|
|
Post by tropicallutefisk on Jan 16, 2019 10:46:01 GMT -5
I am in the process of swapping out my hodge podge of amplifiers and working towards a 5.1 Atmos set up. So far, I have a trio of DR1s across the front running Magnepan 3.7is and a CC5 center. My rear surrounds are Magnepan MGMC1s which are smaller speakers with a potential 80HZ response if positioned properly. I also have another pair of MGMC1s with one in need of repair. Once fixed, I plan to use them as Atmos ceiling speakers. This my current setup: 1. Pre Pro - Marantz 8802a 2. Streaming Device - Roku 4K Ultra 3. 4K Player - Oppo 203 4. Right Front Channel - 3.7i with DR1 5. Left Front Channel - 3.7i with DR1 6. Center Channel - CC5 with DR1 7. Right Rear Surround - MGMC1 with  8. Left Rear Surround - MGMC1 with 9. Right Top - MGMC1 with 10. Left Top - MGMC1 with 11. Room - 14'X16' with 8.5' ceiling. The listening spot is a couch set against the back wall. First question... Am I on the right path by considering mounting the rear surrounds against the back wall and adding a pair speakers to the ceiling for a proper 5.1 Atmos set up? Next question... How should I power these? Do I need a DR2 for the rears and one for the top speakers, or is that overkill? Would a custom four channel be preferable to a XPA-5? Or would a couple A-300s meet my needs? Finally, my goal is to get something that sounds good and is balanced. Budget is of course a concern, but any of the options are doable. I just don't want to spend more than needed to get the desired result. |
|
|
|
Post by musicfan on Jan 16, 2019 11:00:12 GMT -5
first and biggest step....get the couch off the back wall
|
|
|
|
Post by mgbpuff on Jan 16, 2019 11:04:05 GMT -5
I can see the need for DR1 for the 3.7is speakers and perhaps even the CC5. The others don't need so much power. You have a lot of stuff in a fairly small room so I would go for the XPA-5. I can't see this room a having much WAF appeal so the biggest improvement would be to move the couch out from the back wall. I think there are a couple of members here with full Maggie HT setups. They could tell you more.
|
|
|
|
Post by lrobertson on Jan 16, 2019 11:06:32 GMT -5
There’s a thread where the DR’s are having issues powering on with a Martin Logan 11a planar speaker. I wonder if the same issue might occur or if it is a different beast or isolated issue. Either way you would have the 30 day trial period. Just don’t let them sit in the box while you get things set up expecting them to work.
|
|
|
|
Post by tropicallutefisk on Jan 16, 2019 12:23:09 GMT -5
"first and biggest step....get the couch off the back wall" I wish, but that is not an option at this time
"You have a lot of stuff in a fairly small room so I would go for the XPA-5" Thanks. This is what I was leaning towards. Oh, and no there is no wife appeal to the room, but she does watch TV in there and likes the amount of area between the 3.7is and the couch. No budging on that.
|
|
|
|
Post by tropicallutefisk on Jan 16, 2019 12:25:52 GMT -5
"There’s a thread where the DR’s are having issues powering on with a Martin Logan 11a planar speaker. I wonder if the same issue might occur or if it is a different beast or isolated issue. Either way you would have the 30 day trial period. Just don’t let them sit in the box while you get things set up expecting them to work." I've been running the DR1s on the 3.7is for about a month now with no issues.
|
|
|
|
Post by mgbpuff on Jan 16, 2019 12:47:38 GMT -5
"There’s a thread where the DR’s are having issues powering on with a Martin Logan 11a planar speaker. I wonder if the same issue might occur or if it is a different beast or isolated issue. Either way you would have the 30 day trial period. Just don’t let them sit in the box while you get things set up expecting them to work." I've been running the DR1s on the 3.7is for about a month now with no issues. Martin Logans are electrostatic panels, Maggies are, well, planar magnetic, a completely different system and much easier to drive. |
|
|
|
Post by mgbpuff on Jan 16, 2019 12:50:47 GMT -5
"first and biggest step....get the couch off the back wall" I wish, but that is not an option at this time "You have a lot of stuff in a fairly small room so I would go for the XPA-5" Thanks. This is what I was leaning towards. Oh, and no there is no wife appeal to the room, but she does watch TV in there and likes the amount of area between the 3.7is and the couch. No budging on that. Wait until those rear MGMC1s are on top of her! Anyway, immersive sound is not going to work too well unless you relent about the MLP of the couch. |
|
|
|
Post by musicfan on Jan 16, 2019 12:51:30 GMT -5
"first and biggest step....get the couch off the back wall" I wish, but that is not an option at this time "You have a lot of stuff in a fairly small room so I would go for the XPA-5" Thanks. This is what I was leaning towards. Oh, and no there is no wife appeal to the room, but she does watch TV in there and likes the amount of area between the 3.7is and the couch. No budging on that. Wait until those rear MGMC1s are on top of her! Anyway, immersive sound is not going to work too well unless you relent about the MLP of the couch. Correct |
|
|
|
Post by tropicallutefisk on Jan 16, 2019 13:52:52 GMT -5
"first and biggest step....get the couch off the back wall" I wish, but that is not an option at this time "You have a lot of stuff in a fairly small room so I would go for the XPA-5" Thanks. This is what I was leaning towards. Oh, and no there is no wife appeal to the room, but she does watch TV in there and likes the amount of area between the 3.7is and the couch. No budging on that. Wait until those rear MGMC1s are on top of her! Anyway, immersive sound is not going to work too well unless you relent about the MLP of the couch. I've had the rear surrounds running before, so not worried about those. Just waiting to purchase a new amplifier to fire them back up. It was adding the ceiling speakers I was curious about. So without pulling the couch forward there is no noticeable benefit? If that is the case, I will scrap the Atmos idea. Thanks for the feedback. You're saving me money. Well... I'll just be putting that money elsewhere. LOL |
|
|
|
Post by Gary Cook on Jan 16, 2019 15:56:09 GMT -5
I have helped friends set up 5.1.2 Atmos/DTS-X set ups that work extremely and were easily worth the effort (and expense). It's not at all unusual to have a 5.1.2 set up with the lounge against the rear wall, based on the success of the others mine will be that way as soon as the XMC-1 Atmos/DTS-X board is available. Dolby have a 5.1.2 recommended set up, so if they think it's worthwhile why shouldn't we? The incremental gain in going from 5.1.2 to 7.1.4 is around the same as going from 5.1 to 7.1, some people thinks it's a huge step others, others are less enamoured. tropicallutefisk my suggestion is don't only listen to the absolutists, where anything less than 38 channels isn't enough. The fact is unless we have a dedicated home theatre we all have compromises somewhere in our set up geography. The trick is optimising it to get the best result possible, which is entirely possible with a 5.1.2 set up. Cheers Gary |
|
|
|
Post by musicfan on Jan 16, 2019 16:15:04 GMT -5
I have helped friends set up 5.1.2 Atmos/DTS-X set ups that work extremely and were easily worth the effort (and expense). It's not at all unusual to have a 5.1.2 set up with the lounge against the rear wall, based on the success of the others mine will be that way as soon as the XMC-1 Atmos/DTS-X board is available. Dolby have a 5.1.2 recommended set up, so if they think it's worthwhile why shouldn't we? The incremental gain in going from 5.1.2 to 7.1.4 is around the same as going from 5.1 to 7.1, some people thinks it's a huge step others, others are less enamoured. tropicallutefisk my suggestion is don't only listen to the absolutists, where anything less than 38 channels isn't enough. The fact is unless we have a dedicated home theatre we all have compromises somewhere in our set up geography. The trick is optimising it to get the best result possible, which is entirely possible with a 5.1.2 set up. Cheers Gary As I have stated many times. Going from 5.1.2 to 5.1.4 > than going from 5.1.4 to 7.1.4 |
|
|
|
Post by lrobertson on Jan 16, 2019 16:27:30 GMT -5
I don’t think you’ll ever hear from an absolutist not to add 2 speakers. Kinda goes against the concept of why they might be an absolutist. Like a car snob telling the world not to buy a car if it isn’t a Bentley or better. I hear at least 2 heights gives you a huge upgrade.
|
|
|
|
Post by musicfan on Jan 16, 2019 16:52:16 GMT -5
I don’t think you’ll ever hear from an absolutist not to add 2 speakers. Kinda goes against the concept of why they might be an absolutist. Like a car snob telling the world not to buy a car if it isn’t a Bentley or better. I hear at least 2 heights gives you a huge upgrade. Yes it is quite substantial and worthwhile |
|
|
|
Post by tropicallutefisk on Jan 17, 2019 6:16:20 GMT -5
I don’t think you’ll ever hear from an absolutist not to add 2 speakers. Kinda goes against the concept of why they might be an absolutist. Like a car snob telling the world not to buy a car if it isn’t a Bentley or better. I hear at least 2 heights gives you a huge upgrade. Yes, but do the heights matter if I cannot pull the couch forward? If I was to pull it forward, how far would it have to move to make a difference? |
|
|
|
Post by mgbpuff on Jan 17, 2019 8:07:05 GMT -5
I don’t think you’ll ever hear from an absolutist not to add 2 speakers. Kinda goes against the concept of why they might be an absolutist. Like a car snob telling the world not to buy a car if it isn’t a Bentley or better. I hear at least 2 heights gives you a huge upgrade. Yes, but do the heights matter if I cannot pull the couch forward? If I was to pull it forward, how far would it have to move to make a difference? It will add to the immersive experience. I misread that you had left REAR and right REAR speakers. You actually have left SURROUND and right SURROUND speakers which should be mounted on the side walls near the back. So, sorry, as others have stated, it will work (although if it were me, I would still move the couch fwd some). |
|
|
|
Post by tropicallutefisk on Jan 17, 2019 9:03:19 GMT -5
"I misread that you had left REAR and right REAR speakers. You actually have left SURROUND and right SURROUND speakers which should be mounted on the side walls near the back" Yes, that is correct. My apologies. I have not dealt with multichannel since it was just 5.1. Way back in the olden days rear and surround could be used interchangeably without confusion.
|
|
|
|
Post by lrobertson on Jan 17, 2019 15:18:57 GMT -5
I don’t think you’ll ever hear from an absolutist not to add 2 speakers. Kinda goes against the concept of why they might be an absolutist. Like a car snob telling the world not to buy a car if it isn’t a Bentley or better. I hear at least 2 heights gives you a huge upgrade. Yes, but do the heights matter if I cannot pull the couch forward? If I was to pull it forward, how far would it have to move to make a difference? Its hearsay as I haven’t dove into Atmos territory yet but people prefer 5.1.2 over 7.1. I would prioritize the heights and if you can’t move the couch forward either leave out the rear speakers or maybe add 1 or 2 dipole or bipole speakers above ear level which might work for your situation even though they’re not recommended for Atmos. You’re really suppose to have 4ft from your ears to speakers so it sounds like you’ll struggle getting the right angles and distance with monopoles in your room at ear height. Sometimes you just have to work with a rooms limitations if it wasn’t designed around the layouts. Not the end of the world. I’m still getting my room up and running so hopefully I’ll join you shortly. |
|
|
|
Post by tropicallutefisk on Jan 18, 2019 6:11:25 GMT -5
"maybe add 1 or 2 dipole or bipole speakers above ear level which might work for your situation even though they’re not recommended for Atmos" Ah ha! Thanks for that bit of info. My initial thought was to ceiling mount the MGMC1s on the ceiling as Atmos top speakers. These are dipole speakers so they are not the right equipment for the task. I appreciate everyone's input. It sounds like my best course of action is to set aside Atmos till I can reclaim our larger room for my theater. Long story, but the wife has that room for the time being.
|
|
|
|
Post by lrobertson on Jan 18, 2019 10:52:23 GMT -5
"maybe add 1 or 2 dipole or bipole speakers above ear level which might work for your situation even though they’re not recommended for Atmos" Ah ha! Thanks for that bit of info. My initial thought was to ceiling mount the MGMC1s on the ceiling as Atmos top speakers. These are dipole speakers so they are not the right equipment for the task. I appreciate everyone's input. It sounds like my best course of action is to set aside Atmos till I can reclaim our larger room for my theater. Long story, but the wife has that room for the time being. To clarify I meant to use dipoles or bipoles on the rear wall as rear speakers but just mounted a few feet above ear level like the old 7.1 systems. Probably dipoles as those aren’t localized so it doesn’t confuse height info for a 7.1.2 setup. If you wanted to use this type of speaker for height speakers I would not use dipoles. Bipoles or monopoles but preferably monopoles as you should have room to mount those in front on the ceiling. Where you can I would go with the recommended installation guidelines. To simplify things I would just stick to 5.1.2 as recommended by Dolby with monopoles. If you want to experiment 7.1.2 with rear dipoles or maybe 5.1.4 with rear bipoles as the bipoles may draw attention to themselves on the back wall as what should be height speakers. |
|
