Audio Challenge Survey: The Ginormous Room

[SithSolo1]

You've got $2000 to spend on a 2.1(minimum) system for 70/30 movie to music usage.

You currently have 2x Klipsch RF-3s, 1x RC-3, 1x Outlaw Audio LFM-1, 1x Pioneer VSX-1014TX. You may re-use any of them but you can not increase your budget by selling them. (Pretend they are worth $0)

What would you get/do to fill a room with sound at a reasonable level of output?*

Oh, the challenge. Well the room you are in is 7300(44x17x9.75) cubic ft. :Q

Edit *: Changed. Suggested by The Boston Dangler.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

DIY an option for the sub?
Buying used an option?

 

[SithSolo1]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
DIY an option for the sub?
Buying used an option?

Yes to both.

DIY is fine for any of the components and so is buying used. I'm just curious to see what different things people would opt for.

Edit: Love your setup btw. The color of the speakers is beautiful.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

http://www.themanroom.com/gizmo_column.php?id=42

"THX Reference level is a very misunderstood and misconstrued topic in home theater audio. In simple terms, an audio system designed and calibrated to reproduce reference level will produce a peak sound pressure level of 105dB from each channel at the listening position, and a peak 115dB from the LFE channel at the listening position with the processor or receiver?s volume set at the 0dB mark. The average reference playback level is 85dB. While this sounds reasonable, there are very few home theater systems that can accomplish this task. To reach reference levels without distortion requires efficient speakers and lots of power. For example; take an average center channel loudspeaker with a sensitivity of 90dB and a listener seated twelve feet away. In order to reproduce 105dB at 1 meter, this speaker will require 32 watts of power, but the listener is at 4 meters (~12 feet). The additional distance will attenuate the sound by 12dB so to make up we?ll need to boost the power to 256 watts to get the level back up to 105dB. There are not many center channels that can take 256 watts without smoking or distortion."

unnecessarily loud IMO. combined with the distance involved and volume of the room, you're talking about shitloads of power

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: SithSolo1

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
DIY an option for the sub?
Buying used an option?

Yes to both.

DIY is fine for any of the components and so is buying used. I'm just curious to see what different things people would opt for.

Edit: Love your setup btw. The color of the speakers is great.

I just need to get the second RS850 Sig crossover installed and I should be in business
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...RS850%20Crossovers.JPG
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...om/RS850%20Drivers.JPG
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/sp...web/Random/RS850_1.JPG

You already have very sensitive speakers, so as long as you like the Klipsch sound, you should probably stick with those.

I would say either spend it all on a killer subwoofer option, or split it between subwoofer and either an amp and using the Pioneer as your pre-pro or a better receiver.

I had a 1014 before I moved to a better pre-pro/amp combo and at the kind of volumes you're talking about, it made a significant difference. Of course, my speakers are significantly less sensitive than yours are so I'm not sure what kind of difference it would make for you.

For ~$1k used, you could get something like this
http://av123forum.com/showthread.php?t=24267 (In FL for local pickup, not sure how close it is to you in Georgia)

Lots of DIY options for the sub though
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=155

You have a lot of air to move there.

In addition to SVS / HSU as a couple of the solid Internet Direct Sub companies, there are a couple newer options for you too.

http://www.epiksubwoofers.com/
http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/index.php?cPath=2_41

 

[The Boston Dangler]

with the size of that room, you may want to consider using something to knock down the reflections.

 

[Tiamat]

Keep everything as the klipsch speakers are pretty sensitive and can output the appropriate dynamics for that space most likely.

I would focus on blowing all of the money on a subwoofer.

This subwoofer looks promising

With the remaining money, I would get some corner bass traps from gikacoustics. This will boost any nulls that you have in your room in the 50hz-200hz range. Also, first reflection point absorption if possible, but in the large room, not as important as the bass trapping. I am assuming you have standard furniture and carpeting to break up the reflections in the treble range.


With large rooms the toughest thing, and most expensive thing is the bass. It takes a great amount to pressurize the air in that space. This is the reasoning behind my suggestion to blow it all on the subwoofer and bass traps.

 

[Excelsior]

++ to the Epiks, that is if you don't DIY. They look like excellent values in the manufactured sub arena.

But since DIY is an option, I'd suggest that, as your room is especially huge. Do you have any size limits on the sub enclosure(s)?

And here are some options for DIY speakers: http://www.htguide.com/forum/forumdisplay.php4?f=39

And thats just one site.