|
|
Post by davidl81 on Feb 12, 2018 22:00:23 GMT -5
Update
I have decided to go with the DR-2 for two reasons. The main one is space since I can just replace my XPA-2 directly out with it. The other is based on some reviews on this site the DR-2 should do exactly what I want. Also I do think the biggest limiting factor is my SR7009, thus I have decided to hopefully get the XPA-1 Gen 3. Once the RMC-1 comes out I will see if Emo updates the delivery of the XMC. If it looks like the XMC will be too late to come out I may just get the RMC. I was able to secure a 40% off card and that helps tremendously with the cost.
FYI I’ll run the DR-2 and my XPA-5 on my dedicated 20A line.
|
|
|
|
Post by pknaz on Feb 13, 2018 7:00:40 GMT -5
Looking at your image, it looks as though you don't have any room treatments - you'll notice the biggest change in sound by adding room treatments. They don't have to be WAF rejected, they can be art panels that look very nice. www.gikacoustics.com/product/gik-artpanel-acoustic-panels/ <- just some examples of what is possible, only limited by your imagination. |
|
|
|
Post by Boomzilla on Feb 13, 2018 7:39:23 GMT -5
Well, your wife is going to kill ME for even suggesting this, but...
IMHO your existing equipment is gross overkill for HT and more than sufficient for stereo. BUT in addition to speaker arrangement, you have huge potential for improvements with room treatments. A few absorbers by themselves can really change the sound of a room. Do you need them? Simple to test - clap your hands in the room. Do you hear ANY echo at all? If you do, then those absorbers will make more difference than any amp you can buy at any price.
One CAN get attractively printed absorbers (a must for WAF), but even the plain colored ones aren't too bad if you use them sparingly. A half-dozen 4x8 panels of absorber materials will give you an amazing improvement, generally.
Boomzilla (moniker not indicative of listening preference)
|
|
|
|
Post by Boomzilla on Feb 13, 2018 7:40:06 GMT -5
Looking at your image, it looks as though you don't have any room treatments - you'll notice the biggest change in sound by adding room treatments. They don't have to be WAF rejected, they can be art panels that look very nice. www.gikacoustics.com/product/gik-artpanel-acoustic-panels/ <- just some examples of what is possible, only limited by your imagination. You beat me to it, dude! Great minds think alike! LOL |
|
|
|
Post by brutiarti on Feb 13, 2018 8:09:00 GMT -5
Preamp and room treatments before amps for sure
|
|
|
|
Post by mgbpuff on Feb 13, 2018 8:24:50 GMT -5
Preamp and room treatments before amps for sure +1 |
|
|
|
Post by davidl81 on Feb 13, 2018 8:41:12 GMT -5
The room is a dedicated media room and the wife does not care at all about what I put there. Any suggestions for places to look for treatments at a good value. They can be solid black or any neutral color really. I'll see if I can get a diagram of the room mocked up and maybe you guys can give me some pointers about where to add treatments and how many I should be looking at getting.
Thanks for all of the help!
|
|
|
|
Post by davidl81 on Feb 13, 2018 8:59:49 GMT -5
Here is a picture of the rear of the room. The door to the room is just to the left of the picture. I'm thinking a 24"x48" panel in between each set of columns and something a little larger between those rear speakers?
|
|
|
|
Post by pknaz on Feb 13, 2018 9:29:13 GMT -5
GIK Accoustics will do a free 3D model of your room (with no obligation to purchase from them, though I did) and help you determine where best to place treatments. I'm a big fan. www.gikacoustics.com/acoustic-advice/ |
|
|
|
Post by kybourbon on Feb 13, 2018 9:57:09 GMT -5
GIK Accoustics will do a free 3D model of your room (with no obligation to purchase from them, though I did) and help you determine where best to place treatments. I'm a big fan. www.gikacoustics.com/acoustic-advice/They did my theater. I can post pictures if you are interested. |
|
|
|
Post by davidl81 on Feb 13, 2018 10:01:47 GMT -5
I'll fill out the info sheet and see what they say.
|
|
|
|
Post by creimes on Feb 13, 2018 10:20:38 GMT -5
I'll fill out the info sheet and see what they say. Yes that room for sure needs absorption, nice room but being closed in like that sound will be bouncing back and forth like crazy, I also say XMC-1 and treatments before changing amps. The DR-2 seems to be getting rave reviews but for mainly HT use I say replace the Marantz with the XMC way before changing the XPA-2 to the DR-2. Just my .02 coming from experience with Marantz compared to the XMC-1 and putting up acoustic panels in my room, I made mine from 2x3 MDF, Roxul Safe'n Sound and cheap Walmart sheets. Chad |
|
|
|
Post by rbk123 on Feb 13, 2018 10:24:06 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by davidl81 on Feb 13, 2018 10:29:21 GMT -5
I'll fill out the info sheet and see what they say. Yes that room for sure needs absorption, nice room but being closed in like that sound will be bouncing back and forth like crazy, I also say XMC-1 and treatments before changing amps. The DR-2 seems to be getting rave reviews but for mainly HT use I say replace the Marantz with the XMC way before changing the XPA-2 to the DR-2. Just my .02 coming from experience with Marantz compared to the XMC-1 and putting up acoustic panels in my room, I made mine from 2x3 MDF, Roxul Safe'n Sound and cheap Walmart sheets. Chad I would change to the XMC-1 right now, but I am running an Atmos setup. I will just have to wait for the RMC-1 or the XPA-1 Gen 3 (or Gen 2 Atmos upgrade) |
|
|
|
Post by creimes on Feb 13, 2018 12:32:43 GMT -5
Yes that room for sure needs absorption, nice room but being closed in like that sound will be bouncing back and forth like crazy, I also say XMC-1 and treatments before changing amps. The DR-2 seems to be getting rave reviews but for mainly HT use I say replace the Marantz with the XMC way before changing the XPA-2 to the DR-2. Just my .02 coming from experience with Marantz compared to the XMC-1 and putting up acoustic panels in my room, I made mine from 2x3 MDF, Roxul Safe'n Sound and cheap Walmart sheets. Chad I would change to the XMC-1 right now, but I am running an Atmos setup. I will just have to wait for the RMC-1 or the XPA-1 Gen 3 (or Gen 2 Atmos upgrade) Ahhh crap sorry I missed that you were running an Atmos setup, how do you find it in that room, I'm still stuck at 5.2 since I have no intentions of more speakers as my room is about 10 x 14, plus i really don't have the funds to go to an atmos processor and more speakers and amplifier channels haha. That's great you have a 40% card which will save you a good chunk on the RMC-1 it looks to be pretty killer, unless I win the lottery it will be about $7000 Canadian which I could buy a second vehicle we would need before a processor lol. Chad |
|
|
|
Post by davidl81 on Feb 13, 2018 12:39:57 GMT -5
Attached is a very ugly drawing of the media room. The red panels would be 2'x4' vertical panels set in between the existing columns. The green section on the rear of the room would be a larger panel that fits between those rear speakers. Should I look into bass traps for the corners of the rooms if I can fit them? Also is installing something on the ceiling necessary? I have sent off the design form and I should get a recommendation back form them by tomorrow. Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by davidl81 on Feb 13, 2018 12:44:32 GMT -5
I would change to the XMC-1 right now, but I am running an Atmos setup. I will just have to wait for the RMC-1 or the XPA-1 Gen 3 (or Gen 2 Atmos upgrade) Ahhh crap sorry I missed that you were running an Atmos setup, how do you find it in that room, I'm still stuck at 5.2 since I have no intentions of more speakers as my room is about 10 x 14, plus i really don't have the funds to go to an atmos processor and more speakers and amplifier channels haha. That's great you have a 40% card which will save you a good chunk on the RMC-1 it looks to be pretty killer, unless I win the lottery it will be about $7000 Canadian which I could buy a second vehicle we would need before a processor lol. Chad I really do like the Atmos when watching the right source. Certain blu-rays that have Atmos soundtracks do a great job with the ceiling effects. American Sniper comes to mind as well as the John Wick movies. John Wick 2 when they have the gun fight through the tunnels is pretty sweet. Overall though I would not spend a bunch of money to upgrade from 5.2 to Atmos, I only did it because I would building the house and I was able to do this room from scratch. So I went ahead and put the Atmos in ceiling speakers in with the Marantz 7009. |
|
|
|
Post by creimes on Feb 13, 2018 12:57:40 GMT -5
Attached is a very ugly drawing of the media room. The red panels would be 2'x4' vertical panels set in between the existing columns. The green section on the rear of the room would be a larger panel that fits between those rear speakers. Should I look into bass traps for the corners of the rooms if I can fit them? Also is installing something on the ceiling necessary? I have sent off the design form and I should get a recommendation back form them by tomorrow. Ceiling if you can do it yes, I have two on my ceiling, I don't have bass traps as I really can't fit them in the corners but if you can i say do it especially in a closed in space such as yours. Chad Here's my room  |
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Feb 13, 2018 14:06:03 GMT -5
Preamp and room treatments before amps for sure Before going down the rabbit hole of new gear and (probably) excess room treatments, I'd FIX THE ROOM and SETUP. But that's just me. A proper setup will minimize the need for all the rest. |
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Feb 13, 2018 19:36:06 GMT -5
I guess what I am looking for in the listening experience is to feel as though I am at the concert I am listening to if that makes any sense. Right now I just don’t get that feeling when I’m stereo mode. It may be in large part to my AVR as I have not been impressed by Audisey at all. I will eventually get an XMC 1 (or 2 now I guess) but I won’t purchase that till Emotiva has the Atmos support. My thinking is I can buy the two XPA1s and then sell my XPA2 and net cost to me will be about $1000. At that point I will know without a doubt that I have all of the amp I will ever need. Then it will just be the AVR that could be the issue. Plus I get to join the monoblock society and that has to be worth something. The reason I feel as though headroom is not enough on the XPA2 is just seeing how far the leds go when I’m listening in stereo at higher volumes. The speakers are rated for a 250W amp and my thought is by putting a 500W amp on the speakers I would never be pushing the amp that hard. But I do admit that my logic is pretty questionable on this lol. Those alledged power meters are a JOKE. Calibrated for 8 ohms, resistive, they have LITTLE to do with real speakers or the power they're using. Are you willing to install a dedicated line to the new amps? That's an additional cost. This is just my OPINION, but a pair of XPA-1 should be on a dedicated line. 20 amp if you can swing it AND want to get 100% out of your new purchase. The plug is a 15 amp type, but with 2x transformers @1200va, you can use all the power you can afford. Testers for high power amps like these use a VARIAC to ensure stable line voltage to the amp under test. For me, and I hate to be judgmental or harsh, I'd take the grand and start a college fund for your 2 lovely girls. OK, spend a LITTLE on room setup / treatment. And don't forget that first, speakers don't have watts. They can be rated in one of several different ways for 'power handling' and unless you know, I wouldn't put TOO much stock in what they say, but rather pay more attention to the sensitivity of the speaker. Mirage calls the 'room efficiency' @87db. I'll guess they are talking about sensitivity, since efficiency is usually expressed as a %. And they don't specify how the sensitivity reading was taken. The usual 2.83 volts IS one watt. At 8 ohms. But these are a nominal 6 ohm speaker. Just listen for signs of distress as you play them. Also? Speakers tend to change and always for the worse, as they heat up. |
|
