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Post by natethegreat on Dec 6, 2011 12:40:32 GMT -5
Hello all,
New to Emotiva and this lounge. I am currently finishing my basement and I'm getting close to drywall, which means I need to make speaker decissions. I am building a theatre that will be used for movies 70% and music 30%. I will have (I'm guessing) two speakers in the ceiling by the bar and pool table to help fill the open basement with music. I'll post dimensions here tonight when I go home and measure. My budget is $4000-$6000 for all speakers, amps, processors, ect. So, if you were me... what would you build? I know this is a hard quesiton becuase you can go so many directions.... but that is what I need help with. Would it be crazy to buy all Eomtiva? I just can't seem to get over the price and the reviews I am reading for both amps and speakers. Do I wait for the new line to come out...whenever that is??
Looking forward to some advice!
Thanks,
Nate
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cgolf
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Post by cgolf on Dec 6, 2011 13:10:19 GMT -5
You're going to get as many different answers as people who respond but that will give you lots of options and thoughts.
Can't go wrong with all Emo although there are other very good options. If it was me, I'd go all amps from Emo and get a good AVR as a preamp and some name brand speakers. Lots of brands with good reviews within your budget. ERC is a good CD player but the OPPO 93 is a great all duty CD/DVD/BR player.
A good rule of thumb (+ or -) is about 1/2 your budget for speakers so you're looking at $2k-$3k for speakers. Even for 5 speakers, there are lots of good choices out there for that money.
It's always best to listen to speakers in your room first but nowadays that's highly improbable for most of us.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2011 13:11:53 GMT -5
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Post by natethegreat on Dec 6, 2011 20:32:35 GMT -5
Ok, I have some dimensions incase anyone is interested...
The room will be 19 feet front to back. Wall on the right side. From the back forward 5 feet on the left it is 12 feet side to side. And the rest is open all the way to the rest of the basement (40 feet). Hopefully that makes sense. I was thinking going 5.1 since everyone I talk to with 7.1 says its overrated. I will also have 2 speakers not included in the 5.1 that will just be for music, and I think they would do best being in the ceiling, but they don't have to be.
What type of Amp set up would you do for 5.1 and two room speakers? I would guess the five channel and a two channel. Would you not recommend UMC-1 processor?
I will take recommendations on the two ceilling speakers for the bar area and pool table area, but what I really need help on is the right, center, left combo I should go with. I would assume what ever I decide there will dictate the surrounds to match. I suppose that can probably be true also for center. So maybe all I really need to do is nail down a solid front pair and then match everything else. I suppose the sub could really be interchangeable also.
What kind of a difference am I going to see/hear from a PS3 to OPPO 93? This is not in my budget and maybe purchased down the road, as it is not 100% necessary right now.
I'll be check out your recommendations now. Thanks guys!
-Nate
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Post by essheil on Dec 7, 2011 18:53:14 GMT -5
Nothing WRONG with buying ALL EMOTIVA or ALL of the same BRAND if it's a BRAND you happen to like. There are however good MATCHING with various brands that specializes in a particular product, for example speaker manufacturers like magnepan, eminent technology, b&w, anthony gallos, psb, axiom, polk, mirage, klipsch, bic, infinity, wharfedale, JBL, and various others that are affordable within that budget. It also depends on the type of design you want to use for your HT system. Using all emotiva is a FIRST GOOD OPTION especially if you happen to like ALL emotiva products, it makes your set up simple and well matched not needing to EXPERIMENT like you would mixing and matching. I wouldn't recommend mixing and matching unless you know exactly what to get!
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xki
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Post by xki on Dec 7, 2011 22:07:20 GMT -5
Based on the dimensions your posted, 5.1 will be just fine. If you are set on in-ceiling speakers in the bar/pool areas, don't go cheap. And also keep in mind that ceiling speakers will not have the low end that almost everyone expects. Good in-wall speakers would be better in these areas if your walls will allow it and not blast out the people closest to them.
Because your only dealing with 12 feet of width, towers are just about your only option for mains. There are a multitude of choices as 'essheil' pointed out. Keep in mind that the more efficient the speakers, the less amp(s) you need. So, if you get smaller amp(s) you can spend more on speakers. As an example, if your speakers are over 95db+ 1watt at 1 meter, a 125 watt per channel amp is plenty. That is unless you want to scream and don't want anyone to hear you over the music.
Regardless of you speaker selection, get Emo amps. There is just no down side. None.
What would I build in your space? I would anchor the room with Klipsch RF7s and search for deals on the center and surrounds to match. A complete kit new is about 6k but can be put together for under 4k. That would leave 2k for pre/pro amps and bar/pool area. Do-able. A sub is a must and that's going to bust your $6k top end. Big deal. Get a good one! (Or two.)
An EMO UPA-7 would power the whole thing. Some of these are coming up on various sites for sale. I have one. I'll have it till I die. Or, any combination of Emo amps to power the 5 channels in the theater room and 2 channels for the rest of the basement would do well.
An EMO UMC-1 would do well, too. Low price, great SQ, and more stable than ever.
Of course I'm biased. I own Emo gear and love it. I own Klipsch and love it.
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Post by natethegreat on Dec 9, 2011 8:34:19 GMT -5
Awesome, thanks for the ideas. I'll be listening to lots of speakers this weekend so hopefully I can narrow it down a bit.
What other processors out there would anyone recommend? Is there a weakness in the Emo processor?
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Post by natethegreat on Dec 12, 2011 9:35:26 GMT -5
Funny you say RF-7s. I have a pair of RP-3s upstairs that my friend is suggesting I use for my towers in the theatre, then match with surrounds. I'm considering closing off part of the theatre room to make it better for acoustics then buying a really nice set of towers for music listening in the remainder of my basement. I have too many options.....
BTW, I demoed lots of speakers this weekend and fell in love with B&w. 684 and 683. Not sure why but the 684s sounded better to me.
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