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small budget AND HT
This thread has 10 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Sunday November 16, 2003 at 00:54
chrisrobbins
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5
I have a small budget and a fairly big room. I have a sony ddw-750 reciver. I bought the "htib" for the reciver because it was 500w. I have replaced the center channel with jbl 200w and the main with 100w floorspeakers. I have a new 200w sub coming on order.

NOW, I have 27' TV because that is the size the entertainmet center will fit.

Can anybody help me out with ways to get the most of out my setup. I am a newbie who has just found a LOVE for HT. MY dvd collection is growning by the day and I want to hear EVERYTHING.
Post 2 made on Sunday November 16, 2003 at 19:01
McNasty
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Unfortunately, our hobby (and work for some of us) is an expensive one. From here forward you cannot use the term "budget". ;0)
I guess the only advice I can give you is to make sure the sound levels are all equal. The biggest mistake I see most newbies doing is cranking those rears up.
OP | Post 3 made on Monday November 17, 2003 at 00:01
chrisrobbins
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McNasty thank you for the advice.. how is the BEST way to get ALL sound equal?? Are the 100w floorspeakers good or should I get better watts??

Post 4 made on Monday November 17, 2003 at 09:49
G50AE
Active Member
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Invest in a good SPL meter.

[Link: radioshack.com]

And get yourself a copy of the Avia Ovation DVD or the new Digital Video Esentials DVD.

These two items will help you get more out of just about any system.
Post 5 made on Monday November 17, 2003 at 11:50
bob griffiths
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May 2002
1,252
I would read up a bit before spending your hard earned cash heres a good place to look

[Link: smr-home-theatre.org]


The speaker placement articles and the blowing the lid off av reciever articles are good.



This article is usefull about speakers sensitivity

[Link: whathifi.com]

I agree with G50AE digital video essentials is a great disc to get the best out of your system see here

[Link: videoessentials.com]


you seem to be strangely addicted to watts.Wattage is not always a good indication of how good something is going to sound, My drill has a very high wattage but i dont want to listen to it all day! as you will find when you read up a bit more cheap bad sounding systems often bragg at how many watts they are . often PMPO or total wattage figures are given at 10% distortion at 1 khz.

you can spend good money on junk or quality gear the choice is yours .I would buy AV mags as well as ask advice here.
and remember sales people in specialist stores are not always out to con you !in the uk i have had excellent advice from specialist dealers such as superfi/sevenoaks/.the sheds in the UK(big multiple dealers) often dont stock or have the right info about the products your interested in i expect the same is true in the U.S.

good luck and have fun

Bob

This message was edited by bob griffiths on 11/17/03 13:04.
Post 6 made on Tuesday November 18, 2003 at 12:38
djy
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Bob,

My goodness, an extremely lucid and informative post. Are you feeling alright?
Post 7 made on Tuesday November 18, 2003 at 14:01
bob griffiths
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djy i have been off the booze for a while (about two days) i was sensible again in the rubee 3 reply too!
Post 8 made on Tuesday November 18, 2003 at 19:30
McNasty
Founding Member
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G50 is right about the SPL Meter. I actually bought that one for my personal use and used it along with an AVIA DVD. It worked great for a DYI job. The cheapest way yo do it is to have your reciever do a speaker test and adjust it by ear, but it's pretty inaccurate.
Post 9 made on Wednesday November 19, 2003 at 02:25
G50AE
Active Member
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Anytime you do tweeks, additions or adjustments to your system, it's a good idea to verify the calibration of your setup.
Post 10 made on Wednesday November 19, 2003 at 03:00
djy
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I've got one of those Radio Shack analogue units. Eeper, on the other hand, has got the digital version which works just as well, having used it to help him calibrate his system the other week. And talking of cranked up rears . . .

Post 11 made on Wednesday November 19, 2003 at 04:45
bob griffiths
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When I first got a SPL meter I didn’t have a clue on how to use it. These instructions are for the Radio shack digital meter .


1. Place the SPL Meter at the listening position at ear level with the Microphone end pointed toward the ceiling. (A camera tripod helps to get it at the right hieght and to keep it steady and the Radio shack meter has the screw fittings for it)

2. Select “C” weighting, response slow then, turn the dB dial to 70.

3. Activate the internal pink noise generator often labeled just TEST or test tone of your Receiver/Amp and select manual test tone if it’s got one. Some just have auto which scrolls through each channel you then adjusts the levels. See your instruction book on your receiver/amp for details on how to do this.
The built in test signal is not always the most accurate way, that’s why we suggest using Test discs which have better, more accurate test signals but either way is better than not calibrating at all.

4. Now adjust each speaker to +75 dB reference ( I always start with the front left or right speakers to get the initial level some amps don’t have separate level controls for the front speakers except for the main volume control and balance control )get the front two speakers set to +75 dB then adjust the other speakers. When you are adjusting the surrounds make sure your body is not in a direct path of the speaker and make sure the house is quiet. When doing the calibration, only the test tone should be heard (A/C, ceiling fans, vacuum cleaners, Kids, Pets
Nagging wives etc. should be silent or turned off).

5. It is always tempting to turn rear effect speakers and subwoofers up to get a stronger effect my personal advice is don’t.

Hope this helps if anyone has a better way then please tell us.

Thanks BOB


This message was edited by bob griffiths on 04/06/04 09:58.


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