace the 800i's.

As for as the sub it's a Paradigm Servo-15 this works great, I have no complaints with it. I know SVS has a strong following here, but I'm happy with the sub I have.

Originally posted by Tour2ma
dj7,
The 50's might make better side surrounds, but the rears look to be awfully close to listening position.

Really need to think about the 150's. I'm sure you've read 'round here how many AVR's they've shutdown.

If bass in music and "gut rumbles" in HT lingo are what your 800's are missing, consider a good sub. Be warned though that with the volume of room you have there (I'm guessing 5000 to 6000 cu ft) you are looking at serious sub to get any impact.

In the SVS line we're talking either twin cylinders or a single pb2.

Q's of my new speakers

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