Will This Setup Work??

thomask

I'm new to home theater, but have done quite a bit of research and have sought some recommendations, but thought all of you would know best. Here's the setup I'm interested in:

Denon 2807 Receiver
2-LC265i Fronts
1-LC265i Center
2-LC80i Ceiling Surround
2-LC65i Side Surround
PSW404 or PSW505 sub--NOT SURE WHICH ONE!

Your thoughts on this setup would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

cstpeter

Thomask, welcome to the forum. That's nice gear you're considering...I've always wanted to all in-wall surround system.

The stuff listed will sound good, but I have two suggestions:

1) I'd step the receiver up a level or two. You can never have too much power, especially for a 7.1 4-ohm system. Remember, the receiver is the heart of a good home theater setup.

2) Might want to look at other subs that offer more bang for the buck. Check out SVS, Velodyne, Martin Logan, etc. Do a search on this forum.

Serendipity

Nice setup.

1) I would also recommend the Denon AVR-3806 or higher, also check out the Onkyo TX-SR804 and Yamaha HTR-5990. All good receivers in your budget.

2) What he said. I wouldn't go with the Polk subs, check out what SVS offers.

thomask

Thanks for the suggestions! I have another setup question though. I don't know if my budget will allow for a step up or two in receivers, so I may go with a floor/bookshelf system that is a bit cheaper than the LSi series but that still have good reviews. I'm hoping the Denon 2807 will be sufficient for this setup:

2-RTi10 floors
2-RTi6 back behind couch about 8 ft.
1-CSi5 Center
2-FXi5 side surround??????????
1-10" sub (still going to look into the suggested sub stated above--thanks for the help there)

Any suggestions here? I would love the wall system, but I've got to cap it off somewhere as I need to finish the basement and don't want an awesome system with no walls or carpet

You guys are awesome, thanks for the help!

cstpeter

Thomask, where are you shopping? Check out this Denon 3806 for $699 (I used to own this model and was very impressed):

http://www.secondact.biz/product/AVR3806RB

Here's a 4306 for $1499:

http://www.secondact.biz/product/AVR4306RB

MADGSF

Unless you want to add an external amp for them later I suggest replacing the RTi-10s with RTi-8s and putting any money saved into the sub. You may also be able to use FXi-3s instead of FXi-5s and save a little more. For movies I think that would work well and you are going to want as much sub as you can get.

My .02.

thomask

Wow, is secondact a reputable company??

So, how will this produce soundwise? I'm trying to stay under $4000 for all:

1-Denon 3806 Receiver
2-RTi8 Fronts
2-RTi4 or 6's back surround
2-FXi3's side surround
1-CSi5 Center
1-Outlaw LFM-1 Sub

I think I'm getting it narrowed down, but REALLY need advice here. Keep working with me

MADGSF

It would help to know your room dimensions (WxDxH) and the percentage music and movies/TV you want to use the system for. Also where the seating is in relation to the back wall and TV. If the room is too small you will be better off going with 5.1. For example if you are going to listen to a lot of music a sealed sub would probably sound better.

Another thing to consider is buying some items used. I purchased my amp on EBay and my sub on Audiogon. This saved me a lot of money over buying brand new which allowed me to move up the food chain so to speak for the same price. You are almost there.

Ricardo

That receiver will power your RTi's just fine; I know nothing about the Outlaw subs. Many people here likes SVS (including me).

Ron Temple

thomask wrote:

Wow, is secondact a reputable company??

So, how will this produce soundwise? I'm trying to stay under $4000 for all:

1-Denon 3806 Receiver
2-RTi8 Fronts
2-RTi4 or 6's back surround
2-FXi3's side surround
1-CSi5 Center
1-Outlaw LFM-1 Sub

I think I'm getting it narrowed down, but REALLY need advice here. Keep working with me

You should be able to stay well under $3000 for that system, 1) if you shop and 2) especially if you don't have the space for 7.1.

Agree on the SVS or Hsu...the Outlaw is a fine sub, but you'll get a skosh more extention and output with similar SQ for models ~ that price point.

thomask

The theater room is 15wide by 24long. The listening spot on the couch will be about 15 feet from the screen and roughly 6.5 feet from the back wall. I will be using this for movies & tv 80% and music 20%. I hope this helps you to help me.


Also, can you help me with this? I have read review after review of the Denon and my gut just doesn't like the problems with the HDMI switching or upconversion??? Not just that, but also the difficulty of the setup. I'm BRAND NEW to home theater and it seems the Onkyo has a nice easy setup on its 804, but I have read very little in the fanfare of the 804 or anything Onkyo. I will probably be adding on an external amp to drive those rti8's within the first year.

I guess my questions is:

1. Can I get by with 105wpc for now?
2. When I do add on, will the amp ADD the amps from the receiver onto whatever the amp is capable of, or does the amp override the receiver?

Again, I need help here, and I thank ALL of you who are helping, it is appreciated!

thomask

Also, if I did go with the 3806, would this forum be a good source with any setup problems I may encounter?

sickicw

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=589323

Ron Temple

The Onkyo and probably the Denon will be fine. Heck, drop back down to the 2807, it's a later generation with superior HDMI implementation IIRC. Most all better receivers will drive those speakers with ease at reasonably loud volumes.

You can always get support here or on AVS...though your likely to have more fun (or pain) here

thomask

Are my room dimensions from the earlier post going to be ok to run a 7.1 system? Thanks!

Ron Temple

thomask wrote:

Are my room dimensions from the earlier post going to be ok to run a 7.1 system? Thanks!

Should work fine placing the side surrounds at the couch and the back surrounds at the rear wall.

thomask

Well, I think I'm going with the Onkyo 804....easier setup and less switching problems. I am also doing research on the HSU subs, they really sound impressive. I'm glad I was directed there by some of you!

Which should I get, or does it matter?

1. STF-2?
2. VTF-2
3. VTF-1?

They are all around $400 which is what I was going to pay for a PSW404, but was told these are night and day over Polk subs. Which would be best for the Onkyo 804 running the speakers posted earlier. Thanks so much!

Ron Temple

thomask wrote:

Well, I think I'm going with the Onkyo 804....easier setup and less switching problems. I am also doing research on the HSU subs, they really sound impressive. I'm glad I was directed there by some of you!

Which should I get, or does it matter?

1. STF-2?
2. VTF-2
3. VTF-1?

They are all around $400 which is what I was going to pay for a PSW404, but was told these are night and day over Polk subs. Which would be best for the Onkyo 804 running the speakers posted earlier. Thanks so much!

I'm going to recommend going over budget again :eek: . If you go Hsu, the VTF2.3 or 3.2 is where performance starts getting extremely good. I still prefer the SVS PB12NSD or 25-31PCi in the same price bracket, but's a question of taste. Either way you're going to be very happy. If you go with the lesser subs...I think the VTF 1 is about equivalent in performance to the older VTF 2.2.

MADGSF

Refering to your amp question. The amp bypasses the receivers built in amp, so you get the watts from the amp only, not the watts from the amp plus receiver.

Well Ron beat me to it and I agree with him. A sub for you size room, 3600^3feet assuming a 10' ceiling, you should get at least the HSU VTF-MK3. Better a little too much sub than not enough in my book. However I may not be the best person to answer this type of question considering I have a PC-Ultra in a 15x19x9 room.

thomask

Well, I only have 8' ceilings. So, I'm around 2700cu.ft. According to their site, this would be a 10" sub instead of 12. Does this change your recommendation or do you still think it should be a 12"?

Ron Temple

thomask wrote:

Well, I only have 8' ceilings. So, I'm around 2700cu.ft. According to their site, this would be a 10" sub instead of 12. Does this change your recommendation or do you still think it should be a 12"?

In room extention with either the SVS or Hsu 12" subs will get down around 16hz with authority. The 10" SVS PB10NSD will also get there, but without the same punch. The smaller Hsu's will get you to about 25hz. This is fine for music and many movies, but if you're a fan of action, horror or scifi, you're going to want that subsonic extention. It's up to you, but the sub really makes HT. More is usually better.

thomask

You think the Onkyo804 will drive it ok until later when I add an amp? Remember, I'm totally new to this so I don't have an ear for it like you guys do. All I've known are tv speakers for years!

Ron Temple

The receiver will drive your speakers just fine. The sub, whichever one your choose, will drive itself...all you have to do is connect it to the receivers sub out (it will be marked). You're gonna love it. After awhile you may start to listening to other speakers...don't worry about cheating on your current speakers...they are bought and paid for... and understand that you will pimp them out when you get the itch for more

thomask

Thanks Ron. Another question....if I plan to add an amp later, and will bi-amp some speakers, then I should run a double set of wires when I do my electrical, correct? And keep the speaker wires a few feet from the romex to prevent interference?

Also, I'm interested in using wall plates. What kind of jacks do the speakers use? Banana plugs??? And for the sub use an RCA wall jack?

Ron Temple

I'm not yet a bi-wire/bi-amp kind of guy...so maybe some others will chime in about shielding your wire runs. For the speakers you should(or can) terminate with bananas from a wall plate and rca for the sub.