Home Theatre systems?

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, Friends,

I have a question about HT systems. Of what would a basic system consist? Would there be main speakers, rear speakers, and a side-fill for right and left? How about a center channel speaker? Necessary, or not?

Once I get my 4333's up and running, I'd like to play around with adding more to my system. Our Harman/Kardon is setup with separate amps for the rears, center, and side-fill stuff, and I believe they are all about 45WPC. Enough?

I have quite a few JBL 12 transducers, having play music for almost 30 years, and I was wondering if, say, a pair of 2130's with, or without a tweeter, in smallish boxes, would be good side-fill speakers? They are extended range, even without the tweeter.

I also have a pair of Altec 902-16HF drivers (basically a regular 902-16, but without the horn that was added to make it a "HF"). Those, with a small horn and JBL 12" woofer, could be the rear speakers.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions? We mainly listen to music on our system, but do like to run movies through it, when we take the time to watch such entertainments. Thanks for any suggestions you can offer. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[toddalin]

Remember the "pod race?"

Think of how much less spectacular it would be if you didn't hear the turbines spooling up all around you. You've got to have some high frequency back there for those effects.

Furthermore, when you do get in to surround music, you want your rear speakers to have a similar response as your fronts. While the sub can help with the rear's lows, your highs will sound muffled in surround pans and even discreet instruments without a tweeter.

[Doc Mark]

Hi, Todd,

Many thanks for your comments, as always! Upon reflection, I do think you bring up a very valid point, and one I'll keep in mind, when I finally get this project underway. I'm not sure how many large cabinets can fit into our listening/viewing environment, as our room is big, but not "huge". Plus, I want Sweet Bride to be happy with whatever we end up doing, and we'll have to see how it turns out, as we go along, adding things as we go!

Yes, that pod race, which we watched at your place, was thrilling, indeed!! As I wrote back when we had listened to your fantastic system, I'm not sure our's will ever be up to the coverage of your's. But, I'm pretty sure that, no matter how it turns out, we're going to be very happy with it. All the best to you and Linda, and we wish we were going to be here to come visit during your open house! Sounds like a real blast and quite a bit of fun!! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[SEAWOLF97]

A good center is moe importand than the sides/rears/surrounds. Dialogue and much sound comes from center...dont skimp there.

[BMWCCA]

I'm thinking of using L7 in the front, L5 in the rear, L1 for side fill, and two L20Ts butt-to-butt as centers——mostly since that's what I own. Though I'm waiting for the price of HT pre-amps to come down to a reasonable price. I'm not interested in using an off-shore integrated amp since I have eight Crown amps already. Does this make sense? Any suggestions? I've never set up a HT. I'm only a two-channel guy but thought I'd try HT for my kids.

[SEAWOLF97]

I'm thinking of using L7 in the front, L5 in the rear, L1 for side fill, and two L20Ts butt-to-butt as centers——mostly since that's what I own. Though I'm waiting for the price of HT pre-amps to come down to a reasonable price. I'm not interested in using an off-shore integrated amp since I have eight Crown amps already. Does this make sense? Any suggestions? I've never set up a HT. I'm only a two-channel guy but thought I'd try HT for my kids.

OK, but......L1 side really isnt needed. center is MONO, 2 L20's may drop to an impediance mismatch. rears/surrounds are overrated, many (not all) flix have little to NO content there.

[hjames]

I'm thinking of using L7 in the front, L5 in the rear, L1 for side fill, and two L20Ts butt-to-butt as centers——mostly since that's what I own. Though I'm waiting for the price of HT pre-amps to come down to a reasonable price. I'm not interested in using an off-shore integrated amp since I have eight Crown amps already. Does this make sense? Any suggestions? I've never set up a HT. I'm only a two-channel guy but thought I'd try HT for my kids.

First Phil, what are you planning to setup?
A 5.1 system or a 7.1 system? Or maybe 5.0 mode? Tho your L7s don't need a sub for music, you'll no doubt appreciate a sub for films!
You WILL need a center in films/TV for dialog ...
I run 5.1 in my system these days - 7.1 didn't add enough fill to make it worthwhile for me ...
in 5.1 I run the rears off the side signal. But I what some folks are calling "sides" I think they mean the front L/R speakers ...

I think otherwise - you've already got all the pieces to try it so there's nothing really to loose.

[Tom Brennan]

A good center is moe importand than the sides/rears/surrounds. Dialogue and much sound comes from center...dont skimp there.

Boy, I strongly disagree with that. I think that using good side speakers (left and right fronts I mean, just to make sure we're talking about the same thing) with the center channel in phantom mode works fine. In my setup the stereo image across the front is wide and properly placed side to side without a center speaker and clarity is first rate.

That said, I'd rather listen to movies mono with a single really good speaker than have a surround system with mediocre speakers.

[SEAWOLF97]

[quote=Tom Brennan;214939]the center channel in phantom mode works fine. [/quotefrom SR - tech Q&A

[JBL 4645]

A good center is moe importand than the sides/rears/surrounds. Dialogue and much sound comes from center...dont skimp there.

Unless its one of many rare films that has crazy dialogue panning moving from left to centre or centre to left and centre to right with excellent timbre matching.

But that doesn’t make it so if "Luke Skywalker’s" "lightsaber" is heard as dull whizzing sparkle when it’s started up just moments after been thrown from the speeder-bike "Return of the Jedi" (1983-1993-1997-2004) and the gets ready for attack with its sparkling with transparency from centre to right. So sound effects are just as critical to film sound art.

Boy, I strongly disagree with that. I think that using good side speakers (left and right fronts I mean, just to make sure we're talking about the same thing) with the center channel in phantom mode works fine. In my setup the stereo image across the front is wide and properly placed side to side without a center speaker and clarity is first rate.

That said, I'd rather listen to movies mono with a single really good speaker than have a surround system with mediocre speakers.

I recognize that film that’s “South Pacific” and that what I’m talking about this as crazy use of dialogue panning Ping-Pong over the LCR, wonderful film and musical tracks use it a lot.

[Tom Brennan]

I recognize that film that’s “South Pacific” and that what I’m talking about this as crazy use of dialogue panning Ping-Pong over the LCR, wonderful film and musical tracks use it a lot.

Yeah, lots of multi-track pictures from the 50s and early 60s had the voice following the actor's on screen position, this is especially noticeable in Fox pictures like Demetrius and the Gladiators and Cleopatra.

One of the beefs some had with the DVD of My Fair Lady is that the sound was remixed to the modern style of placing dialogue in the center.