High Budget 7.1 Polk HT... Need advise...

Snagglepuss1318

Im attaching a pic of my basement floorplan that is currently under construction. Drywall is not up yet but will be in about 2 weeks. I have a high budget and want to get good quality but not outrageous things ill never use, like the denon avr-5805 (ya its great but ill never use all of its features). Considering the dimensions of the Home Theater, what do you "polk enthusiasts" suggest? I need everything from speakers, sub, receivers, amps, etc., etc., etc... The room is pretty narrow at 13' wide but is fairly long at 22.5'...

Also have some speakers in the Rec Room and Home Gym, I need suggestions on some wall mount speakers for those as well. All wires home run to my HT Equipment Closet...

sickicw

before you put up the drywall, i would run 10 gauge wire to all possible locations of speakers around the room. Then get at least two 20 amp deticate dedicated power lines to the location that will be used for all of your equipment.... now since you said you have a high budget, here is what i would go with....

lsi speakers all around. I would go with the lsi9s for left and right. I think they sound the best, but its up to you as to buy them vs the lsi15s or 25s.

for amps i would get a krell TAS (theater amp standard) plus a krell KAV2250. These are really expensive, so if you can’t afford it, then go with the krell showcase 7 channel amp. This is also expensive, but less than the TAS and KAV2250. By the way you can find these used on audiogon.com for a lot less. LSi speakers need very high current amps to make them sound best.

Now with this setup you will have to get a pre amp. Best bet here is to find one that is compatible with the blu-ray and hd-dvd multichannel PCM outputs. Not sure how easy this will be to find right now, but im sure someone on the forum can help.

For a sub I would pick up a high end velodyne. Maybe a DD-12 or DD-15

Snagglepuss1318

Already ran 12 gauge to all of the locations indicated in red. I have 4 wires for my surrounds pulled because im not quite sure if ill put them toward the center set of columns or the rear set of columns. Inbetween the columns will be decorative acoustical treatments so I cannot put them there.

Right now I have 1 20A dedicated circuit for my equipment closet and 1 20A dedicated for my HDTV at the front of the room. Do you suggest I pull 1 more for the equipment closet??

sickicw

Snagglepuss1318 wrote:

Right now I have 1 20A dedicated circuit for my equipment closet and 1 20A dedicated for my HDTV at the front of the room. Do you suggest I pull 1 more for the equipment closet??

If i were you I would run a extra duel 20A line (dedicated 20 amps on top plug and another on the bottom plug) to the equipment closet. you might not ever need all that power, but you never know.

I am currently experimenting with different amplification setups with my lsi speakers, and I am quickly coming to the conclusion that I will need much much more power (more current actually) that what I currently have available and wish I would have ran a few 20 amp lines when I built my house.

Frank Z

Make sure you add adequate ventilation for the equipment closet.
Lsi15's up front, LsiFX's on the sides, Lsi7's outback, Sunfire Truesub EQ.
Just like ME!!!!

I also use an Anthem AVM-20 mated to an Outlaw 7100 7 channel amp.

Snagglepuss1318

Alright, Lsi's it is... Not sure the dimensions of the Lsi15's & Lsi25's but they look a little big for my room. I still have to shove some seats in there and not be cramped.

With the LsiFX's as surrounds do I need to run another cable for these or is 1 adequate?

sickicw

One speaker wire to each LsiFx should be enough (unless you were planning on bi-amping them), but I am not sure if 10 gauge would be better than 12 gauge. It really depends on your amp and how much current you are planning to deliver to the speakers. Personally, I would run a 10 gauge wire to each one and use that for the connection. You could leave the 12 gauge ones in the wall too just in case. One thing you might want to consider is nailing a block of wood between the 2x4s where you want to mount the speakers. They are pretty heavy speakers and it would be better to be mounted into something that can really hold up the weight.

Snagglepuss1318

Will do. I have a question on mounting positions too. The fronts I will put at approx ear level. But im not sure about the surrounds and rears. My problem w/the surrounds is that I have sconces roughed in at about 5.5' up on every column. I will have to mount them either above or below this height, and the ceilings are 9'...

Frank Z

The surrounds should be 2-3' above the seated listeners noggin.

Joey_V

Not going to go into the intricacies of positioning, but I would go:

LSi15x2
LSi9/FX all the way around (probably FX since this is more HT oriented)
LSiC for center up front
Velodyne DD18x2 (subs, run the eq and wallah.... flat down to 16hz or less with room gain!)
Amps - I would go with a Rotel 1095 + RB1090 (mains) for the 7 speakers

This probably costs a cool 15 to 20K.

amulford

Scratch the cross corner mounts in the other rooms. Two channel music is not recorded for that type of presentation. It will sound like crap.

Find one wall and put the pairs on it.

as far as suggestions, not to be a smart ****, I suggest you get a listen on.

For receivers, I'd look a little higher end than Denon. The Krell is nice. Others to look at would be Rotel, B&K, Sunfire, Lexicon.

Or go seperates.

Snagglepuss1318

Alright, im making some progress... Think I decided so far on:

Lsi15's fronts
LsiC
LsiFX surrounds
Lsi9 rears
Atrium 55s for rec room and gym

I need a sub tho... If im not mistaken there are 8's in the Lsi15's so I should be good w/1 seperate sub, right? I think that 2 velodyne DD-18 would be a little too much bass for me w/the 8's in the Lsi15s too.

Frank Z

9's in the rear are a waste, also...they do not have an integrated mount like the 7's do.

Snagglepuss1318

Frank Z wrote:

9's in the rear are a waste, also...they do not have an integrated mount like the 7's do.

Why are they a waste?? Are you suggesting:
Lsi15's fronts
LsiC
LsiFX surrounds
Lsi7 rears
Atrium 55s for rec room and gym

tdeluce

sickicw wrote:

For a sub I would pick up a high end velodyne. Maybe a DD-12 or DD-15

You also go with a HGS-15X and SMS-1 to provide the same features
and SQ as a DD-15 for less money and more flexibility :-)

tdeluce

Snagglepuss1318 wrote:

Alright, im making some progress... Think I decided so far on:

Lsi15's fronts
LsiC
LsiFX surrounds
Lsi9 rears
Atrium 55s for rec room and gym

I need a sub tho... If im not mistaken there are 8's in the Lsi15's so I should be good w/1 seperate sub, right? I think that 2 velodyne DD-18 would be a little too much bass for me w/the 8's in the Lsi15s too.

I cut my LSi15s off at 60Hz and send everything below that to my HGS-15X.

The 8 in. woofers in the LSi15 are great for music but for real a "explosive"
HT experience you are you going to want at least a HGS-15X + sms-1 ( or DD-15 ).

I get a flat frequency response from 15 Hz to 60 Hz with a lot of headroom
on a single HGS-15X so I would start with one sub, check out the Frequency
Response for your particular room and go from there. My subwoofer volume
is only one-third of the way and my room is caibrated at 85 dB from the center
listening position.

Frank Z

Yes, that's what I'm suggesting.

The 9's are a big bookshelf speaker that sound better than speakers costing 2-3 times as much. They would be a waste of money to be used simply as a rear suround speaker. The 7's can hold there own against many speakers as well but are more suited to surround duty than the 9's because of their size, built in wall mount, and cost. You don't need a $900+ set of rear surround speakers to get a great sounding 7.1 system.

Toxis

LSi15
LSiC
LSiFX for sides
LSi9's (buy a heavy duty mount to support them)
Sunfire Solitaire 12 sub. Single 12" sealed. Built in EQ w/mic. Phenominal sub and has plenty of output without losing any sound quality. No sloppy bass there!
Lexicon Preamp (can't remember model number right now)
Sherbourn 7/2100 amp.
Denon 3910 dvd player
Furman power conditioner/surge protector
Cables by Signal, Bettercables, Cobalt, Blue Jeans or Audioquest (no monster!)
Home Theater Master MX-850 universal remote
Home Theater Master MRC-250 rf adapter (so equipment can be run in closet)

I think that covers it. Am I the only one who really gave him everything he needed? hehehe

Joey_V

Toxis wrote:

I think that covers it. Am I the only one who really gave him everything he needed? hehehe

Braggart...

J/K!

Snagglepuss1318

Hey, you guys are a great help! Was just thinking tho if I were to go w/Lsi9's in the rear the LsiFX's are the same price. Wouldn't it be better to go w/those for the sides and rears??

Snagglepuss1318

Alright, after some research and alot of help from this board...

Lsi15's fronts
LsiC
LsiFX surrounds
Lsi7 rears
SVS PB12-Plus
Outlaw 990
Outlaw 7700
Atrium 55s for rec room and gym

Ill worry about the DVD player, remotes later... What else do I need?

Lowell_M

Snagglepuss1318 wrote:

Alright, after some research and alot of help from this board...

Lsi15's fronts
LsiC
LsiFX surrounds
Lsi7 rears
SVS PB12-Plus
Outlaw 990
Outlaw 7700
Atrium 55s for rec room and gym

Ill worry about the DVD player, remotes later... What else do I need?

Sounds awesome. Do you have a decent power conditioner/surge suppressor that can handle the current you will require and protect your gear? I don't know what to recommend to you, but I'm sure others can. I have a MonsterPower HTS 3500 MKII that I got pretty cheap, but dont really have any recommendations otherwise....im sure others will.

cfrizz

Looks great. Now you need all the interconnects to hook everything up to each other & speakerwire!

Snagglepuss1318 wrote:

Alright, after some research and alot of help from this board...

Lsi15's fronts
LsiC
LsiFX surrounds
Lsi7 rears
SVS PB12-Plus
Outlaw 990
Outlaw 7700
Atrium 55s for rec room and gym

Ill worry about the DVD player, remotes later... What else do I need?

Joey_V

I would replace the 7s with 9s. If you're going multichannel music audio and you wanted to go 15s, C, 9s.... it would be better since the 9s have, what I feel, a better midrange than the 7s.

I would go:
15+C+FX+9

SVS 12+/2 (at least... not the single... I had the single + and it wont be enough once you get volume happy).

Snagglepuss1318

Ok, so im guessing the Outlaw 990/7700 will take place of a reciever. Or do I still need it. Probably an obvious answer but im new to all of this... Any other things I missed?? Speaker wire is ran, and I was about to purchase a monsterbass 300 interconnect @ 36' but this board seems to cringe at the name MONSTER. Anything else im missing before I present the quote to my wife?? LOL

cfrizz

Yes the Outlaws replace the receiver. Only thing missing are interconnects. check out, http://www.bluejeanscable.com/index.htm for those.

Snagglepuss1318

Alright 1 - 36' Canare LV-77S Subwoofer Cable...
What are the balanced/unbalanced cables? Do I need those as well?? Looking at the floorplan where do you suggest I place the Sub? Want to make sure I get a long enough cable...

Toxis

from what I've been told (I have no experience with Outlaw but other's do) that their processor is nice but for the money and a few bucks more, you'll get more dynamics and headroom from a Sherbourn amp. I'd consider it...

BTW, your dvd player is as important as what amp/pre you run IMO.

wingnut4772

I would have to say that you are gonna have a really nice HT here. Check out my link for gear recommendations and ESPECIALLY the amplifier. My Earthquake Cinenova has been incredible with the LSIs. I also used to have the LSI center and ditched it for the 9 as a center. A few here have also done that and have preferred the sound.
LSI9 Center
More LSI9 as center

The Outlaw 990 is reputedly similar to my Sherwood P-965 and I have to tell you that I LOVE my Sherwood. It is fantastic sounding so I think for the $$$ the Outlaw may be a good choice for now. I am not sure that I would want to spend more money on a pre right now with all the new HD audio on the horizon. I would get the nicest , most powerful amp that you can afford now as you will never need to upgrade that due to technology.( I hope !):D

Good Luck and have fun!:)

Snagglepuss1318

What equipment do I need to hook up those 2 sets of speakers in my Rec Room and Gym? They will be for music only...

Toxis

Basically you just need to get a small, low powered amp capable of 4 channels. Then you can run all the processing through the receiver for zone 2 (I'm assuming the outlaw has zone 2 capabilities). If it doesn't have that option, you can just get a small 2 channel receiver like a denon dra-395 and run it off a seperate receiver all together.