It’s lookin’ like there’s only one way to do this but before I proceed I’d like to get some opinions and/or possible recommendations. I’m sure I’m missing something in my thoughts. Expect nothing less from a hillbilly home-theaterphile wannabe.
I think I would like to upgrade from 5.1 to either 6.1 or 7.1. Our room is a family room/HT and is less than symmetrical when it comes to installing surround speakers. I don’t know where my priorities were when I designed this room but it wasn’t in the best interest of 7.1, that’s for sure.
Here’s a few pic’s of our room:
This is the back wall and the one side with the windows:
…..
Here’s the other side:
…..
And a straight on view from the RPTV:
This is pretty much what I am forced to work with for now.
The surround speaker dilemma: As you can see I have our PSB Image 10S bipolar surrounds in the corners on the “built into the wall” stands positioned just above head level (while sitting). As well you can plainly see that there is no place to install side speakers short of installing them way up high centered at approximately 9½ feet. I wouldn’t think this would be too appropriate (but I’m not sure). The only place down lower would be in between the window and french doors on one side, but that won’t happen because there’s just not enough width there. Then on the other side of the room is a door opening. (NO!, I can’t enclose the window.)
I suppose 6.1 is lookin’ more acceptable. My thinkin’ is to keep the 10S’s where they are in the corners and add an in-wall speaker to the center of the rear wall (just left of the big hanging picture). I can’t buy the 10S as a single however PSB does offer an in-wall model M6x6.1 that is timbre balanced to our PSB Images. I’m guessin’ this would be sufficient for a rear center channel. I’m not sure on how high to mount the rear center though. Maybe the same height as the 10S’s? If so it will be 3 to 4 feet from the back of our heads. Seems like it would be too much rear and not enough sides – maybe?
The amp dilemma:: Currently we have the Sunfire Cinema Grand (5 X 200) amp. I could pick up a relatively inexpensive amp and bridge it to run the rear center. OR… I can probably find another Sunfire amp (Load Invariant 2 X 300) for $900obo. This amp is about 8 years old and retailed for $2200 new in 1995. While I believe it would match up fine with our current Sunfire and I could use it for the front mains and use 4 channels of the Cinema Grand for centers and surrounds, I’m just not so sure it’s worth nine bills. Should I be concerned about matching up amps?
And finally, will there be enough improvement to justify the cost? I don’t know where to draw the line cost wise while considering our room circumstances.
Your ideas and suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks!
SONNIE
Cedar Creek Cinema
DVD Collection
BFD Comprehensive Setup Guide
I think I would like to upgrade from 5.1 to either 6.1 or 7.1. Our room is a family room/HT and is less than symmetrical when it comes to installing surround speakers. I don’t know where my priorities were when I designed this room but it wasn’t in the best interest of 7.1, that’s for sure.
Here’s a few pic’s of our room:
This is the back wall and the one side with the windows:
…..
Here’s the other side:
…..
And a straight on view from the RPTV:
This is pretty much what I am forced to work with for now.
The surround speaker dilemma: As you can see I have our PSB Image 10S bipolar surrounds in the corners on the “built into the wall” stands positioned just above head level (while sitting). As well you can plainly see that there is no place to install side speakers short of installing them way up high centered at approximately 9½ feet. I wouldn’t think this would be too appropriate (but I’m not sure). The only place down lower would be in between the window and french doors on one side, but that won’t happen because there’s just not enough width there. Then on the other side of the room is a door opening. (NO!, I can’t enclose the window.)
I suppose 6.1 is lookin’ more acceptable. My thinkin’ is to keep the 10S’s where they are in the corners and add an in-wall speaker to the center of the rear wall (just left of the big hanging picture). I can’t buy the 10S as a single however PSB does offer an in-wall model M6x6.1 that is timbre balanced to our PSB Images. I’m guessin’ this would be sufficient for a rear center channel. I’m not sure on how high to mount the rear center though. Maybe the same height as the 10S’s? If so it will be 3 to 4 feet from the back of our heads. Seems like it would be too much rear and not enough sides – maybe?
The amp dilemma:: Currently we have the Sunfire Cinema Grand (5 X 200) amp. I could pick up a relatively inexpensive amp and bridge it to run the rear center. OR… I can probably find another Sunfire amp (Load Invariant 2 X 300) for $900obo. This amp is about 8 years old and retailed for $2200 new in 1995. While I believe it would match up fine with our current Sunfire and I could use it for the front mains and use 4 channels of the Cinema Grand for centers and surrounds, I’m just not so sure it’s worth nine bills. Should I be concerned about matching up amps?
And finally, will there be enough improvement to justify the cost? I don’t know where to draw the line cost wise while considering our room circumstances.
Your ideas and suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks!
SONNIE
Cedar Creek Cinema
DVD Collection
BFD Comprehensive Setup Guide
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