Home Theater advice needed

[Remus West]

I admit to complete ignorance regarding home theaters. Specifically speaker systems. That said it seems my folks have moved in with me with zero warning and for an indeterminate time (lets not go there right now). They tend to turn the volume on the television all the way up. I'm wondering if I get a home theater system and place speaker in the corners of the room it will make it easier for them to hear and thus not so easy for my neighbors to hear. Whether this is actually the case or not (I assume likely not, I'm not that lucky right now) I had been thinking of getting a speaker system anyway. Trouble is I know nothing about them. So, hive mind, if you would please point me in the right direction to educate myself I would greatly appreciate it. Also, any reviews of systems and/or suggestions would be welcome.

[Formix]

Actually, some nice wireless headphones might be in order. I do this a lot for my clients when there is a wide gap between desired listening levels. Sennheiser headphones for instance.

[DD*]

Remus,

I will post more later, but DIY could be an option. I just built my own subwoofer and have some mains next on the docket. CL is also a good choice if you can wade through the car audio stuff.

DD

[Boudreaux]

Adding in separate HT speakers won't make it any easier for them to hear, no. If anything, it will give them the ability to turn the sound up even louder. If excessive noise is the issue, wireless headphones is actually a really good idea. I have a pair of Sennheisers that I use to watch movies after the rest of my family is in bed, so I can crank it and not disturb anyone.

If you still want info on a home theater setup, the first question is "what's your budget?"

[LordMortis]

Adding in separate HT speakers won't make it any easier for them to hear, no. If anything, it will give them the ability to turn the sound up even louder.

That's my thunk and precisely what I did when I actually had a nice 5.2 surround... And I loved it. A decent sound system does make everything more crisp sounding, so maybe they won't need it so loud but that nice crisp sound is something you like louder to feel more like your more immersed at the sporting event or in a theatre.

[EvilHomer3k]

Adding in separate HT speakers won't make it any easier for them to hear, no. If anything, it will give them the ability to turn the sound up even louder. If excessive noise is the issue, wireless headphones is actually a really good idea. I have a pair of Sennheisers that I use to watch movies after the rest of my family is in bed, so I can crank it and not disturb anyone.

If you still want info on a home theater setup, the first question is "what's your budget?"

I disagree. Sort of. It won't make it easier for them to hear overall but it will allow you to increase the volume of the center channel (voices) separately from the rest of the audio. Most televisions have really poor separation and a good center channel can make it significantly easier to hear people talking. It made a lot of difference in the volume we have our television. The overall volume is lower but the voices are much louder and more clear. That said they certainly will have the ability to turn everything up louder overall.

I think one of the HTIB systems will work fine. Yamaha and Onkyo are the generally recommended HTIB systems. You'll certainly get better sound with a separate reciever and individually purchased speakers, though. Polk Audio is a good brand that you can get relatively cheap at Newegg.

I'd talk to your parents and see what they are having troublle hearing. If it's the voice then I'd say a HT system would help.

[Remus West]

Well, part of the thought on making it easier for them to hear is that they would be able to be much closer to the speaker itself but as I mentioned that was just the impetuous for this search as I had been thinking of getting a system already.

As for price range, if Best Buy is any guide, I figured I'll need to be ready to spend $500-$1000. Before I spend that kind of money though I will want to be sure I know what I am buying and what its advantages are and all that good stuff.

[rshetts2]

Do not let Best Buy be your guide! You can get a decent home theatre in a box set up for well under $500 at NewEgg for example this set up from Yamaha ( a very reputable audio manufacturer ) runs $349 shipped.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882115317" target="_blank

[Boudreaux]

I disagree. Sort of. It won't make it easier for them to hear overall but it will allow you to increase the volume of the center channel (voices) separately from the rest of the audio.

That's an interesting idea, especially if you deliberately cranked up the volume on the center channel. As long as whatever content he's watching is in 5.1 digital sound. If it's just in stereo it won't make any difference.

As for price range, if Best Buy is any guide, I figured I'll need to be ready to spend $500-$1000. Before I spend that kind of money though I will want to be sure I know what I am buying and what its advantages are and all that good stuff.

Ideally you'd be buying a home theater receiver and a set of speakers. The receiver will provide better sound processing and amplification than your TV, and if you have any sort of digital sound content (5.1/7.1 audio from cable/satellite, DVD, Blu-Ray, etc.) you'll get the option to use digital surround.

Dedicated speakers will just have better audio quality than the ones in your TV. Plus, with a surround system you'll typically have a speaker just for voice, ones just for effects and music, a sub for low bass, and surrounds.

I admit to little knowledge about home theater in a box systems. I think they typically come with pretty decent receivers, I'd be more skeptical of the speakers. But, given that I haven't shopped for home theater equipment in 8-10 years, they might have come a ways.

[gameoverman]

As far as sound travel goes, the low frequencies are the ones that can pass through obstructions easily. That's why you can pretty much stash the subwoofer anywhere, as opposed to the side speakers which ideally should have a clear path to your ears.

So, with not bothering the neighbors being the main issue, and helping the parents hear being secondary, I suggest:

Boosting the center, that was a great idea. Voice frequencies will be muffled by walls to a good degree. Your parents will benefit though, and most tv shows and movies are primarily dialogue in terms of sound anyways.

Lower the subwoofer level down to zero. Your parents won't miss it, they don't have that kind of bass now right? You can always raise it for a particular movie or show if you think there won't be a problem. Maybe it's Saturday night and neighbors are partying so a bit more sound won't hurt, something like that.

If you buy a receiver, and get the speakers separately, you can just get the left and right front and the center, omitting the rears and subwoofer. The rears don't add much beyond some ambiant sound, and you really don't need a subwoofer at all.

[DD*]

I would suggest that Craigslist might be an option for speakers; I picked up a very nice set of Boston Acoustic speakers - probably $1500 worth when they were new - for $150 last fall.

However, you need to do your homework as there is a LOT of junk out there. Beware the various "white van" speakers which are junk. I see this stuff on CL all the time.

That being said, you can definitely find some good used gear out there. As noted, I got my speakers via CL and I picked up a nice Onkyo 7.2 HT receiver via the classifieds on AVS Forum. Another site I would highly recommend is Home Theater Shack. Lots of good info.

So, let's get to it, shall we? How big is the room? What are your sources? Budget? Particular goals other than those stated above? I'd be happy to demo my el cheapo HT for you, if you don't mind the drive out to Macomb Twp.

[DD*]

A solid Denon receiver
Onkyo HTIB (Home Theater In a Box) set-up A possibility if your goals and budget are bit more modest
A set of four Infinity speakers that look like a pretty good deal. Would still need a center channel and maybe a sub though. Info at Audioreview which is a pretty nice site for researching older gear.
Another HTIB, this one Yamaha

Lots of options available, but you really need to define what it is you're trying to accomplish. That will help guide your equipment selection. Something to keep in mind is that, if well cared for, a "good" speaker 10 or 15 years ago can and probably is a "good" speaker today. OTOH, lots of changes in the receiver business with new surround modes, HDMI switching and upscaling, internet connectivity, iPod and satellite radio, etc.

If you consider anything labeled "Bose" I'll personally come to your house and beat you about the head and shoulders until you come to your senses.

[EvilHomer3k]

Do not let Best Buy be your guide! You can get a decent home theatre in a box set up for well under $500 at NewEgg for example this set up from Yamaha ( a very reputable audio manufacturer ) runs $349 shipped.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882115317" target="_blank

I have this exact set. The speakers are okay. I boosted the center channel on it and lowered the bass as it is in our main living room and the sound carries up to the bedrooms (second floor is a loft that overlooks the living room). The audio quality of the speakers is nowhere near as good as the Polk Audio speakers I have in the basement on our projector but it's not bad. I also paid about twice as much for the speakers downstairs as the 395 HTIB setup (without having any rears, yet). Overall, though, it's a solid system and you can easily boost the center channel enough to make a noticeable difference.

[Remus West]

If you consider anything labeled "Bose" I'll personally come to your house and beat you about the head and shoulders until you come to your senses.

I'm a teacher. I can't get the financing to purchase Bose anything.

[DD*]

Well, the offer is open if you want to hear the "cheap ass special" HT. $150 of BA speakers, a $300 used receiver, and a $250 DIY subwoofer that literally rattles the walls.

[stessier]

I'm hijacking this thread.

I have a 3.1 system where I just replaced the center channel and got my first subwoofer. I have a Yamaha RX-V577 receiver that has a automatic setup option using a microphone positioned at the spot we listen. I did this, but don't feel the subwoofer isn't being used appropriately - I was really expecting more thumping bass. It's not bad, it's just not shelf rattling. Does it make any sense to try and get a professional to come in and balance the speakers or are they just going to go through what I did?

[disarm]

They won't do much more, especially with only a 3.1 system. If you don't think the sub has enough "oomph," it probably has its own volume control on the back that you can adjust. If the sub itself doesn't have a volume control, then there are almost certainly volume levels for individual speakers in the receiver settings that you can adjust to balance the sound however you like. Just turn up the sub level until you get it the way you like.

I definitely don't think it's worth getting a "professional" involved.

[Pyperkub]

I don't know that I'd expect a lot from the subwoofer in a 3.1 system either. That's generally on the low end of Home Theater, and you may need to look at/post the specs for your speakers/system.

[stessier]

Thanks for the thoughts!

I've been buying the speakers as I can afford them and think they are at least average. They are Klipsch - RF82 for the sides, RP-404C II for the center, and a RP-1400SW for the subwoofer. It is powered and does have a volume knob that amusingly goes to 11. I will play with it more. I also want to try some music as a source rather than movies (although Top Gun 2 and Greatest Showman would seem to have some thumps in them).

[disarm]

That's a pretty solid sub and should definitely be capable of getting some good thump at the low end, meaning that it's probably just a matter of getting the sub and receiver adjusted to your liking. Other things that may be a factor are the positioning of your sub and whether it's "in phase" with the rest of your speakers.

Believe it or not, a room can have spots from which low frequencies don't resonate well and can actually be deadened...put your sub in one of these locations and it can sound weak. Conversely, you can find spots that accentuate bass too much, making it sound rumbly or muddy (like putting it too close to a corner).

As for phase control, it looks like your sub does have a 'phase' switch on the back. Try flipping that switch and see if your bass improves. This changes the timing of sound waves and the way they interact with the sound coming from your other speakers. Speakers that are "in phase" emit sound waves that align and compliment each other. If your sub is "out of phase" with your main speakers, it can actually cancel out interacting frequencies and make your bass sound weak.

[Pyperkub]

That's a pretty solid sub and should definitely be capable of getting some good thump at the low end, meaning that it's probably just a matter of getting the sub and receiver adjusted to your liking. Other things that may be a factor are the positioning of your sub and whether it's "in phase" with the rest of your speakers.

Believe it or not, a room can have spots from which low frequencies don't resonate well and can actually be deadened...put your sub in one of these locations and it can sound weak. Conversely, you can find spots that accentuate bass too much, making it sound rumbly or muddy (like putting it too close to a corner).

As for phase control, it looks like your sub does have a 'phase' switch on the back. Try flipping that switch and see if your bass improves. This changes the timing of sound waves and the way they interact with the sound coming from your other speakers. Speakers that are "in phase" emit sound waves that align and compliment each other. If your sub is "out of phase" with your main speakers, it can actually cancel out interacting frequencies and make your bass sound weak.

Agreed.

[infinitelurker]

Just wanted to add, some receivers also have the ability to +/- output to specific channels, so if your receiver has that capability, you'll want to make sure your sub output is at zero (no + or - output level) as a starting point, then tweak from there.

[Zarathud]

In my old house, I had a friend from Shure complain about my speakers and asked if he could fix them. The guy would get into music shows by telling the roadies he was there for the mic check.

After he fiddled with my Klipsch 5.1 surround, he asked if I was noticing the change because the open room’s acoustics were terrible. He gave me two options, which sounded the same to me. With disgust, he declared I should just buy a 2.1 system that wasn’t Bose next time because I’d never notice the difference. He’s right. When I updated my soundbar after the Sonos bricked during an update, we learned my wife’s hearing was worse because she couldn’t tell the difference when I could — especially in conversations.

[JCC]

At the risk of being branded a philistine, I've given up on proper home theater components. I dragged my old 5.1 system along with me when I moved about 5 years ago, but ended up rarely using it because it was in an unused bedroom. I didn't want it in the Living Room (where I actually watch 99% of my TV) because I didn't want to manage all the wiring. Eventually, the sub just died. I think I spent a grand just on that back in the 2000s.

Modern soundbars have come a long way. I love my Samsung 930B which has excellent surround, thunderous bass, and the upfiring/surround rear speakers have Atmos effects that are subtle but pretty cool with some movies. Just have to plug them into outlets without them being wired together. I managed to get a refurb for about $500 less than retail price.

I also have a Roku soundbar with speakers in my bedroom which does pretty damn good surround too.

[hitbyambulance]

used floor-standing speakers can be found for amazing deals now - people want to downsize to smaller and inferior-sounding soundbars and the like. got a set of Infinity IL40 speakers (original MSRP was around $1k) for $20 from a yard sale, and the guy even drove them to my apartment a few blocks away. no complaints about their sound!

[hepcat]

Zarathud and Archinerd know I'm obsessed with my home theater speaker system. I've had the same pair of standing JBL speakers for (no joke) over 30 years. I re cone them every 10 years or so when they start to wear down. I could ditch it all and go with a soundbar, but at this point it's become more of a hobby than any need for frugality.

I have replaced the center channel (Klipsch center for the win), purchased some upward firing speakers (on the cheap) and upgraded the receiver every few years to get the latest sound technology (within reason), but overall I haven't spent a lot on it.

However, I did purchase rubber, sound absorbing feet for all my speakers/subwoofer when I moved into a new place on the second floor of a two story building recently. I'm a considerate kind of guy.

[Lassr]

Just wanted to add, some receivers also have the ability to +/- output to specific channels, so if your receiver has that capability, you'll want to make sure your sub output is at zero (no + or - output level) as a starting point, then tweak from there.

My subwoofer is controlled through my soundbar with +/- for treble and bass, the bass directly affects the thump coming from the subwoofer. Mine is a Samsung.

[Carpet_pissr]

Zarathud and Archinerd know I'm obsessed with my home theater speaker system. I've had the same pair of standing JBL speakers for (no joke) over 30 years. I re cone them every 10 years or so when they start to wear down. I could ditch it all and go with a soundbar, but at this point it's become more of a hobby than any need for frugality.

I have replaced the center channel (Klipsch center for the win), purchased some upward firing speakers (on the cheap) and upgraded the receiver every few years to get the latest sound technology (within reason), but overall I haven't spent a lot on it.

However, I did purchase rubber, sound absorbing feet for all my speakers/subwoofer when I moved into a new place on the second floor of a two story building recently. I'm a considerate kind of guy.

How difficult/time consuming/expensive is cone replacement? I have a massive pair of Boston Acoustics floorstandings with built in powered subs that are from the late 90's. They sorely need re-doing.

[hepcat]

I’m not gonna lie, it can be a pain in the ass if you go in blind. But I have been using Simply Speakers for years and they have a ton of help videos that will walk you through it all.. Their kits include everything you need along with very detailed instructions. Just make sure you verify that the foam can vibrate without touching any other part of the speaker itself before setting aside to let the glue dry.

The other nice thing is that the foam and cone replacement material is often much better than the original and lasts significantly longer.