Need help with HT speaker setup

NewPolkie

Hi Everyone,

I am a brand new Polk Club member and a novice. Please pardon me if I seem ignorant. I am trying to build my home theater and would appreciate any help I can get. First, some background info on my 7.1 HT setup...

I have a fully finished open basement roughly 50'x22'. I will be using an approximate area of 20'x22' for my HT setup. I plan to use a LCD PJ projecting approx 115" wide image. I have purchased the following:

H/K AVR630
RTi8 Fronts
CSi5 Center
RTi8 Surrounds
RTi6 Rear Surrounds
Velodyne CHT-12 Sub

Now my questions...

1. Most people use bookshelf/satellite type speakers for surrounds and mount them above the ear level for better surround effect. Instead, I purchased RTi8s floor-standing speakers for surrounds - did I make a mistake, since I can't mount them above my ear level? Are they too big for surrounds - I am using a pair of RTi8s for fronts also?

PS: I still have about a week to return/exchange these speakers if needed. I would defintely like to have the right combination of speakers.

2. My seating area will be approx. 2' from the rear wall. To get the best surround effect, how and where should I place the 4 surround speakers - in terms of distance, height, direction etc.

PS: My HT area is kinda in the middle of my open basement. So there are no close enough side walls, which makes placing the surround speakers a bit tricky. Also, I do not have much room behind the listening area either.

All suggestions, opinions and comments are welcome. I would like to get as much help as I possibly can. My PJ and DaLite screen arrives tomorrow. Can't wait to have this all set up this weekend and enjoy a good movie. BTW, any movie recommendations to test out my system?

Thanks a bunch, your inputs are greatly appreciated!

PolkThug

Welcome to the forum!

I would consider Fxi5's for the surrounds. Are the Rti8's too big? No, not if you've got the space and budget. Ideally you want to hit as much as the audible spectrum as possible from every speaker. However, due to budget and space constraints, we make sacrifices. One polkie here has Lsi15's for surrounds.

Regards,
PolkThug

NewPolkie

Wow, you guys are quick in responding...

PolkThug, are you recommending that I swap the RTi8 surrounds with FXi5? Or did you mean replacing the RTi6s (that I am using for rear surrounds)? Could you please clarify. Thanks.

Any insight into speaker placement etc? Thanks again.

PolkThug

If you can place the Fxi5's (in place of the 8's) directly to the sides of your listening position, I would do that. You could use Fxi3's or 5's on the back wall also, they would probably be a little easier to mount than the Rti6's.

One more think to consider, since you are two feet from the back wall, that would make you a good candidate for polk in-wall speakers in the back.

If you want some ideas, look at my setup in the System Showcase.

Regards,
PolkThug

Early B.

RTi8's for surrounds? Lucky dog. Ought to sound real nice.

It would be neat if you had more than 2' from the rear wall to really get a decent surround effect. I suggest mounting the RTi6's 6' - 7' high on the wall behind you. Some fellas on the forum suggest you play around with placement by using two stepladders before you decide where to mount them.

Try placing the rear RTi8's slightly behind the seating position facing each other.

By the way, for the size room you have, you'll probably find that you'll benefit greatly with a much larger sub. Maybe two subs. Consider an SVS.

NewPolkie

I bought all my Polks at CC. They were all on sale and I got all the 7 speakers for under $800. I think that's a steal!

I am not sure if CC carries the FXi series...I just checked their website. None to be found. Polk's website says that they retail for about $500/pair. Man, that's a lot for 2 surround speakers. Do you know where I might be able to get them a little cheaper online?

Thanks.

hellotheworld

7 for 800$!!!!!!!!
what a steal!
would you mind if I ask which CC store you got them?

NewPolkie

I bought it from the CC in Southfield, MI. I was lucky to stumble upon some 12-hour sale!

Lucky me!

hellotheworld

RTi8 retail price is 840$/pair

NewPolkie

Well, I got 'em for about $250/pair. I know it is hard to believe. Later on when I went back to the store to buy some speaker wires, I told the sales guy (different from the one who sold me the speakers) about my speakers' purchase...even he thought something wasn't right about that price...but...oh well...i got lucky!

...somebody pinch me!

NewPolkie

Early B, thanks for the sub recommendation. Unfortunately, SVS is out of my price range. What about HSU STF-2? It's selling on their website for $425 delivered. Is that better than CHT-12? I could get the CHT-15 for about $475 too. It's a stretch (my budget was $350-$400), but I can manage.

Any thoughts?

hellotheworld

I had th similar question before, and Early B also said "get the HSU", hehe

someone answered here:
http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18560
hope this hepls

NewPolkie

Thanks for the sub input. Any recommendations on the speaker placements (see my original post)? Thanks.

TheReaper

Originally posted by NewPolkie
PS: My HT area is kinda in the middle of my open basement. So there are no close enough side walls, which makes placing the surround speakers a bit tricky.

That probably makes the RTI8s for surrounds a good choice. If they are far enough from the sitting position, they will probably work standing on the floor. If they are a little closer stand them on something around 1½ to 2 feet off the floor (put the main drivers above ear level). Try both ways and see what works best. I have R30s (1/2 towers) on 29 inch side tables.

Early B.

Early B, thanks for the sub recommendation. Unfortunately, SVS is out of my price range. What about HSU STF-2? It's selling on their website for $425 delivered. Is that better than CHT-12? I could get the CHT-15 for about $475 too. It's a stretch (my budget was $350-$400), but I can manage.

I have a fully finished open basement roughly 50'x22'. I will be using an approximate area of 20'x22' for my HT setup.

PS: My HT area is kinda in the middle of my open basement.

The issue is not with your Velodyne, per se, but the fact that you'll need a sub that can pressurize a very large space (50' x 22'). For that, you'll need a super sized sub or two powerhouses. If budget is a factor, don't worry about it for now. Just put the sub on your list as a future upgrade.

Try putting the Velodyne right behind your seating position and see how it sounds/feels.

NewPolkie

Early B, you have a very good point. I can still return the Velodyne CHT-12 at CC. I can either get CHT-15 which is 15" 300-watt sub or Hsu VTF-2. Given that choice which one would you buy?

AsSiMiLaTeD

Between those two I'd get the VTF-2....

Early B.

Most definitely the Hsu. But get the STF-2, not VTF-2.