Home Theater Project

[iamwiz82]

After playing with 4000 lumen projectors, it's really hard to look at a 1500 lumen one and say wow. It sucks flying that close to the sun.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: arod
you can adjust timing in the remote setup.... go to the options under the device and look at the timing.

If your real remote (for that device is fast theres no reason the harmony wouldnt be)... the only reason people put dalays on things is sometimes older equipment cant accept ir codes quickly enough and the harmony database generally takes better safe than sorry apporach. It takes some expirementing though to get it slow enough that your device can process but fast enough thats its as fast as the real remote.

I have bass shakers on my system as well.... really nice for when I want to feel the bass and not have to turn my system up to high levels to feel bass.... plus it helps out the sub (even a SVS )

oh sweet, that's good to know! I just went through the web setup and put my mom's equipment on it. Is the timing thing on the actual remote or in the web interface?

do the bass shakers make the couch vibrate or just resonate the bass? does hurt your head after awhile? how do you have them setup with your receiver and all (wiring, number of shakers, etc.)

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
After playing with 4000 lumen projectors, it's really hard to look at a 1500 lumen one and say wow. It sucks flying that close to the sun.

Only if daylight is an issue for you My projector is 2300 lumens but I usually set it to 50% and even that is pretty bright in the dark. You really don't need even 1000 lumens for home theater use in a light-controlled room.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
After playing with 4000 lumen projectors, it's really hard to look at a 1500 lumen one and say wow. It sucks flying that close to the sun.

Only if daylight is an issue for you My projector is 2300 lumens but I usually set it to 50% and even that is pretty bright in the dark. You really don't need even 1000 lumens for home theater use in a light-controlled room.

I'm the kind of person that likes light, so a high powered one is a necessity to me.

 

[arod]

its on the web interface... click on the "more options" of whatever device you want to change.... then "adjust the delays"

Bass shakers dont give me a headache (I have one on each of my ikea chairs, but you mount 2 or more in a couch [aura makes great cheap ones] and it shakes)... it doesnt resonate bass but you feel bass... its hard to explain if youve never felt a bass shaker.... its not making any bass but physically moving you (albeit a very small amount).

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
After playing with 4000 lumen projectors, it's really hard to look at a 1500 lumen one and say wow. It sucks flying that close to the sun.

Only if daylight is an issue for you My projector is 2300 lumens but I usually set it to 50% and even that is pretty bright in the dark. You really don't need even 1000 lumens for home theater use in a light-controlled room.

I'm the kind of person that likes light, so a high powered one is a necessity to me.

wow, that much light in a dark room? It was dark in the house tonight when I watched Princess Bride, I was using the wall, and I had it set to 51% brightness and 91% contrast, and the daylight scenes hurt my eyes they were so bright - actually had to squint! Maybe my wall paint is just more reflective than an actual screen or something.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
After playing with 4000 lumen projectors, it's really hard to look at a 1500 lumen one and say wow. It sucks flying that close to the sun.

Only if daylight is an issue for you My projector is 2300 lumens but I usually set it to 50% and even that is pretty bright in the dark. You really don't need even 1000 lumens for home theater use in a light-controlled room.

I'm the kind of person that likes light, so a high powered one is a necessity to me.

wow, that much light in a dark room? It was dark in the house tonight when I watched Princess Bride, I was using the wall, and I had it set to 51% brightness and 91% contrast, and the daylight scenes hurt my eyes they were so bright - actually had to squint! Maybe my wall paint is just more reflective than an actual screen or something.

Those were for work, not home. No way I could afford the price tag! That's why I have been staying away from projection.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: arod
If you get a receiver with Dolby ProLogic IIx (the "x" is the important part, it converts any DD 2.0/5.1 to 7.1 and really does a awesome job.... it really sounds like its a true 7.1 source)

Im VERY impressed with Yamaha/Wharfedale Combo (rivlas most multi-thousand dollar speaker systems)

And yes Harmony here too.... had the 659, went to the 680 and plan on getting a 880... logitech really hit a home run with the harmony remotes.

Ah, cool, thanks for the info. I've heard very good things about Wharfedale. A 7.1 system would be sweet I like the way the wooden Fluances look and I've read really great reviews. I feel no hesitation about buying speakers I've never heard because the best surround system I've owned is from Logitech, who makes computer speakers, and I'm sure just about anything with a real receiver can knock the socks off my z-640s lol.

I really like the 659. The only thing I don't like is the lag. With a regular remote, you can flip channels the instant you press the button, but with the 659 you have to wait a split second before changing to a different channel. Do you notice this? It's not a problem for me personally, but my family really noticed it because they like to flip through quickly sometimes. And yeah, that 880 looks SICK! That's definately on the upgrade list.

Another thing with the budget system is that if you buy it in black, it's only $200. Having the real wood instead of black adds $60, but I think it's worth it for the classy look. Although, with the lights off, I'd imagine black would be better because it wouldn't stand out as much...hmm. I've heard that on the basic sets like the SX-HTB, the center isn't especially great, which is partly why I want to piecemeal the system. As long as I'm in the apartment, I'll probably only use the bookshelf speakers, and then upgrade to a full surround system with a sub when I get a house.

I'm also looking into DIY audio. Not so much speakers as subs, however. I want to build a sub with either a 12" Adire Shiva subwoofer or a 15" Adire Tempest speaker. If I go with the 12" Shiva I can get away with using a sealed box. I'm sure it'd sound great because my Logitech 8" subs sound pretty good as it is.

Actually, the $200 AV-HTB is an entirely different set. The SX-HTB set is the one to get. It's sturdier, has better drivers, looks better and sounds better. Oh, and the mains are taller so they're at ideal ear level for the tweeters in my case.

The SX-HTB isn't real wood either heh. It's just MDF with a laminate on it (like most speakers that aren't hundreds of dollars)

Oh, and Fluance is coming out with a new center channel sometime this year (so they say). It will be an "SV center" so I'm thinking it's going to be based off the drivers of the SV-6 speakers and it's drivers and tweeter will match the mains of the SX-HTB set better than the current center (which has the same drivers as the surrounds in the SX-HTB set)

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: arod
its on the web interface... click on the "more options" of whatever device you want to change.... then "adjust the delays"

Bass shakers dont give me a headache (I have one on each of my ikea chairs, but you mount 2 or more in a couch [aura makes great cheap ones] and it shakes)... it doesnt resonate bass but you feel bass... its hard to explain if youve never felt a bass shaker.... its not making any bass but physically moving you (albeit a very small amount).

mmm Ikea, they have some awesome stuff there. my bro just got married and bought all the stuff for his apartment for just under $2,000 - couch, coffee table, computer hutch, big entertainment center, bed frame, dress and tv stand for his bedroom, kitchen table (I think that was from Ikea, at least), and I think some other stuff. I know just the couch sets are usually $2,000 at regular furniture places. He'd been working 2 jobs like crazy to save up for getting married and ended up saving a ton of cash by going to Ikea. Mmm and man are their Swedish meatballs good :thumbsup:

that bass shaker idea seems pretty cool, I think I may try it sometime!

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: arod
If you get a receiver with Dolby ProLogic IIx (the "x" is the important part, it converts any DD 2.0/5.1 to 7.1 and really does a awesome job.... it really sounds like its a true 7.1 source)

Im VERY impressed with Yamaha/Wharfedale Combo (rivlas most multi-thousand dollar speaker systems)

And yes Harmony here too.... had the 659, went to the 680 and plan on getting a 880... logitech really hit a home run with the harmony remotes.

Ah, cool, thanks for the info. I've heard very good things about Wharfedale. A 7.1 system would be sweet I like the way the wooden Fluances look and I've read really great reviews. I feel no hesitation about buying speakers I've never heard because the best surround system I've owned is from Logitech, who makes computer speakers, and I'm sure just about anything with a real receiver can knock the socks off my z-640s lol.

I really like the 659. The only thing I don't like is the lag. With a regular remote, you can flip channels the instant you press the button, but with the 659 you have to wait a split second before changing to a different channel. Do you notice this? It's not a problem for me personally, but my family really noticed it because they like to flip through quickly sometimes. And yeah, that 880 looks SICK! That's definately on the upgrade list.

Another thing with the budget system is that if you buy it in black, it's only $200. Having the real wood instead of black adds $60, but I think it's worth it for the classy look. Although, with the lights off, I'd imagine black would be better because it wouldn't stand out as much...hmm. I've heard that on the basic sets like the SX-HTB, the center isn't especially great, which is partly why I want to piecemeal the system. As long as I'm in the apartment, I'll probably only use the bookshelf speakers, and then upgrade to a full surround system with a sub when I get a house.

I'm also looking into DIY audio. Not so much speakers as subs, however. I want to build a sub with either a 12" Adire Shiva subwoofer or a 15" Adire Tempest speaker. If I go with the 12" Shiva I can get away with using a sealed box. I'm sure it'd sound great because my Logitech 8" subs sound pretty good as it is.

Actually, the $200 AV-HTB is an entirely different set. The SX-HTB set is the one to get. It's sturdier, has better drivers, looks better and sounds better. Oh, and the mains are taller so they're at ideal ear level for the tweeters in my case.

The SX-HTB isn't real wood either heh. It's just MDF with a laminate on it (like most speakers that aren't hundreds of dollars)

Oh, and Fluance is coming out with a new center channel sometime this year (so they say). It will be an "SV center" so I'm thinking it's going to be based off the drivers of the SV-6 speakers and it's drivers and tweeter will match the mains of the SX-HTB set better than the current center (which has the same drivers as the surrounds in the SX-HTB set)

ah, I was under the impression they were the same speaker set, just different colors. and oh, I see now - "natural beech finish". Oh well, it looks great from what I've seen. I personally don't care if it's real or not, as long as it looks good. Heck, if they were plastic and looked good, I'd probably save up and get em

Thanks for the info on the center, I will definately wait in that case. I expect to be in my apartment for at least 6 months and I don't plan on getting a sub while I'm there and probably not going surround, so that will work out nicely. I'm really looking forward to owning some non-computer speakers lol.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Nice screen size

I have some pics of my own below, Infocus 4805 + 76" screen (don't have it in the dorm yet) for $999 at costco.

I'll vouch for Fluance too. I have the SX-HTB set + SV-6 set for 7.0

I started with the dayton 10" Kaido mentioned and later upgraded to an SVS. The Fluance speakers are still keeping up with it. I'm no audiophile, but I think they were a really good value.

I have python component cables too... got them from cablesforless.com and I'm very happy with them. I have a 12' run from my computer to my receiver and then 50' to the projector and the image looks very nice.

Do you have a budget in mind for the audio yet?

whoa you have bass shakers? how do you like them? I came across the "butt-kicker" models the other day and thought it was a cool concept. does it ever give you a headache to have them connected to your couch or anything? are they cool?

yeah, I love my Pythons. wicked cheap and they look nice too. the thing that gets me with a lot of cheap cables is that they look cheap, like something that came with a nintendo or something. Python cables look pretty nice and have an even better price

tfinch2, make sure to check out YOyoYOhowsDAjello's sig link -

http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

there's a section on that website that has a whole big list of wonderful Bose alternatives, which you can use as an easy reference for finding a good audio system.

Yeah, I like the bass shakers. I got them in an attempt to get the rumble effect even with my SVS PB10 ISD turned down. My room is next to the "study den" in my dorm, and even though the walls are like 8" of concrete, I get complaints about the huge display cases in the den shaking on the walls when I get to around -10 watching movies.

They're just the standard Aura model at parts express. They're only $30 for a pair. Just hook them up to a cheapo receiver or other amp and split the sub out line running it to the amp / sub. They really work well for something that was so cheap. Here in the dorm I probably could have gotten by keeping my dayton 10" sub with bass shakers instead of upgrading to the SVS. I'm looking forward to the house we're moving into next year so I can let the system do its thing

As for the systems in my bose link, I agree that those are really good options if you want to keep the speakers really small. I think you can do better though if you're willing to get some bigger bookshelves or floorstanders, you can get something even better in the price range.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Very nice. There's nothing like watching a movie on a 9-foot screen!!!!

You just need some better sound now and you'll be good to go. Sound is fully 50% of the HT experience.

ahhh no kidding, it's amazing. I've been using an Optoma EzPro745 (rebadged EzPro739). Just watched the Princess Bride with my family tonight, as a matter of fact

inconceivable!

oh and here's a couple snapshots of Napolean Dynamite on my wall:

http://www.kaido.net/projects/hometheater/optoma1.jpg

http://www.kaido.net/projects/hometheater/optoma2.jpg

hahah, 10 feet of braindeadness, w00t! (for size reference, the thing on the lower right wall is an upright piano!)

:beer: Very nice!!! I tell you...my friends say "Oh, btw, I just bought a new PROJECTION screen tv!! It's 56 INCHES, buddy!!!!"

I, of course, congratulate them, etc, etc. Unless they ask what I've got, I don't mention that my PICTURE is actually bigger than their entire TV, cabinet and all.

I love my PJ. Granted, I can't watch it in a brightly lit room, but hey, my lving room has BLINDS on the window, thanks very much!!!

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: arod
Well the 745 is a nice projector but I have a Panasonic AE-700 coming on monday (upgrading my AE100).... so I should be pretty set for a while once I get that.

http://personales.ya.com/Gn0m4/

not mine but screenshots of the AE-700...

Wow, the one of LOTR at the top with Aragorn looks amazing! the one with Bruce Willis is pretty nice too. Looks like a great projector!

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Very nice. There's nothing like watching a movie on a 9-foot screen!!!!

You just need some better sound now and you'll be good to go. Sound is fully 50% of the HT experience.

ahhh no kidding, it's amazing. I've been using an Optoma EzPro745 (rebadged EzPro739). Just watched the Princess Bride with my family tonight, as a matter of fact

inconceivable!

oh and here's a couple snapshots of Napolean Dynamite on my wall:

http://www.kaido.net/projects/hometheater/optoma1.jpg

http://www.kaido.net/projects/hometheater/optoma2.jpg

hahah, 10 feet of braindeadness, w00t! (for size reference, the thing on the lower right wall is an upright piano!)

:beer: Very nice!!! I tell you...my friends say "Oh, btw, I just bought a new PROJECTION screen tv!! It's 56 INCHES, buddy!!!!"

I, of course, congratulate them, etc, etc. Unless they ask what I've got, I don't mention that my PICTURE is actually bigger than their entire TV, cabinet and all.

I love my PJ. Granted, I can't watch it in a brightly lit room, but hey, my lving room has BLINDS on the window, thanks very much!!!

yeah, that's one thing I need to do, get better blinds. I have these papery venetian blind type things which are fairly translucent. I throw a blanket over them if I want to watch the pj in daytime hours lol. know of any place that sells nice-looking blackout curtains?

I know what you mean with the TVs. I have one friend who is looking at like a 30" LCD TV for just over $1,000. I thought to myself, man, 30"...can my pj even go that small? hahaha! With bulb cost at about 10 cents an hour, it could work out nicely as an alternative tv.

 

[MichaelD]

Dude, you can MAKE your own curtains!!! My screen is made from blackout cloth!!!!! The same reason it's great for curtains makes it perfect for screen material; it reflects back more than 95% of the light that hits it.

Screen made of blackout cloth. Screen is 78 x 44 (16x9)

 

[Kaido]

YOyoYOhowsDAjello, can I stop by your dorm if I'm ever in the area? I give you a big :thumbsup::shocked: @ your dorm theater pics!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: arod
you can adjust timing in the remote setup.... go to the options under the device and look at the timing.

If your real remote (for that device is fast theres no reason the harmony wouldnt be)... the only reason people put dalays on things is sometimes older equipment cant accept ir codes quickly enough and the harmony database generally takes better safe than sorry apporach. It takes some expirementing though to get it slow enough that your device can process but fast enough thats its as fast as the real remote.

I have bass shakers on my system as well.... really nice for when I want to feel the bass and not have to turn my system up to high levels to feel bass.... plus it helps out the sub (even a SVS )

oh sweet, that's good to know! I just went through the web setup and put my mom's equipment on it. Is the timing thing on the actual remote or in the web interface?

do the bass shakers make the couch vibrate or just resonate the bass? does hurt your head after awhile? how do you have them setup with your receiver and all (wiring, number of shakers, etc.)

I have my bass shakers on my futon as you see, and it's not ideal because it tends to make the metal parts (that aren't attached to each other in more than a couple places to allow it to fold out) resonate at certain frequencies if I have it up too high. I'm going to put them on a couch once I don't have to sleep on the same surface I'm watching movies on .

If you've ever heard a really powerful sub and turned it up high enough that it shakes everything in the room... it's kind of like that, except only affects the piece of furnature. It's kind of like a massage chair I'd say too. If you get a tone generator and set it to 40hz or so and turn all your equipment all the way down but turn the shakers up, you get a nice massage couch I tend to keep it turned down pretty low in movies (if you have it turned up all the time, it just seems like a gimmic to me, when it's low it just seems to augment the bass and gives you the feeling that your sub is really kicking in a lot when in reality its not up that high).

It's really easy to set them up too. They're 4 ohms, so If you have a plate amp or receiver that drives 8 ohm speakers, you just hook two up in series to present an 8 ohm load to the receiver. You just hook them up with regular speaker wire too. I have mine set up with a cheap receiver I got off ebay. I split my LFE out from my receiver giving one half to the sub, and then I split the other signal again and feed it to the left and right stereo inputs to my bass shaker receiver. I have it plugged into the phono input of the receiver so it amplifies the signal and I don't have to turn the volume knob up much to get a good rumble out of it.

The shakers take 25 watts max each. The pro shakers say they handle 50 watts each, but they have the exact same internals. The only difference is that the 50 watt ones have fins to help disapate heat better.

I got my receiver off ebay for only $38 shipped, so the whole project was just a little over $100.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Dude, you can MAKE your own curtains!!! My screen is made from blackout cloth!!!!! The same reason it's great for curtains makes it perfect for screen material; it reflects back more than 95% of the light that hits it.

Screen made of blackout cloth. Screen is 78 x 44 (16x9)

wow, that's a great setup! did you make the flexy stand yourself? my current order of projects after I finish my current one is (1) build a good screen, (2) build a flexy stand, and (3) build a subwoofer. and that's a dang HUGE subwoofer in the corner, what is that beast??

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Dude, you can MAKE your own curtains!!! My screen is made from blackout cloth!!!!! The same reason it's great for curtains makes it perfect for screen material; it reflects back more than 95% of the light that hits it.

Screen made of blackout cloth. Screen is 78 x 44 (16x9)

wow, that's a great setup! did you make the flexy stand yourself? my current order of projects after I finish my current one is (1) build a good screen, (2) build a flexy stand, and (3) build a subwoofer. and that's a dang HUGE subwoofer in the corner, what is that beast??

That's an SVS. Mine's the low end model heh.

PB12 something.... I can't really tell if it's a plus or not from looking at it. I can only imagine what 2 12" SVS drivers can do if my 1 10" in my PB10 can rock me as much as it does... I think it helps that I'm in a 10'x12' room though hehe.

oooh, and another 4805 owner there I love mine. I can't believe I got such a deal on it. Thank you costco for saving me $400.

Are those axioms I see up front? I've never heard them but have read so much good stuff about them.

Oh, and yeah, if you're ever in the Madison area, let me know and we'll give everyone on my floor something to complain about.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: arod
you can adjust timing in the remote setup.... go to the options under the device and look at the timing.

If your real remote (for that device is fast theres no reason the harmony wouldnt be)... the only reason people put dalays on things is sometimes older equipment cant accept ir codes quickly enough and the harmony database generally takes better safe than sorry apporach. It takes some expirementing though to get it slow enough that your device can process but fast enough thats its as fast as the real remote.

I have bass shakers on my system as well.... really nice for when I want to feel the bass and not have to turn my system up to high levels to feel bass.... plus it helps out the sub (even a SVS )

oh sweet, that's good to know! I just went through the web setup and put my mom's equipment on it. Is the timing thing on the actual remote or in the web interface?

do the bass shakers make the couch vibrate or just resonate the bass? does hurt your head after awhile? how do you have them setup with your receiver and all (wiring, number of shakers, etc.)

I have my bass shakers on my futon as you see, and it's not ideal because it tends to make the metal parts (that aren't attached to each other in more than a couple places to allow it to fold out) resonate at certain frequencies if I have it up too high. I'm going to put them on a couch once I don't have to sleep on the same surface I'm watching movies on .

If you've ever heard a really powerful sub and turned it up high enough that it shakes everything in the room... it's kind of like that, except only affects the piece of furnature. It's kind of like a massage chair I'd say too. If you get a tone generator and set it to 40hz or so and turn all your equipment all the way down but turn the shakers up, you get a nice massage couch I tend to keep it turned down pretty low in movies (if you have it turned up all the time, it just seems like a gimmic to me, when it's low it just seems to augment the bass and gives you the feeling that your sub is really kicking in a lot when in reality its not up that high).

It's really easy to set them up too. They're 4 ohms, so If you have a plate amp or receiver that drives 8 ohm speakers, you just hook two up in series to present an 8 ohm load to the receiver. You just hook them up with regular speaker wire too. I have mine set up with a cheap receiver I got off ebay. I split my LFE out from my receiver giving one half to the sub, and then I split the other signal again and feed it to the left and right stereo inputs to my bass shaker receiver. I have it plugged into the phono input of the receiver so it amplifies the signal and I don't have to turn the volume knob up much to get a good rumble out of it.

The shakers take 25 watts max each. The pro shakers say they handle 50 watts each, but they have the exact same internals. The only difference is that the 50 watt ones have fins to help disapate heat better.

I got my receiver off ebay for only $38 shipped, so the whole project was just a little over $100.

wow, that sounds really neat. I know what you mean with "feeling" the bass. I got a set of Logitech z-2200 computer speakers for my laptop. When I come home, I put my laptop on the stand, hook up the speakers, and use the sub as a footrest for watching movies and listening to music. A nice whole body experience

What's the deal with ohms? I'm very familiar with computer speakers and a bit with stuff with speaker wire (I set up z-680s at my bro's place and the 5-piece set on my Sherwood, but I've never used any real subwoofer stuff).

And how did you split the subs up? The most I understand is that the subwoofer uses a single thick subwoofer cable.

I'm trying to visualize it in my mind...so you have your main receiver with your speakers hooked up, then you split the sub output, one half going to the main sub and then the other half going to a second receiver, hooked up through phono so it's a constant rather than adjustable volume, and then the bass shakers are hooked up to the second receiver? How did you hook up the stereo inputs on the bass shakers? Again, I'm a sub n00b other than Logitech stuff.

 

[Kaido]

hey YOyoYOhowsDAjello, what speaker stand are you using for your center there? I was looking at different ones but didn't see anything I liked that would go with the Fluances, then I found a DIY speaker stand tutorial here:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/stubby_e.html

Seems like a fun, easy project

Same here, btw, if you're ever in Connecticut, stop by and you can see my, uh, white wall, and, ah, Logitech speakers. Nevermind

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: arod
you can adjust timing in the remote setup.... go to the options under the device and look at the timing.

If your real remote (for that device is fast theres no reason the harmony wouldnt be)... the only reason people put dalays on things is sometimes older equipment cant accept ir codes quickly enough and the harmony database generally takes better safe than sorry apporach. It takes some expirementing though to get it slow enough that your device can process but fast enough thats its as fast as the real remote.

I have bass shakers on my system as well.... really nice for when I want to feel the bass and not have to turn my system up to high levels to feel bass.... plus it helps out the sub (even a SVS )

oh sweet, that's good to know! I just went through the web setup and put my mom's equipment on it. Is the timing thing on the actual remote or in the web interface?

do the bass shakers make the couch vibrate or just resonate the bass? does hurt your head after awhile? how do you have them setup with your receiver and all (wiring, number of shakers, etc.)

I have my bass shakers on my futon as you see, and it's not ideal because it tends to make the metal parts (that aren't attached to each other in more than a couple places to allow it to fold out) resonate at certain frequencies if I have it up too high. I'm going to put them on a couch once I don't have to sleep on the same surface I'm watching movies on .

If you've ever heard a really powerful sub and turned it up high enough that it shakes everything in the room... it's kind of like that, except only affects the piece of furnature. It's kind of like a massage chair I'd say too. If you get a tone generator and set it to 40hz or so and turn all your equipment all the way down but turn the shakers up, you get a nice massage couch I tend to keep it turned down pretty low in movies (if you have it turned up all the time, it just seems like a gimmic to me, when it's low it just seems to augment the bass and gives you the feeling that your sub is really kicking in a lot when in reality its not up that high).

It's really easy to set them up too. They're 4 ohms, so If you have a plate amp or receiver that drives 8 ohm speakers, you just hook two up in series to present an 8 ohm load to the receiver. You just hook them up with regular speaker wire too. I have mine set up with a cheap receiver I got off ebay. I split my LFE out from my receiver giving one half to the sub, and then I split the other signal again and feed it to the left and right stereo inputs to my bass shaker receiver. I have it plugged into the phono input of the receiver so it amplifies the signal and I don't have to turn the volume knob up much to get a good rumble out of it.

The shakers take 25 watts max each. The pro shakers say they handle 50 watts each, but they have the exact same internals. The only difference is that the 50 watt ones have fins to help disapate heat better.

I got my receiver off ebay for only $38 shipped, so the whole project was just a little over $100.

wow, that sounds really neat. I know what you mean with "feeling" the bass. I got a set of Logitech z-2200 computer speakers for my laptop. When I come home, I put my laptop on the stand, hook up the speakers, and use the sub as a footrest for watching movies and listening to music. A nice whole body experience

What's the deal with ohms? I'm very familiar with computer speakers and a bit with stuff with speaker wire (I set up z-680s at my bro's place and the 5-piece set on my Sherwood, but I've never used any real subwoofer stuff).

And how did you split the subs up? The most I understand is that the subwoofer uses a single thick subwoofer cable.

I'm trying to visualize it in my mind...so you have your main receiver with your speakers hooked up, then you split the sub output, one half going to the main sub and then the other half going to a second receiver, hooked up through phono so it's a constant rather than adjustable volume, and then the bass shakers are hooked up to the second receiver? How did you hook up the stereo inputs on the bass shakers? Again, I'm a sub n00b other than Logitech stuff.

That's pretty much correct. You set up your regular speakers to your receiver like normal and then on the subwoofer output, you put something like this on so you split the output. One half goes to the sub and the other half is where the fun comes in . It's important to get a higher quality splitter for the first split so you don't mess up the signal going to the sub, but the signal going to the shakers doesn't matter that much, so I just got a cheap $2 one that does the same thing and attached it to the first Y splitter. I hope that made sense so far... summary = we now have 3 outputs coming from the LFE (sub) output of the receiver with the subwoofer taking one of the outputs and the other two free so far.

From this point, you attach standard audio RCA cables to some input of your power source, in my case a receiver. So, both the right and left input is the sub signal sent from the receiver. (You could also use a plate amp or something, but you can't adjust the volume then generally, which is really necessary from movie to movie to get the desired level without overdoing it)

I hooked it up to the phono input on my receiver because with a standard input (like cd or something) the level that produced a good sound from my subwoofer with the gain turned up 1/3 was not strong enough so that even with the receiver turned up to 100% the bass shakers were barely being felt. So, I hooked it up to the phono input which amplified the signal enough that I can turn it up to around 10% to 15% and get a good rumble going. The volume is still adjustable, but it's amplified so a smaller turn on the volume knob of the bass shaker receiver makes a bigger difference on the shaker level.

As for ohm load, most receivers will only handle an 8 ohm load. If you get a plate amp, some of them will to 4 ohm and some 8 ohm. I wanted to go with a receiver so I could adjust the volume easily. Another benefit of using a receiver is that you can adust the treble all the way down and turn the bass up to act as an additional crossover for the input signal. These bass shakers will play sounds as high as vocals (although at much reduced levels) if you don't have a decent crossover hooked up to feed them only the lower stuff. I have my crossover set to 80hz on my receiver and then have the levels setup on the shaker receiver as I described above. Another thing you can do to get the shakers to only kick in with the really deep effects (like explosions and not someone with a really low voice talking) is to get an inline crossover. They make them for car equipment mainly I think. I forget the right name for them, but you can get them at various frequency levels. They attach to standard RCA cables and will only let through frequencies lower than a given level.

So yeah, getting back to the ohms thing.... these hook up like standard speakers (like the z-680s did) with speakers wire. If you hook just one up, it will only be 4 ohms which will cause a standard receiver to either work hard and run hot, shut down, or .... die. So... in order to give it a correct load, just hook two of them up in series and it will give you an 8 ohm load.

I have 4 shakers, so I set two up in series for the left channel and two in series for the right channel and it all works well. If you just got two, you'd hook it up to either the right or left channel, and you'd only have to split the sub output once and feed the second half to either the left or right input of your receiver.

receiver
red......................black
|.....................................|
|.....................................|
|.....................................|
|.....................................|
|.....................................|
|___+O-____+O-___ |

I don't know if that little diagram helps.... basically you want to run from your receiver to the + of one shaker and then take the - from that one and connect it to the + of the other shaker and then go from that shaker's negative to the other speaker wire hookup of the receiver.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Kaido
hey YOyoYOhowsDAjello, what speaker stand are you using for your center there? I was looking at different ones but didn't see anything I liked that would go with the Fluances, then I found a DIY speaker stand tutorial here:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/stubby_e.html

Seems like a fun, easy project

Same here, btw, if you're ever in Connecticut, stop by and you can see my, uh, white wall, and, ah, Logitech speakers. Nevermind

Actually, I found those speaker stands on the curb . My neighbor was throwing them out since he was moving. I didn't notice them until they were out overnight. They're a little warped on the end with the rubber tips, but it doesn't matter since the rubber parts are level enough.

I like free stuff

Oh, and there's nothing wrong with Logitech. I loved my z-560s and got a ton of use out of them. I bought them for $150 about 3 years ago, got 2 years of use out of them, and then sold them and a crappy SB live value I also got for free to a friend for $100.

I even DJ-ed a dance with them here in the dorms. I started to smell ozone though when I cranked them for "What is Love". They survived the night though.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Kaido
hey YOyoYOhowsDAjello, what speaker stand are you using for your center there? I was looking at different ones but didn't see anything I liked that would go with the Fluances, then I found a DIY speaker stand tutorial here:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/stubby_e.html

Seems like a fun, easy project

Same here, btw, if you're ever in Connecticut, stop by and you can see my, uh, white wall, and, ah, Logitech speakers. Nevermind

Actually, I found those speaker stands on the curb . My neighbor was throwing them out since he was moving. I didn't notice them until they were out overnight. They're a little warped on the end with the rubber tips, but it doesn't matter since the rubber parts are level enough.

I like free stuff

Oh, and there's nothing wrong with Logitech. I loved my z-560s and got a ton of use out of them. I bought them for $150 about 3 years ago, got 2 years of use out of them, and then sold them and a crappy SB live value I also got for free to a friend for $100.

I even DJ-ed a dance with them here in the dorms. I started to smell ozone though when I cranked them for "What is Love". They survived the night though.

hehe, I love my Logitech stuff. I have the z-640s for my desktop and the z-2200s for my laptop, and my bro has the z-680s for his home theater. I even like the 70 watt 640s, but I can't hook them up in surround sound to anything but my desktop due to the plug type.

How do "real" speakers compare to the Logitechs? The only other reference I have is my Sennheiser HD-570 headphones.

 

[tfinch2]

Update bump!