CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[kal]

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I agree that an AT screen with 3 identical speakers across the front is the best. It really anchors the sound in a way that I've never heard before.

We're just starting on the design phase of the entire basement and it may be a bit tighter than I thought so until that's done I'm not sure I want to lose that space. The extra 4 feet of depth means I need about 23-24 feet of depth to support an AT screen in my setup with 2 rows of seating.

The other big issue for me is that I already own fairly expensive speakers with a horizontal center (Paradigm Signature S8 left/right with a C5 center). They don't sell the S8 separately so I'd have to either (a) replace all my speakers with something completely different or (b) buy a new set of S8's (MSRP is $8K) and sell one. That would cost me many thousands of dollars as selling a used C5 probably gets you have of the original cost.

I suppose another option would be to juse use them as is with an AT screen and raise the center up to match tweeter heights with the left and rights.

That said, I'm not even sure how you'd use the left/right S8 speakers with an AT screen as they'fe very tall. They're just over 4 feet high. Putting the tweeter around mid-height on the screen would mean that some of the bottom drivers would not be behind the perforated screen anymore. They're bass drivers so I'm not sure if that would matter too much (?). You could use something like GOM material below the screen to allow these drivers to project sound out but you'd still have the bottom of the screen frame plus other fra framing material to hold everything up.

The S8's look like this:



Picture of the speakers around my screen at the old house is here: http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/album_pic.php?pic_id=690

With the extend of the basement built that is planned at this point at this point in time I'm mostly thinking of sticking with what I have for the moment in terms of screen and audio and just getting a different projector (like the RS45). In a few years I may re-assess and end up reframing part of the front wall or something if there's room.

My head's been reeling with all the possible changes. I feel like I'm juggling a million things. The HT is only one part of the basement too!

Keep the ideas coming however!

Kal

[kal]

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I agree that an AT screen with 3 identical speakers across the front is the best. It really anchors the sound in a way that I've never heard before.

We're just starting on the design phase of the entire basement and it may be a bit tighter than I thought so until that's done I'm not sure I want to lose that space. The extra 4 feet of depth means I need about 23-24 feet of depth to support an AT screen in my setup with 2 rows of seating.

The other big issue for me is that I already own fairly expensive speakers with a horizontal center (Paradigm Signature S8 left/right with a C5 center). They don't sell the S8 separately so I'd have to either (a) replace all my speakers with something completely different or (b) buy a new set of S8's (MSRP is $8K) and sell one. That would cost me many thousands of dollars as selling a used C5 probably gets you have of the original cost.

I suppose another option would be to juse use them as is with an AT screen and raise the center up to match tweeter heights with the left and rights.

That said, I'm not even sure how you'd use the left/right S8 speakers with an AT screen as they'fe very tall. They're just over 4 feet high. Putting the tweeter around mid-height on the screen would mean that some of the bottom drivers would not be behind the perforated screen anymore. They're bass drivers so I'm not sure if that would matter too much (?). You could use something like GOM material below the screen to allow these drivers to project sound out but you'd still have the bottom of the screen frame plus other fra framing material to hold everything up.

The S8's look like this:



Picture of the speakers around my screen at the old house is here: http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/album_pic.php?pic_id=690

With the extend of the basement built that is planned at this point at this point in time I'm mostly thinking of sticking with what I have for the moment in terms of screen and audio and just getting a different projector (like the RS45). In a few years I may re-assess and end up reframing part of the front wall or something if there's room.

My head's been reeling with all the possible changes. I feel like I'm juggling a million things. The HT is only one part of the basement too!

Keep the ideas coming however!

Kal

[Nashou66]

Kal maybe there is someone else that needs a single S8? You could put an add here or over on AVS, Audiogon/Videogon or any home theater forum to go in 50/50 with you .

Athanasios

[kal]

[kal]

[benareeno]

Kal,

please don't interpret this as me trying to antagonize...but do you really feel you are getting your money's worth with those speakers in a HT environment? My 3 B&W 602's are nothing crazy...but man they sound good...really, really good. And not likely because they are B&W 602's...but moreso because of the config. I've only heard a few systems that I thought sounded notably better. Any system with a horizontal center just doesn't sound good...it could be debated until the other debater gets 3 identicals...why not buy 2 more of your center channel speaker? That would give you 3 identical up front in an MTM and you could use multiple subs and really make that room sing...I mean, really!

I have 5 602's in my little basement...the sound is so freaking sweet...especially a vocal coming right out of the actors mouth.

And don't be surprised to find a single for sale...seems to happen more than we think. I waited patiently for the right single 602 to come up for sale, and sure enough...it did!

and...why do you need 4 more feet? I think I built my wall out 18 inches and that offered me plenty of real estate to make it happen.

I also think your speakers would sound fine behind a screen...just align the framing material between the 2 bass drivers.

[kal]

[kal]

[benareeno]

I was suggesting that because you would then orient the center speakers vertically...they will sound better vertically. And many believe a MTM vertical config is best for theater. Is the center speaker an MTM design?

I bought the screen material for 80 bucks, shipped...I built a wall for about 20 bucks out of 2x3...stapled the screen to the studs and voila...i'm rocking an AT screen for a small outlay of cash. I could put casing around the screen at some point to give it a finished look, but the overall investment is not large.

[kal]

This the center speaker:



It's 81 lbs and curved on the sides and top so putting it vertically would be challenging (though nothing's impossible).

I have it on the optional stand (sand filled, bolted to the speaker, spiked feet to the floor):



Kal

[kal]

This the center speaker:



It's 81 lbs and curved on the sides and top so putting it vertically would be challenging (though nothing's impossible).

I have it on the optional stand (sand filled, bolted to the speaker, spiked feet to the floor):



Kal

[benareeno]

I see your point...those things are massive!

And they probably wouldn't fetch much on the used market...or would they?

there is a huge amount of buzz in the DIY speaker community about compression drivers (horn tweeters) and controlled directivity. I almost went that route...but figured I just wouldn't have the time to build them. But I have no doubt that they would sound great...and very dynamic and clean (for movies). I bought a pair of JBL 8350 surrounds with horn tweeters, and indeed...they play loud and clean(no distortion). But...I decided on 5 identicals.

Right now I am operating with no sub...but yet, I have bass sources high and low, and front to back...I just don't get that last octave. But the room is so small that I don't think the wavelength of the last octave would be all that audible anyhow.

[kal]

[kal]

[greg_mitch]

[RVonse]

Kal,
Why are you picking the JVC projector over something with more contrast and brightness like a used 3 chip 720p DLP? Another words something with much more light horsepower that could probably be had for the same price? I ask this because I have been getting the CIH ich myself but I am very concerned I could be satisfied a JVC or any other of the Sony DILA's are bright enough to do this right. Even though I am used to seeing darkness with a crt setup.

[benareeno]

rvonse....I think you're onto something here. And I totally agree.

[kal]

[kal]

[benareeno]

No jvc can do natural and accurate color like a high end dlp...and ansi contrast can't be beat.

On off and overall blackest black might not quite be there...but that just doesn't tell the tale of what an overall great image is. It is high contrast and accurate primary colors....and something like this has it...big time.

Having watched a dlp for brighter content...it is simply better than a crt. And when I switch back to crt, the brighter scenes tend to look washed out.

http://www.projectorreviews.com/runco/lightstyle_ls5/index.php

[kal]

Good point. I was talking on/off contrast, not ANSI (interscene on/off contrast).

I've seen a lot of digitals over the years but it's been quite some time since I've seen a properly set up recent digital in a nice environment (last one was a first gen JVC DILA - RS1 or RS2 I think). At the time the other digitals I saw (DLP, LCD) just weren't there yet.

I'll certainly have to do more research (and viewing!) before I bite the bullet.

Once I get closer I'll have to start hitting up some local HT guys to see what they have installed... Unless things have changed in Ottawa, none of these stores have anything worth writing home about (which mostly speaks for projector setup, not the equipment).

Kal

[kal]

Good point. I was talking on/off contrast, not ANSI (interscene on/off contrast).

I've seen a lot of digitals over the years but it's been quite some time since I've seen a properly set up recent digital in a nice environment (last one was a first gen JVC DILA - RS1 or RS2 I think). At the time the other digitals I saw (DLP, LCD) just weren't there yet.

I'll certainly have to do more research (and viewing!) before I bite the bullet.

Once I get closer I'll have to start hitting up some local HT guys to see what they have installed... Unless things have changed in Ottawa, none of these stores have anything worth writing home about (which mostly speaks for projector setup, not the equipment).

Kal

[WTS]

If I could find a DLP where I didn't see rainbows I would be tempted to buy it, unfortunately I have only seen one so far and that was the Runco Q750i and they don't come cheap. Even the LS5 I could see rainbows on and they are a $7K unit. I will say those two Runcos sure had a lot of pop to the pq and very clean looking, I wasn't bothered by the so called lack of deep blacks. I watched -The 5th Elemant and Dark Knight and they both looked great, I had no complaints.

[RVonse]

[RVonse]

[kal]

[kal]

[dropzone7]

Kal, have you considered anamorphic lenses at all? Do you think you would start off zooming or get a lens right away?