Just upgraded my home theater setup...your thoughts?

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Lucky

Lifer
Nov 26, 2000
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anyone have general thoughts about polk? with these speakers in specific? or could I have done better? :)
 
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Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
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For commercial speakers, I'd say you did pretty decent. :)
If you would have gone with a DIY kit however, you would have been able to destroy those for just a tad less money.

Got any pics inroom? :D
 
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sohcrates

Diamond Member
Sep 19, 2000
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<< anyone have general thoughts about polk? with these speakers in specific? or could I have done better? :) >>



i actually toured polk audio's factory about 4 months ago. i have to give them major props, because they're actually one of the few companies that designs, builds, and tests their speakers from scratch...they don't "borrow" designs or "outsource" the building. they actually, dare i say, care about the end result!

i kind of always took them as the circuit-city crapola line, but when i actually did some critical listening, i kinda like 'em. not bad entry-mid level speakers.
 
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Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
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I like the fact that they use a downfiring flared port; helps eliminate mids leaking through the port, but also keeps the port noise down. Nice touch with that :)
My comment about DIY still stands though :)
 
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Lucky

Lifer
Nov 26, 2000
13,126
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no pics :(

I was previously using (dont laugh) a pair of technic 12" woofer floor standers. Nice bass, and decent sound (especially for 140/pair) but I felt the midrange and highs were off. I was using KLH $20/pair for rears, and for the center, well, you dont know what I was using. :)

Hmm. DIY? Lets hear a little more about that.
 
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Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
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The particular setup I had in mind was the Vance Dickason designed HT setup
Detailed info
All parts pic
Completely Assembled kit pic
Assembly Guide/manual

The best part about this kit is the PREFINISHED MDF cabinets, Morel (audiophile) tweeters in the fronts and Dipole surrounds.
The mains are so good they'd probably make excellent stereo/music speakers, but work nicely for HT too.

$900 isn't bad considering you get everything all at once, designed with LEAP (one of the best measuring/designing programs out there)

As for a sub, the Vance Dickason 10inch Titanic kit has very tight, deep bass....perfect for smaller rooms. It doesn't take much time to put togehter; just screw in the amp, wire it to the sub, screw in the sub, install the spikes, and that's about it :)

 
StageLeft

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
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$25k goes far eh? :)

Better than my $15 I have for my comp. The wifey has the real system!
 
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Lucky

Lifer
Nov 26, 2000
13,126
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$25k goes far eh?


Heh, yeah, I guess so. :)


the DIY is interesting. Are they better enough to consider returning the polks? I've read of that specific kit before but didnt put too much faith in it.
 
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Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
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I'm afraid I'd give you a biased opinion, but note that in a DIY kit, a VERY big portion of your money goes straight into the drivers themselves; the Morel tweets in the fronts (LCR) cost $55 each, whereas the Audax Aerogel shielded woofers cost $32 each.
Not to mention the fact that they're designed by a guy who defientely knows what he's doing (he wrote 6 books on DIY'ing speakers + designed many other kits) and tested to make sure they sound awesome.

Typically, markups on speakers are at least 60%......so what costs $300.....cost the store ~$200.....the distributor has to make money......the manufacturer has to make money.....shipping costs......labour costs......so you figure, there's not much at all left for the drivers themselves.
 
kami

kami

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
17,627
5
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Viperoni, your speakers look kinda close together...?

I think you'd get a better sound field if they were seperated more and toed in a bit. That's what I found from my experience anyway. Where's the center?
 
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Pyroclazm

Senior member
Oct 21, 1999
693
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'Polk makes good speakers, but IMO Klipsch blows them out of the water, but it is the listener who decides which is better...


Reciever
Outlaw Audio 1050

Floor Speakers
RF-3's

Bookshelf Speakers
RB3's

Center Channel
Center Channel

Subwoofer
RSW-12



Most of this can be found on E-Gay pretty cheap.... Not trying to thread crap if I sound like I am... Info on those speakers can be found on the Klipsch website fairly easily.... :)
 
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Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
1
71


<< Viperoni, your speakers look kinda close together...?

I think you'd get a better sound field if they were seperated more and toed in a bit. That's what I found from my experience anyway. Where's the center? >>



Yup, they're very close.
I can't move them apart any more due to parents not liking their size; when I rebuild the cabinets an inch narrower (better imaging!) with about 5inches less depth, I'll have much more flexibility.
It doesn't show it, but they are actually toed in about 2inches.
The soundstage is actually pretty nice, voices are pretty ceneter considering the side of the left one, and the back of the right one are basically non-present......
In MI2 when Reeves does the swooping burnout on the bike, I can track the tire swooshing across the bottom of the screen, very nice :)
The highs come out too much (very efficient tweet), but an Lpad (knob that adjusts volume for a certain driver(s)) will solve that.

The center will be built using the plans from the Dayton HT, however it'll be slightly different because it'll be a dual woofer, and the tweet will be displaced upwards for better dispertion.
I'll probably be buidling that right after my sub, in school as a project for electronics class.
 
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Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
1
71


<< 'Polk makes good speakers, but IMO Klipsch blows them out of the water, but it is the listener who decides which is better...


Reciever
Outlaw Audio 1050

Floor Speakers
RF-3's

Bookshelf Speakers
RB3's

Center Channel
Center Channel

Subwoofer
RSW-12



Most of this can be found on E-Gay pretty cheap.... Not trying to thread crap if I sound like I am... Info on those speakers can be found on the Klipsch website fairly easily.... :) >>



Klipsch has efficiency going for them.....but they still aren't true full fledged efficiency speakers like Unity horns (something like 110db per watt and SQ so sweet you could cry).......just efficient regular speakers.


The outlaw audio receiver is incredible for the money (like $550?)......if you have the cash, that should be your ONLY choice :)
 
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Pyroclazm

Senior member
Oct 21, 1999
693
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Maybe a pair of cornwalls :) or Heresys

then again the cornwalls weight about 100lbs a piece...

Probably not realistic but these are also some amazing speakers....
 
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Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
1
71


<< Maybe a pair of cornwalls :) or Heresys >>



Still just really efficient, mid-range quality speakers.
 
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Lucky

Lifer
Nov 26, 2000
13,126
1
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arg....i hate decisions like this. Now Im questioning myself. audio review has similar ratings for botht the polk and the Klipsch , but that doesnt always mean anything.
 
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Lucky

Lifer
Nov 26, 2000
13,126
1
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I'll consider that outlaw. I currently have a sony STR-DE645 reciever that Im happy with, but various connection problems have me wanting to upgrade.
 
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Pyroclazm

Senior member
Oct 21, 1999
693
0
0
Who are the Outlaws?
The "Outlaws" are a group of audio/video product designers, engineers, and marketers who have been in the consumer electronics industry for a long time. Together, we have been involved in the design and manufacturing of over 150 different audio and video products. Many of our designs have won industry awards for innovation and value. In fact, if you are an audio/video enthusiast, there is a very good chance that you own at least one or two products that we have designed.

Through the years, we have worked with each other, or competed with one another, and during this time we have become good friends. When we get together at industry shows, we always trade stories about how we've had to compromise this feature, or lower that performance spec, to meet our company's needs.


A bit of info on who they are....
 
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