AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Home Theater and Video => Topic started by: mcgsxr on 26 Dec 2009, 07:30 pm
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I have a history of posting blog type threads around my system evolution - read on if you want to hear about the transition! As Bob in St Louis says - if there are no pics, it did not happen!
I have owned a Sony 32 Vega for 8 years now.
I have had it running my 2.1 HT on the main floor.
This am I went out and bought a Panny 42 inch X1 Plasma - 720p, but that is all I need for this room. I also bought an upconverting Pioneer DVD player (with HDMI), some cables, and a newer HD satellite receiver for my service from Bell. Hooked up the TV, along with the DVD player just as a short term solution - have 15 guests coming tomorrow, so I won't have time to do it right until next week.
Below is a before pic of the room, and a current pic of the ridiculous setup, while I wait to fish wires, and hang this properly over the fireplace. The entire TV unit will go, replaced by an end table with the requisite gear in the corner. Where the TV unit is, a loveseat will go.
Here is the box I opened - sorry, no pics of my van with it in it!
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=24890)
Here is a shot of where it will go - the plasma will replace the mirror I put up there last Xmas, as a device to show what a screen would eventually look like, for my wife.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=24891)
Next up, the supremely ghetto shot of BOTH my TV's in place - the old Sony destined for the bedroom (not with the stand), and the new TV, perched up on top.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=24892)
Last one shows the back of both my daughter's heads, as they are mesmerized by the new screen showing Santa Buddies - love using a new screen for their stuff!
Later tonight, I will play some of my flicks - perhaps Pitch Black.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=24893)
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I think Panasonic Viera was a good choice.
Are you happy with your decision? What does your family think of the new HDTV? :smoke:
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All my girls are happy - the small ones (4 and 6) love the bigger TV. The older one (wife) likes that it is not a 50, and it can be hung over the fireplace.
The owner (Daddy) is very happy with the picture - variable outputs would have been the icing on the audio cake, but I can work around it.
I have guests coming tomorrow, so it will be Monday before I can tackle mounting it.
Very happy with the Viera.
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Good to hear it, Mark! I wondered what you would end up going with. I am still futzing with "infrastructure" issues over here before I take the plunge.
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Very cool Mark. Nice choice. aa
Bob
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It was a relatively long process, hard to do work with power tools with my girls 4 and 6 "helping".
Removed drywall horizontally over the fireplace, to get to a stud I could snake down. I have an unfinished basement, but the previous owner finished one wall down there, to use with his PJ. Of course that ONE wall was the one in my way... So I borrowed a Sawsall off my neighbor (my second favourite tool after the gas powered concrete saw!), and had at it. I drilled up through the floor and baseplate from below, and snaked away. I then repeated the process (less the sawsall and drywall destruction) over where the small a/v unit will live. I then drilled through all the studs upstairs, and pulled the 2 HDMI, 1 Toslink, and 3 speaker cables where they all needed to be. Later I repaired the drywall, and painted quickly. Up went the mount, and then called a neighbor to assist with the actual lifting of the TV into place.
Then on went the kids movies!
Pics below.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=24962)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=24964)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=24963)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=24965)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=24966)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=24967)
Here is the final one, showing the unit up where it belongs. Now on to the speaker building - this IS Audiocircle after all!
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=24968)
More pics in time my friends, but this proves to Bob that it did happen!
The local Satellite company is coming Saturday to install a second LNB on my dish, so I will then have HD broadcast finally!
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Nice patch job on the drywall, too. Normally, I don't like TVs over fireplaces, but that looks pretty good.
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Looks good -- inspiration to get the infrastructure work done sooner rather than later!
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When using quotes, please do it for a reason, to reference a particular phrase or particular picture. No need to quote mcgsxr's entire post with all of the photos repeated just to say "looks good".
It makes the topic long and cumbersome, and if each poster did that, Holy Cow!
Steve
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More pics in time my friends, but this proves to Bob that it did happen!
:lol: Thanks Mark. Yea, it looks like it did indeed happen after all. That's undeniable.
As Bob (viggen) mentioned, that it a very nice patch job.
Based on the size of the mantle and the TV, it looks like a 55" would have fit quite nicely. aa :icon_twisted:
Bob
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First, TV is a great choice. No need in your situation to get 1080p on a 42". In a few years you will get a nice 55 to hang in the same location. My friend has 2 Panasonics now, one is the previous generation of that one.
I was going to ask how you moved the hole in the wall to the center over the fireplace. Patch looks good at least in the pics. i will be doing this in the future for some media room rewiring!
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When using quotes, please do it for a reason, to reference a particular phrase or particular picture. No need to quote mcgsxr's entire post with all of the photos repeated just to say "looks good".
It makes the topic long and cumbersome, and if each poster did that, Holy Cow!
Steve
Oops -- edited previous post as per above.
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When using quotes, please do it for a reason, to reference a particular phrase or particular picture. No need to quote mcgsxr's entire post with all of the photos repeated just to say "looks good". It makes the topic long and cumbersome, and if each poster did that, Holy Cow!
Oops -- edited previous post as per above.
eg1, I wasn't necessarily singling you out! There was another topic I was reading, and half a dozen people in a row quoted a long series of photos! Thanks for your understanding and not getting annoyed with me.
It was a relatively long process, hard to do work with power tools with my girls 4 and 6 "helping".
mcgsxr, nice work. It demonstrates how if you roll up your sleves and attack a project, you can have a really nice installation and make everyone happy!
Steve
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What are you planning to do for sound with this set-up?
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eg1 - good question, this IS Audiocircles after all!
I think I have a 2 part answer for that valid questions, as there is short and long term to consider.
Short term - re-use my existing A/V receiver, a non HDMI Panasonic SAXR-15 (Canadian version of the SAXR-25). This is why I ran 2xHDMI, and 1xOptical cable, and 3 sets of speaker wires when I ran all the cables. Short term the 2xHDMI are one per source (one satellite receiver, one upconverting DVD player), and the optical cable returns the sound to the Panasonic receiver. I am using my TV as the preamp in my case - all sources connect to it with audio and video, and the audio returns via the optical cable. I intend to setup 5.1 in this room, and use the old Panasonic for now. I will be building 5 speakers in the coming months, that will be used both short and long term.
Long term - I will buy an HDMI capable receiver. I don't expect it will need to be capable of converting analog to HDMI, as I don't use my system on this floor for anything other than new sources, each with HDMI - including PC when that eventually happens. Then one of the HDMI will be the direct source to the TV, and the other one my spare in case anything "funny" happens over the years - not looking to rerun cable for a long time. The optical cable will be no longer in use at that time. I will use the 5 speakers I built, and the sub too.
I am expecting to use single drivers in my HT for the speakers, likely CSS FR125SR (http://creativesound.ca/details.php?model=FR125SR (http://creativesound.ca/details.php?model=FR125SR) as I already own a pair of them, and will buy one more to build the front 3 speakers. I will reuse my CSS WR125ST http://creativesound.ca/details.php?model=WR125ST (http://creativesound.ca/details.php?model=WR125ST) as the rears.
I have yet to completely land on a design for the speakers, but expect to go with a small sealed style, and let the Panasonic SAXR-15 clip out the bass and route to the sub. I figure the 100-125Hz setting will work with speakers roughly 0.25ft in size. I have in the past built both sealed and ported speakers with these drivers, and find that for HT use, the sealed are better, as the cone is better controlled at higher volumes. I would expect the front speakers to be roughly 5-6 inches wide, similar in depth, and around 12+ inches long, to give a rectangular shape, that should match well with being close to the rectangular TV - the front 3 speakers will be close to the display - L and R to the sides, and C underneath the plasma.
There is way more treble with the FR version, but I want to reuse the WR versions I have, so they will end up in the surrounds. I may also consider using car audio speakers for the rears, as I have done this in the past too. I have some nice 6.5 components in my old Accord right now, and will pull them before I sell the car. Those Zapco's are decent, and I could install them as in-wall, vs the on wall style that the WR's will have to be.
That is my approach so far.
We have swung the loveseat into position, where the old TV unit was, and are actively looking for a good (affordable) A/V unit that will act as an end table for the loveseat.
More as it develops.
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A very detailed response -- I should expect no less! :thumb:
I was in particular curious about the location of the center channel speaker. When you say "under" the plasma, do you mean on the wall or on the fireplace mantel?
As you know, I am planning a not too dissimilar set-up over here. Right now my main puzzle is center channel speaker placement. I would like to keep the hdtv panel as low as possible to avoid craning our necks upward from the seats. I expect the hdtv panel is going to be very thin, so placing the center channel speaker on top of it might be problematic -- on the other hand, placing it below the tv will require installing the whole thing higher. Are there brackets that will facilitate mounting the speaker to the bottom of the tv, or even better, near the bottom so that it covers (or partly covers) the "dead space" along the bottom of the tv (many tv models seem to have more plastic in the frame at the bottom than around the rest of the perimeter)? I have also noted these so-called "sound bars", and it would appear that most of them attempt to replicate the sound of multiple speakers -- could one be wired so that it just acted as a center channel?
The most dreadful option from my perspective is sticking something on the flooor in front of the fireplace that I have to drag out and put away -- ick.
One final possibility -- just use a phantom center channel?
Anybody's insights most welcome!
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I'm not too familiar with it, but I hear Yamaha make a pretty fancy sound bar. If memory serves, it has some of that fancy stuff to "phantomize" a surround illusion. It could be set directly on top of the mantle. The TV could be placed to give the illusion it's setting on top of the sound bar but essentially would be hovering millimeters over the top. Might look pretty slick.
I certainly hope the HT purists don't flame me over that one. :lol:
Bob
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I'm not too familiar with it, but I hear Yamaha make a pretty fancy sound bar. ... I certainly hope the HT purists don't flame me over that one. :lol:
I have a 2-channel "purist" friend (he has a pair of custom Cary 88's, hand signed by Dennis Had, configured for vertical bi-amping with bass channel having twice the wattage of the treble channel) driving some Vandersteens.
For his HT, he has one of the Yamaha sound bars and thinks it is pretty darn good. Of course his is the model just south of $2K, and as would be expected, requires a subwoofer.
Steve
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I have heard a couple of the Yamaha soundbars, and thought about using one in my own main floor HT. The lower end ones didn't do as well as the more expensive units, which I thought were decent for the dough, assuming you add a sub, as noted.
I would not spend that type of dough though, unless you intend to use it as the sound solution for that room - would have high wife acceptance factor, and will trump your current setup nicely.
I think the high end ones replace the receiver too, not sure if they upconvert to hdmi sources that are not though.
I will place a center on the mantle, under the plasma, but folks do mount them up above eg1, it can be done no problem.
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My first choice would be to mount it atop the tv -- not sure how that will be accomplished given how these panels are becoming, however. :scratch:
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I assume (oh what fun!) that you are talking about how thin the new LCD's are, and that your concern is that the speaker will be much deeper than the display?
Important to remember that with the tilt of the display bracket, there is likely to be 4-5 inches of depth up there, compared to just the display itself.
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I assume (oh what fun!) that you are talking about how thin the new LCD's are, and that your concern is that the speaker will be much deeper than the display?
Important to remember that with the tilt of the display bracket, there is likely to be 4-5 inches of depth up there, compared to just the display itself.
Yes, it is the thinness (is that even a word?) -- how shall a speaker be perched atop that tiny ledge? It brings to mind a bit from Holy Grail:
1st soldier with a keen interest in birds: What? A swallow carrying a coconut?
King Arthur: It could grip it by the husk!
1st soldier with a keen interest in birds: It's not a question of where he grips it! It's a simple question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.
:green:
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RIGHT, off you go!
I have measured just now, and above my unit I have about 9 inches from wall to front of display, and as my plasma is about 4 inches thick, and the thinnest LCD's are still at least 1 inch thick, I would say that gives you roughly 5-6 inches of depth above your display, once it is there.
Although the speaker would be mounted above the display, it is not likely actually touching the display at all... it would normally be mounted to the wall, as with the L and R speakers, should they too be smaller and looking to be kept off the floor.
Brackets can be purchased for smaller speakers, and engineering awaits for larger speaker choices!
You could also consider in-wall for the center. The area above your gas insert is bound to have a large void that could be leveraged to install a speaker flush with the front wall itself, either above or below the display.
Lots of choices!
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We found a nice small end table style "container" for the receiver, dvd player, and satellite receiver. I installed it this evening.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=25115)
My wife intends to put a plant between the unit and the window, so that will cover the wires that come out of the wall in the pic below - we could move the unit closer to the window, but that compromises one of the seats on the loveseat for TV viewing - it gets further off angle.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=25116)
Now onto the planning and construction of the speakers.
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RIGHT, off you go!
I have measured just now, and above my unit I have about 9 inches from wall to front of display, and as my plasma is about 4 inches thick, and the thinnest LCD's are still at least 1 inch thick, I would say that gives you roughly 5-6 inches of depth above your display, once it is there.
Although the speaker would be mounted above the display, it is not likely actually touching the display at all... it would normally be mounted to the wall, as with the L and R speakers, should they too be smaller and looking to be kept off the floor.
Brackets can be purchased for smaller speakers, and engineering awaits for larger speaker choices!
You could also consider in-wall for the center. The area above your gas insert is bound to have a large void that could be leveraged to install a speaker flush with the front wall itself, either above or below the display.
Lots of choices!
I see -- but as I am mounting the tv on a fully articulated mount, might I not get funny sound "location" from a center channel sticking straight out from the wall when the tv might be angled another way?
end table as avr disguiser looks good, btw
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I see -- but as I am mounting the tv on a fully articulated mount, might I not get funny sound "location" from a center channel sticking straight out from the wall when the tv might be angled another way?
Whether the speaker goes on the bottom or the top of the TV (I think you said you preferred on the top) you will want to angle it down so that it is pointing at ear level, and sounds like it is coming from the center of the screen.
You may want to see if you can find an adjustable angle wall mount for the speaker. To be in line with your ears at sitting/listening level, it will have to be at a slightly greater angle than the TV.
Have you chosen a center speaker yet so that weight and dimensions can be compared to an available bracket?
Steve
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Thanks for the reply, srb. No, I have not chosen one yet because I still don't know what is possible. The TV is likely to be an LG 55LH40, if that helps.
I am also more concerned with "left-right" turns of the tv on the bracket than "up-down" ones. In the latter case the sound will still seem to be coming from the screen, whereas in the former I imagine there might be some problems unless the speaker is mounted directly to the tv in some way so that it turns where the tv turns.
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eg1 - your install will require a more complex mount for the LCD than did my own for the plasma, as you are looking for an articulating mount. These are (like most things) more expensive in Canada than in the US, but I have seen some decent ones.
http://www.frontierpc.com/product/Peerless/SA760P.html (http://www.frontierpc.com/product/Peerless/SA760P.html) - this would handle your screen size, and will allow for both side to side and up and down for the display. Ships from inside Canada too, though they are out of stock at the moment. This one is in stock though - http://www.frontierpc.com/product/Peerless/SA760PU-S.html (http://www.frontierpc.com/product/Peerless/SA760PU-S.html)
Then of course there is eBay - http://cgi.ebay.ca/Articulating-32-to-56-LCD-Plasma-TV-Swivel-wall-mount_W0QQitemZ290388476100QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item439c8080c4 (http://cgi.ebay.ca/Articulating-32-to-56-LCD-Plasma-TV-Swivel-wall-mount_W0QQitemZ290388476100QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item439c8080c4)
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ARTICULATING-32-37-42-50-52-60-PLASMA-LCD-TV-WALL-MOUNT_W0QQitemZ280447528572QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item414bf9ae7c (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ARTICULATING-32-37-42-50-52-60-PLASMA-LCD-TV-WALL-MOUNT_W0QQitemZ280447528572QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item414bf9ae7c) - good to 160 lbs.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ARTICULATING-SWIVEL-32-to-60-LCD-PLASMA-TV-WALL-MOUNT_W0QQitemZ350301645779QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item518f9aebd3 (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ARTICULATING-SWIVEL-32-to-60-LCD-PLASMA-TV-WALL-MOUNT_W0QQitemZ350301645779QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item518f9aebd3) - good to 175 lbs.
http://www.frontierpc.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=2044155050 (http://www.frontierpc.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=2044155050) - this is an example of a plate designed to interface with the mount above, and allows for the mounting of the center channel TO the TV, as it is mounted on the articulating mount. Total weight would need to be taken into consideration, as srb is pointing out, so you will need to land on a speaker package to sort out what the center channel will weigh etc.
Lots of ways out there to skin the a/v cat, but I know that you have other fish to fry, getting your wife onboard with her direction for the overall fireplace layout.
Once that is sorted out, let me know, you know I love to help with this type of stuff!
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Yes, wife is very much involved in selection of stone colour for the purpose of turning the wall "bulkhead" (I do not know the correct term) into "the monolith" (courtesy 2001: A Space Odyssey). She is, however, oblivious to the equipment end of the set-up. This is a good thing, so don't tell M!
I have already ordered the bracket -- a Sanus XF228
LG55LH40 delivery is supposed to be this coming Monday. I propose to set it up in the existing TV corner until all the infrastructure for the wall mount is completed.
Know anybody who wants a big-ass, insanely heavy 36" crt? :lol:
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Know anybody who wants a big-ass, insanely heavy 36" crt? :lol:
I was able to find someone I knew who wanted my 32" albatross (for free). It was almost like buying a computer. From full price to $0 in 6 years.
Steve
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Good luck with the beastly 36, I recycled my 32 into the master bedroom - what a pig to hoist up onto the dresser - can only imagine the 36!
Nice choice on the articulating mount, Sanus builds great gear, I can see how that will suit your room well.
Glad to hear the massive TV is arriving too!
Mums the word on my end, looking forward to seeing it, and helping put it where you want it in time.
All the best,
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Good luck with the beastly 36, I recycled my 32 into the master bedroom - what a pig to hoist up onto the dresser - can only imagine the 36!
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Funny I have one of those 36" HD XBR400 monitors myself. It is a beast and has never moved because it's so heavy. It works fine for it's current purpose (a second home), but I have no idea what I'm going to do with it when the time comes either...
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Good luck with the beastly 36, I recycled my 32 into the master bedroom - what a pig to hoist up onto the dresser - can only imagine the 36!
Nice choice on the articulating mount, Sanus builds great gear, I can see how that will suit your room well.
Glad to hear the massive TV is arriving too!
Mums the word on my end, looking forward to seeing it, and helping put it where you want it in time.
All the best,
It takes two men to lift with the help of straps.
I will start by offering it to my retarded in-laws on an "if you can cart it, you can have it" basis ... :icon_twisted:
Failing that, there is always 1-800-Got-Junk!
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Some progress since I last posted in this thread.
I had planned to build speakers (and I have plenty of proof in other threads around here to prove it was not just idle intent!), but saw an NIB set of Energy satellites that I could not build speakers for the price of - any my wife liked the format of these little speakers. I knew I could leverage my M&K V7 II to augment the bass, and given the intentions of this main floor system (ie have a good screen, and decent sound), it fit the bill perfectly.
I have purchased and installed the following:
Energy Act 6 satellites x 5.
M&K sub (repurposed from the previous system).
Pioneer VSX-819H-K surround receiver.
I have the receiver, sub, and front 3 speakers up and running.
I have yet to install the rear speakers.
More pics to come.
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Happy user #1, older daughter Easton.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=25720)
Happy user #2, younger daugher Cadence.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=25721)
Final front stage pic. Yes, I know that the speakers should be further apart and a number of other issues I would normally stress over have been ignored for this install. This system is about family time, and simplicity of use. I can live with some audio compromises in this system, to keep the family happy, and give me the room to obsess in other locations!
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=25719)
The Logitech 880 is fantastic - it setup well, and controls everything as I would want it - THANKS eg1!
Last project will be to install the rear speakers, but for the moment I am resting and enjoying - even if we are watching Sponge Bob!
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Nice job Mark, well done.
Time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. :eyebrows:
Bob
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Very very nice install job Mark. :thumb:
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Well done Mark....enjoy !! :beer:
Kids are all getting older...say hi !
Chris
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You're welcome! Looks good and I am looking forward to hearing it :thumb:
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Wolf, the girls say hi, Easton is wearing her purple "Speaker Model" shirt today, after our reading of this thread last night.
eg1 - hold off till the rears are in, I am sure they will add to the audio flavour. I will advise, in the process of placement negotiations right now. Should be ready by next week, 2 weeks at the latest.
Question about the rears - as I have posted, I am willing to make WAF compromises in this system. My wife wants one of the rears to be placed about 2-2.5 feet "outside" where it would symetrically match the other rear. :roll:
The Pioneer as an auto setup function, where it measures and calcs the room etc - assume it can make up for that placement compromise?
I bought an 18 foot composite cable that I keep coiled behind the receiver, for moments like this when I know I will need to run the setup again, and the receiver won't output the on screen display via the HDMI. NOT carrying that old 26 inch CRT up here ever again! :evil:
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The Pioneer should be able to adjust accordingly Mark, no worries. If it's got the capability, then it's "got the capability", if you know what I mean.
The coil of composite is your only option. Well....the only option for a sane man. But yea, that's about all you can do at this point. I've learned my lesson as you have....the next project will have a truckload of conduit involved to accommodate such unexpected matters. :duh:
Bob
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Mark you might be able to manually adjust the volume levels & distance from listener on each speaker also. A Rat Shack sound meter used in your favorite listening position should get helpful also in dialing in the volume level of each speaker. If it's all done automatically tho, them I guess it's in the hands of the gods. 8)
Cheers,
Robin
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Thanks Bob, I figured the surround capabilities of receivers to compute such matters had come a long way since I played with surround first in 1994, and last in 2002... The unit does an auto setup, and then does still allow for manual override of what it computes - that will come in handy when the real sub arrives... :icon_twisted:
I am not offended by the coil of composite cable behind the unit, in fact, I would likely be more offended to have to run such an antiquated cable in-wall!
Since I have to run a long cable for the mic, it is OK to short term run the composite across the floor too - I get to be my own roadie!
I will advise my wife that it is a huge compromise, and tough to work around, but I am willing to do it for her etc - no need to let her know it is easy, or simple - I get no credit that way! :lol:
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I have decided that the cute 8 inch M&K will not cut it for this room anymore.
I am a confirmed basshead, and in the past (running 2.1 with CRT display) I did not have any surround sound, or a large enough screen to want to watch movies.
Since buying and installing the gear in this thread, I have found myself in this room more often, watching movies more often.
I like the M&K sub, and the quality of the bass is good. But an 8 inch sealed woofer in a room 11x15 and open into my 20x11 kitchen is overworked too quickly.
I have sold off my FR125S speakers, and WR125ST based KIT41 speakers, to free up some cash to complete a project started in 2001. My ported HT sub.
12 inch Nakamichi driver (cast basket, nice piece), 3.5 foot box ported to 23Hz, 300w BASH amp. It is constructed of well braced 3/4 mdf, but has always looked like the dog's breakfast...
I will finish it right - the shape of it was designed from day 1 to be an end table. I will wrap the entire thing with black grill cloth (vague homage to Vandersteen I guess), and have ordered up a big piece of granite to be the top.
Pics in the coming weeks, as the project (finally!) comes to a close.
I have used it before with great success aurally (I use to wrap it with a blanket to avoid having to look at it, even in a darkened room!), and it really punches HT bass well - slow for music, but I don't listen in this room.
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Welcome to manhood Mark. You're now one of us. 8)
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mcgsxr ...
Pics in the coming weeks, as the project (finally!) comes to a close.
............. 8)
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It's gonna be good, but there will be a delay.
Got all the grill cloth in place yesterday, and mounted the amp. Tested, and the amp has died. :scratch: For the record that is 2 amps in 3 weeks at my place!
So, the cosmetics will be finished in 7 days, but unless I can find an affordable plate amp, or bridgeable power amp that can push 4ohms, this project is on hold... :cry:
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PartsExpress plate amps, and "Pro" amps are pretty reasonable.
Also check places like "Musiciansfriend.com" for cheap pro amps. I bought an 800 watt bridgeable amp from them for $130. Nice amp, but they don't sell it anymore. I wouldn't use it for main channel stuff, but great for the lower octave drivers.
Bob
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Some progress made.
Sub wrapped with grill cloth. Old Pro Altec mono amp sourced and tried. It pushes 75-95w to 4ohm, and sounds OK, but does not have the punch I need for HT. I will use the Altec in my basement system, pushing my 2 OB 12's.
I am still hunting for the right amp for this sub- I will remote locate the amp, so future failures will be easier to deal with - I bolted a "plate" over the sub cutout in the back of the sub, will never be seen as it will be close to the wall.
The granite slab that will finish this off cosmetically is due in next week, so I am getting excited to get the right amp to push this!
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=26330)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=26329)
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I have finished the cosmetics as of today. Pics below.
Here is the granite top of the sub.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=26509)
Longer view of the sub, where it will live.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=26511)
The old Altec is functional as the amp (remote located in the basement) but I will continue to look for the right high powered amp to do the job. I can boost the bass by adding gain to the sub channel from the Pioneer receiver but I suspect that a pro audio amp, or one of those digital amps from Class D Audio will be able to drive it better.
Have fun with your projects!
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I have been trying the Altec on the sub, and although it can produce decent levels, it seems loose or fluffy compared to the BASH 300 before it died.
I have given it much thought, and as I am playing around with sub amps in general, I decided to pick up a different pro amp - http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180465986927&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180465986927&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT) - Crown 460 CSL, will produce 400w into 4 ohms, when parallel bridged.
If this arrives and does not do it, I will use it in stereo on my OB subs, and keep on trying different amps for this sub - I have heard it go before, and I know what it can do - not going to stop until it sounds as good as it can, now that it looks decent, and is in the HT.
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Crown amp arrived today.
Hooked up, gain set, and ready to roll.
Results? Now THAT is the bass I remembered, when I built this sub. Both in terms of overall volume, but more importantly punch. The fan is pretty loud, but given that the amp is in the basement, I can only hear it when I am not in the listening room anyway.
All set now, I will take a couple of pics, but other than the rears (wife does not desire them in the family room), this install is DONE.
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Is it ever really DONE?
Had hardwood installed on the main floor, so the nasty 14 year old carpet is a thing of the past.
Through the magic of 3 pics, a weeks worth of hard work is revealed!
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=30790)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=30791)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=30792)
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WOW!!!! :o
Nice job Mark, super cool. I LOVE the floor and room.
It took me 50 pictures to convey the same thing you did in three. :lol:
Bob
p.s. Don't forget guys, the "Home Theater and Video Circle" has a picture thread for cool stuff like this. :wink:
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The ongoing build of the basement HT setup reminded me that I never posted the updates to the main floor.
Here are a couple of pics that show what we redid upstairs in the Fall.
Tore out the existing fireplace surround. Installed custom built in shelving, and natural stone. Mantle custom stained to match the flooring. I hung up the TV I won, and called finished. AGAIN. :lol:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=77526)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=77527)
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Oh yea. That looks very nice, you should be proud.
Don't forget to post your "room finished" pics in the official HT room photo thread. :wink:
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Swanky!!!! Love it.