LC65i and/or LC265i + enclosures

okiepolkie

I'm in charge of constructing an inwall 5.1 system for a new house. Right now the LC65i's and/or LC265i's look to be the best choices because of the enclosures available. LC65i's would be for rear surround. The fronts and center could be LC265i's or LC65i's(one or two for the center?). The center(s) and fronts will complement a $15,000 60inch plasma.

Also looking for amplification for these speakers. I'm looking at maybe the Outlaw 950/amp setup. I know used gear can be a little cheaper, but I think warranty would be good(and price isn't a large issue). The amps will also be responsible for powering speakers throughout the house other than the surround system. Would the monoblock amps be a good choice for this type of system?

I'm excited to be able to work on this system. I'm trying to make it a something they will actually use and enjoy.

Does anyone have any thoughts on all of this?

okiepolkie

Also, does anyone know a good inwall subwoofer system? The PSB CWS8 is the main choice so far, but I don't know about enclosures for everything.

http://www.psbspeakers.com/s/cs/CustomSoundInWall.html#CWS8


I will be needing cables for all of this too. So who wants to sell me some good cables?

Thanks for the help guys.

Frank Z

Have you considered an infinite baffle sub?

http://white.hometheatertalk.com/tips/ib.htm

LittleCar_w/12s

Even I am considering one... I'd be venting it from the living room wall to an outside supply closet... It's closer to a VLE (verry large enclosure) than an IB, but it'll do. I just hope that I can return the wall to normal when I leave this apartment.

okiepolkie

The IB idea might be possible, but the architect hasn't been able to detail the room layout to me yet. I like the idea of a sealed or vented inwall enclosure for a tighter response.

The LC265i's should have a good amount of bass, but I don't think they will fill the low end like it should for a multichannel system.

If the system goes with the inwall, like the PSB's (or even a couple of Parasounds), what type of amplification should accompany it? Should a plate amp be integrated close to the speakers, or would a monoblock be better in the audio cabinet?

I will try to get a diagram posted this week to give a better picture of what is happening.

okiepolkie

Has anyone used these? Just thought something like this would work well since the family doesn't want any obtrusions into the room other than furniture(the wife is in a wheelchair, so tower speakers and floor subs won't work very well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3276&item=5727819431

Frank Z

Bass shakers won't provide any bass, they just vibrate the couch/chair that they are attached to. IB or sub box/tube are really your only options.

Tour2ma

Where's gonzo??? He needs to chime in on this...

VR3

Well, if you cant spring for a REALLY large subwoofer, a subwoofer + those bass shakers will be more than enough, and your subwoofer can roll off at 30hz or so as most of those bass shakers cover down to 20hz and more...

Larry Chanin

Originally posted by okiepolkie
I'm in charge of constructing an inwall 5.1 system for a new house. Right now the LC65i's and/or LC265i's look to be the best choices because of the enclosures available. LC65i's would be for rear surround. The fronts and center could be LC265i's or LC65i's(one or two for the center?). The center(s) and fronts will complement a $15,000 60inch plasma.

Also looking for amplification for these speakers. I'm looking at maybe the Outlaw 950/amp setup. I know used gear can be a little cheaper, but I think warranty would be good(and price isn't a large issue). The amps will also be responsible for powering speakers throughout the house other than the surround system. Would the monoblock amps be a good choice for this type of system?

I'm excited to be able to work on this system. I'm trying to make it a something they will actually use and enjoy.

Does anyone have any thoughts on all of this?

Hi okie,

I've got a 7.1 system. I'm using the LC265i's with the performance enclosures as my surround back speakers. I'm using a Parasound HCA-1500A amplifier and I am very pleased with the results.

You don't describe the scope of the whole house music system, but depending on how extensive it is, it might make more sense to consider separate dedicated amplification to power those speakers.

With regard to speaker wires, obviously you're going to need in-wall rated wire. I used this:

12 GA 2 COND SPEAKER WIRE 100'

Originally posted by okiepolkie
The LC265i's should have a good amount of bass, but I don't think they will fill the low end like it should for a multichannel system.

With the performance enclosures these speakers have a -3dB limit of about 43 Hz. So if your clients plan on listening to any of today's typical action movies, you'll need to provide them with one or more subwoofers. Of course that's not meant as criticism of these speakers. Even Polk's LSi25's will only go down to 30 Hz, and they need subwoofers to help with the lower bass as well.

Bass Shakers (tactile transducers) are a nice addition to a home theater, but they are intended to supplement subwoofers, not replace them. The ones you are considering are rather low power, and would require two or more per chair to yield a satisfactory effect.

I'm in the process of completing my home theater. I've got two Buttkickers built into a platform for my rear row of seating. It is powered by a 2,000 watt professional amplifier. Right now I'm shopping around for transducers to fit inside my front row of seating. I can fit a Buttkicker inside the wedge arms of my front row of seating, but I'm having difficulty finding a reasonably priced, high performance shakers that will fit in the other chairs.

Other options for concealing bass producing devices are to put them inside columns or behind acoustically transparent walls. I'm using both techniques. I have a Velodyne Digital Drive subwoofer (along with my main speakers and center channel speakers) hidden behind a false screenwall. In addition I have compact subwoofers (11" cubes) concealed in columns to the side of the audience.

I hope these ideas help. Click on my signature for some drawings of my setup. Good luck with your project.

Larry

Frank Z

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/hometheaterplus/csispspinwas.html

Do a google search for in-wall sub's, you might be surprised to see how many options there are.

okiepolkie

I did a google search for "inwall subwoofers" a couple of times. That is where I came up with the PSB and Parasound. I saw the Speco, but didn't know much about the company. The Earthquakes might work too.

Should an mdf enclosure be constructed in the wall, similar to the one by speakercraft? The whole system from speakercraft would be nice, but it is quite pricey.

http://www.speakercraft.com/our_products/ps/bassW10e.htm

Would an outlaw monoblock work bridged to couple subs?

LittleCar_w/12s

The only thing I can think of for you, given you don't want an IB, but you do want the efficiency fo a VLE; and at the same time you want the response and tightness of a sealed...

Take out a peice of your drywall, cutting along the midpoint of a stud on each side. this will usually give you a 16" wide strip. Build a box of 5/8" or 3/4" MDF for the sub. I'll attach a picture of what I mean... You can make it as tall as you want to change the volume, (a six-fotter will give you about 20CuFt using 5/8" MDF) and you can port anywhere. IF the sub is too deep, a few MDF spacer rings will fix that, and it wont be too intrusive.

The basic idea, is the back half fits into the wall, the front panel replaces the drywall entirely, and must be the same thickness. You then paint it to match the wall, and only the face of the sub can be seen. A plate-amp can be inserted into the custom box as well. PLEASE rememer that in the middle areas you will need randomly placed vertical braces, (horizontal will block the airflow internally) a slight diagonal angle will also help reduce resonancy problems.

Hope it gives you a few ideas.
-Jerry

Frank Z

An Outlaw M-200 could work, but it will depend largely on the sub you use. You're going to need to narrow down your seletion and then pick an amp that will have enough power to feed it. Maybe I missed it, but I don't recall seeing the room size listed. Knowing the LxHxW would help a bit.

okiepolkie

The listening room is approximately 24' x 24'. It opens up into the dining room, so the whole area might even be larger.

This is an unfinished house, so I will not have to tear up any drywall. It would also allow me to completely conceal the enclosure and only leave the driver showing.

Like I said earlier, I will try to have the a diagram of the room by the end of this week so everyone can see what I am working with.

Tour2ma

Big room and adjacent area(s) to boot... you are going to need to move some air to fill it...

Since Gonzo hasn't shown yet, I looked up his thread for you...
http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7353&highlight=strykeforce

Not saying this is the way for you to go... just the way another went...

chinchaz

NEWBIE Question:

I have a question about in the enclosure for the speakers. I will be putting a pair of rc85i's up in the ceiling for my rear speakers. I have probably 12-18" of space between the first and second floors. Do I/Should I build an enclosure for those speakers?

Thanks

okiepolkie

I would think they would sound better with an enclosure. If you have the room and support for it, then try it.

Email Polk and find out what size enclosure would be best for them.

okiepolkie

Does anyone know anything about Signature audio cables? A local dealer sells them for $0.80/foot + $4.50/ rca connector. It seems much more reasonable than Monster Profit Cable.

This dealer carries NAD, Marantz, Magnepan, B&W, Speaker Craft, and Rotel.

I'm considering using the inwall B&W Cinema Series as front the front stage instead of the Polks because it is from local dealer(wish there was a local dealer besides the low end at CC).

Tour2ma

Just for grins, you need to audition the Maggie 1.6's... so good they just hiked the price up a couple hundred...

B&W's respected 'round here... Not sure how many current owners there are, but Russ and Troy are two past owners... then again it's almost easier to list what they have not owned.

Op,
What Polk's are you looking for that are not in your area? Memphis is not exactly a backroad town...

EDIT: Crap... Memphis, I was looking for a Memphis hand a couple weeks ago to pick up and hold an ebay speaker buy, and your name elluded my mellon... Won't happen again...

okiepolkie

CC is the only place within 75 miles that carries Polk. They only have the Monitor line and do not carry their in-wall speakers at this location.

There is a place in Jackson, TN that deals with Polks, but they do not carry many in-store.

He has given me good price quotes on the phone, but I have not been able to meet and talk with him personally.

The dealer in Memphis was very helpful and talked with me for a couple of hours, even though there were several cutomers he could be helping also. Even though I probably won't get the best financial deal there, the personal help is definetly worth more than a few extra $.

I will be visiting the store in Jackson this week to work out a system with them.

I would prefer Polk because I know how good the Cust Serv is from experience. I'm sure that NAD, Marantz, and B&W have good service, but I'm trying go with experience.

okiepolkie

Sample system 1. Please let me know if this is allowed or not on the forum so I do not offend anyone. Prices are only rough estimates.

okiepolkie

Sample system 2(preferred because of the Polks:) .

Larry Chanin

Hi okie,

I'm sure either of your proposed configurations will provide excellent results. However, earlier in this thread you expressed a concern about the bass response of the Polk Audio LC265i's, but the B&W CWM Cinemas have a bass response that is 12dB higher than the Polks and they do not seem to offer performance enclosures.

Larry