[Nitro_APBT]

I guess I should introduce myself being that this is my first post here.

My name is Tom. I am considering building my first HT speaker package.

I have a fairly well equipped garage workshop, and some basic electronic knowledge. I could not design a crossover, or cabinet, but I can follow instructions.

I have looked at Audax, Adire, a couple others and now Vifa, and GR.

I am leaning toward the GR packages that were listed here on audio circle.

One reason I am leaning toward GR is the support through this forum.

I do have a number of questions though. Most simple, but a couple might be trickier.

My living room will be where these reside. The room is 17X13 with the TV, and couch on oposite 13' walls.  There are 3 3x5 windows in the room 1 behind the couch, and 2 on the adjacent wall. The end table on the right will be replaced with a subwoofer butilt to match the existing end tables.



Now for my questions. (I must warn there may be more to follow.)

Are the package deals still available?

My room living room has a couch against the back wall with end tables on either side. My current surrounds are on these tables. I don't thing the HT-1RS' will get SA. Can I use the A/V-1's on end tables ~3' from seating positions?

Could I substitute A/V-1's for A/V-1RS' in a package?

I don't have a spot for a subwoofer, and will have to built a furniture grade enclosure to mimick one of my end tables. Do you have a subwoofer that can be used in a downfiring setup similar to the tempest 214l that Darren Thomas did? If not would you mind suggesting one that would compliment the GR HT package?

I would like to do hardwood baffles on these. Do I need to make any adjustments for the additional thickness of the front baffles (3/4"MDF with 3/4" hardwood over)?

The Front Right speaker will be close to a doorway opening that leads into my dining room. Should I build the A/V-3's ported forward? Do I need to make any adjustments other than ones that effect physical position of drivers/bracing?

Is there anywhere I can listen to the A/V1's or A/V3's? Or something that is similar that I can use as a pseudo audition?

Thanks In Advance for any help,

Tom

[gprro]

Hi Tom,

I guess I conviced you to come on over, I'm pretty sure Danny will chime in, so I'll let him answer most of the questions. On the sub though, you can use the sub driver firing down, but I think the PR's need to be mounted on the side. The design for them is relatively small also, I think around 2.2 cu. ft. so smaller than an end table. Post some pics if you build a set.

[Nitro_APBT]

Yes, your comments, and then the couple hundred posts I read through here.  I figured, as long as there is a forum here, with direct feedback from the manufacturer I would go straight to the source.

I don't think a PR will work for my situation. I want the sub to be as "invisible" as possible. I[/i] could live with visible drivers, etc, but my wife, 5 year old, and 2 dogs couldn't.

[Danny Richie]

Hi Tom, Welcome to GR Research.

First off, I rearranged your room. I hope your wife doesn't shoot me.    But something like this will give you a more ideal sound and get you a little closer to the TV too.



In that upper left corner is a sub, or at least a good place for one. I also added A/V-1RS models in the rear.

Don't worry, they actually have very high spousal approval. My wife loves them. She says they look like a little scants on the wall.

Any speaker used as surrounds setting on a stand or end table aimed right at you is not going to work very well for rear surrounds. The A/V-1RS is a great solution and they will create a large rear sound field with no localized sound.

Package deals are still available.

If your wife still says no way to the A/V-1RS then you can substitute standard A/V-1's.

You can add solid wood front baffles if you lay it over MDF. No problem.

Let me and the rest of the guys here know what part of the country you are in and we might know of some near you that you can audition.

[Nitro_APBT]

LOL, I refreshed the page, and thought "what happened to my image"?

Danny,

Thanks for the reply.

There are a couple problems with that setup. The room feels as small as I'm comfortable with now. By moving things around it would essentially make the room 4' smaller, and the area behind the couch would be almost useless.

Also, there is an outlet, and cable in the current TV location. The house is 65 years old with textured plaster walls that I am in no hurry to tear into.

Because of the roofline getting power, and cable run down the oposite wall will be a challenge to say the least. The roof is about 2" above the top of the wall I would have to drill into to run wires from the attic.

My wife says she may be able to live with the A/V-1RS's though. With my current layout would the rear wall be best? Or near the rear wall on the side walls? What would "ideal" placement be (distance from ceiling/walls)?

Using my current layout would I be better off porting the A/V-3's forward to avoid sending the sound straight into the dining room?

HOPEFULLY I can start building enclosures very soon. I have some extra time right now, and as long as it stays above freezing I can work in the garage.

Thanks Again,

Tom

P.S. I am in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.

[Loftprojection]

Hey Tom, I just ordered a kit myself after researching and reading on various kits for months.  I did not get the sub for now, I want to know how much bass comes out of the AV3 before adding the sub.

I have to admit that you should really consider Danny's suggestion or any other arrangement where you could get those AV3 a bit more centered with you sitting position.  You've got a pretty difficult setup to get nice sound over there.  Like you I was hesitant on the AV1rs but Danny's text on his site convinced me.  Read it, it's worth the 5 minutes it takes to go through.  

Unfortunately I can't tell you how mine sound, I currently building them and it's probably going to take me a few more weeks.

Have fun with the project.

[Nitro_APBT]

Believe me, I realize that the advice is good.

It's just that in the room we are limited. My wife is axtually very flexible as far as this is concerned, but I think she's holding back a bit.

As far as seating position goes, I actually sit almost dead center between the front speakers. I am always in the right side of the couch, and my wife is always on the left.  I am of course 2-3 feet from the left rear, and 7-8 feet from the right rear. If I wanted to I could put the front right speaker in the far corner, and have the center couch seat dead center between them.

In the future we will be adding an addition that will give me a REAL home theater area, but for now I have to deal with what I've got.

I'm assuming that I should be ok with the A/V-1RS's though right?

I mean I'm using a pair of bose 201's on the end tables now.

BTW, the drawing was not measured out by any means. I just threw together what looked right.

Danny, as far as the wall sconce comment goes, I had actually thought of extending the shell of the enclosure to put an LED light source in the bottom with an etched glass cover for a soft lighting effect on the walls.

Multi function speakers.... I may be getting ahead of myself lol

[klh]

Tom,

I know you are hesitant, but I highly recommend having a friend over and taking a half hour to rearrange the room as per Danny's suggestion. See if you like it. If you don't, you can always move it back. Give it a shot.  The sound from your system will be MUCH better, and if you like how it looks, leave it that way for your wife to see. Maybe you'll get the thumbs up and maybe they'll be down, but it's worth the small effort to see if it'll work for you.  Besides, all those shows on HGTV have furniture out into the room, they say it makes a room feel better. I didn't beleive it until I acually tried it in our family room... the room was much more inviting. Cable TV wires can be run along the floor/wall boundry... it might not look perfect, but they can be hidden.

[jon_010101]

I must agree with klh and Danny... the sound from the original layout will be a few steps behind what the proposed layout can deliver.  And, aesthetically, I would regard it as an improvement too.  Better feng shui or whatever  If it were me, I'd put some fancy bookcases behind the couch in that little space too.

[Hank]

I agree with Danny - swap end-for-end and you'll optimize the room.  Don't forget acoustic treatments.