Home Theatre Audio Question

[IntrinsicValue]

I have two Infinity speakers (SEEN HERE and HERE) that are 150-Watts each. Is it possible to combine those and make them my central speaker? This way I can buy 6 new speakers for front/middle/rear that are all the same. If I can combine them, how would I go about doing it, and is this a good idea or bad idea?

 

[Rubycon]

That's a great room for HT. Do you even need a screen? :laugh:

Those are large floor standing speakers and would be overkill for the dialogue channel IMO. They would be fine for L+R though. Best thing to do is experiment.

 

[IntrinsicValue]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
That's a great room for HT. Do you even need a screen? :laugh:

Those are large floor standing speakers and would be overkill for the dialogue channel IMO. They would be fine for L+R though. Best thing to do is experiment.

We actually did consider just painting the wall and putting a border around it to give the impression of a "screen". But I'm not sure what we'll do there.

The problem with using them for front L+R is that I don't think they make this model anymore (I bought these a long time ago). And I read somewhere that the 6 front/middle/rear speakers are all supposed to be the same in a 7.1 setup. Is this true, or does it really not matter?

 

[spidey07]

You may not even 'need' a center channel if you set your mains up correctly. First off get them out of the corners.

Ideally, yes all the speakers are the same model. If you're going to buy 6 more speakers why not just make it 7 and have a center?

But if you really want to you can use two speakers for a center if your receiver supports it.

 

[olds]

Bad idea.
Also, that wainscoting may make the sound harsh.

 

[IntrinsicValue]

Originally posted by: spidey07
You may not even 'need' a center channel if you set your mains up correctly. First off get them out of the corners.

Ideally, yes all the speakers are the same model. If you're going to buy 6 more speakers why not just make it 7 and have a center?

But if you really want to you can use two speakers for a center if your receiver supports it.

I was hoping to be able to use my old speakers as the central so they don't go to complete waste. I really have no other use for them otherwise.

Any idea how to make them both be central? Do I just intertwine the speaker wire and jam them both into the receiver? Will the sound be distributed evenly to both speakers if I use this method?

 

[IntrinsicValue]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Bad idea.
Also, that wainscoting may make the sound harsh.

Yes the wainscoting is just how the entire rec-room is done. We're actually going to put up audio treatments once we start making the movie room. We were thinking of just using black curtains for that. Any other ideas to treat the room to sound better?

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: IntrinsicValue

Originally posted by: spidey07
You may not even 'need' a center channel if you set your mains up correctly. First off get them out of the corners.

Ideally, yes all the speakers are the same model. If you're going to buy 6 more speakers why not just make it 7 and have a center?

But if you really want to you can use two speakers for a center if your receiver supports it.

I was hoping to be able to use my old speakers as the central so they don't go to complete waste. I really have no other use for them otherwise.

Any idea how to make them both be central? Do I just intertwine the speaker wire and jam them both into the receiver? Will the sound be distributed evenly to both speakers if I use this method?

Why not just get a cardboard box and make it the size you want. Then mount the speakers in there?
It's also called the center channel here in the USA.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: IntrinsicValue

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Bad idea.
Also, that wainscoting may make the sound harsh.

Yes the wainscoting is just how the entire rec-room is done. We're actually going to put up audio treatments once we start making the movie room. We were thinking of just using black curtains for that. Any other ideas to treat the room to sound better?

If you are trying to save money, use your speakers for the mains and try to buy something that closely matches for the rest.
Personally, I'd sell the speakers you have or use them in the garage/shop.
Then buy all new speakers. You have a chance to build a nice set-up in that room. It's more expensive to do it right but way better in the long run.

 

[funboy6942]

Why combine them? Just use one and keep the other one packed away as the spare. I would also think combining them would tax your amp on the center channel side trying to power to many speakers.

When I used to run all matching sets as my HT set up, back in the day, I ran all the same speakers front, rear, and center, then just kept the last one in the box in case I blew one. Your also always better off having all the speakers exactly the same all around for if the sound changes, say a air plane, it doesnt go from left front from sounding like a plane to center sounding like a rc plane, back to right front sounding like a real plane again, to the rear going off in the distance sounding like its flying in a tin can. All the same speakers, with a sub to boot, and you get uniformity in everything you listen to be it explosions, to gun fire, to voices from all sides.

Just something to consider.

 

[Raincity]

In HT your fronts are more critical to be voice matched while the rears would be more forgiving on the mismatch. While running SCAD or DVDA you would really hear the voicing mismatch.

 

[AlienCraft]

nice speakers, for another application.

oldsmoboat :thumbsup:

I would not try advise you to "save money" by trying to utilize those speakers, except for rear surrounds possibly. This would mean you have a killer 3.1 set up , which you do not seem to.

The center speaker is the prime dialogue source in movies and in more and more TV audio.

PLEASE do yourself a favor and get a properly matched 5.1 (or whatever.1) speaker set up.

In a room that small, the smaller cube styles will work just fine, but it is imperative that the fronts be matched with the center in my experience.

 

[IntrinsicValue]

Ok so the general consensus seems to be buy new speakers. I'm not really trying to "save money", as much as I'm trying not to waste money. I figured if I could get away with using them as my center channel, then I'd try it. But I guess I'll go ahead and go with a new 7.1 Thanks.

Don't suppose you have any recommendations on speaker brand-name? I used to love Infinity, but I haven't followed audio in a long time, so I'm sure things have changed.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Go out and listen to some stuff for yourself to see what you like.

If only one person at a time is going to watch stuff down there, then you don't need a center and could get away with a phantom center. If you're going to have people away from the sweet spot, then a center channel that matches the front two speakers fairly well is the way to go.

The center is where ~70% of sound might come from a DVD, so getting a good one is important.

Using those current speakers as rears and then getting a 5.0 set for the front/center/surrounds would probably be a good way to go.

If you want to check out some room treatment stuff, here are some starter threads
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=28194
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=38945

 

[IntrinsicValue]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Go out and listen to some stuff for yourself to see what you like.

If only one person at a time is going to watch stuff down there, then you don't need a center and could get away with a phantom center. If you're going to have people away from the sweet spot, then a center channel that matches the front two speakers fairly well is the way to go.

The center is where ~70% of sound might come from a DVD, so getting a good one is important.

Using those current speakers as rears and then getting a 5.0 set for the front/center/surrounds would probably be a good way to go.

If you want to check out some room treatment stuff, here are some starter threads
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=28194
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=38945

Ok, but are there any speaker brands I should be certain to check out, or any brands I should definitely avoid?

Edit: And thanks for the room treatment info!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: IntrinsicValue

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Go out and listen to some stuff for yourself to see what you like.

If only one person at a time is going to watch stuff down there, then you don't need a center and could get away with a phantom center. If you're going to have people away from the sweet spot, then a center channel that matches the front two speakers fairly well is the way to go.

The center is where ~70% of sound might come from a DVD, so getting a good one is important.

Using those current speakers as rears and then getting a 5.0 set for the front/center/surrounds would probably be a good way to go.

If you want to check out some room treatment stuff, here are some starter threads
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=28194
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=38945

Ok, but are there any speaker brands I should be certain to check out, or any brands I should definitely avoid?

Edit: And thanks for the room treatment info!

Without a budget, it's kind of hard to say anything useful.

I've had some very good experiences with online brands that do factory direct shipping so that's another way to go.

Most online places will have a nice in-home trial period to make sure you like them, some even paying shipping one or both ways.

 

[IntrinsicValue]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Without a budget, it's kind of hard to say anything useful.

I've had some very good experiences with online brands that do factory direct shipping so that's another way to go.

Most online places will have a nice in-home trial period to make sure you like them, some even paying shipping one or both ways.

Well like most people here, I like the best "bang for buck". I'm thinking anywhere between $1000 and $2000 for a 7.1 setup. But I don't want to spend a lot more money for slightly better quality.

On the flip-side, if you said I could get tremendously better speakers for $2500, then I'd be willing to overspend.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

For retail stuff, it would be a good idea to go out and see what's available locally. If you can't listen to something in person, then I'd say just go with internet direct and take advantage of the trial period to make sure you like what you're getting.

Retail stuff:
Paradigm, Klipsch, Def Tech, Boston Acoustics... whatever
Bring in some material that you know well and then listen to some different products.

For about $1k for internet brand stuff:

SVS SBS system
http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

AV123 X-Series
http://www.av123.com/products_category_pack.php?section=speakers&brand=55 (might want to get a bigger sub for HT use though)

Sub options from SVS or HSU are solid.

Some options closer to the $2k range

Ascend Acoustics
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/

Axiom
http://www.axiomaudio.com/

AV123 Rockets
http://www.av123.com/specials.php

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Use these for the rear channels or something and buy the rest - getting the fronts to match is more important than the rears and fronts, and not the center.