Anyone here into speakers (audio).

[mfer]

I'm considering getting some gear for my basement, but not sure. I'm wondering if I'll be able to play it at louder volumes without annoying everyone in the house (wife and 15 month old son).

I'm really looking into Hsu Research speakers (2xHB-1, 1xHC-1) and sub (VTF-15H).

Right now I just have Denon 1611 AVR (75w x 7) with two low end Polk M10's.

So, what do you guys think that have a home theater in their basement? Would I just end up shaking and ticking everyone else off?

[TheVTCGuy]

what do you guys think

I think I'm moving in to your house soon!


Mik... Buddy!

[mfer]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

I think I'm moving in to your house soon!


Mik... Buddy!

San Diego to STL huh? We are gearing up for our most wonderful weather season...

Tell you what, I'll trade you!

[conrail]

Is that your current setup? Looks pretty nice! Is that ceiling paneling like in an office, though, or decoration?

If you've got a well-constructed house it def won't shake anything, but you'll want to consider insulating the basement movie room's ceiling otherwise the sound will go straight up; least that's how it is in my house. I live in an old Tudor-styled house that is mostly original and its all sold construction through and through, but the sound travels directly upwards, so you'll want to consider that issue. Bass will mostly dissipate through the walls and into the earth I've found.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by conrail

Is that your current setup? Looks pretty nice! Is that ceiling paneling like in an office, though, or decoration?

If you've got a well-constructed house it def won't shake anything, but you'll want to consider insulating the basement movie room's ceiling otherwise the sound will go straight up; least that's how it is in my house. I live in an old Tudor-styled house that is mostly original and its all sold construction through and through, but the sound travels directly upwards, so you'll want to consider that issue. Bass will mostly dissipate through the walls and into the earth I've found.

It is new construction. '99 I think.

It is a dropped ceiling with this tile.

There is no sound proofing and the layout is a big open room. I'd need to spend thousands on sound proofing. So I'm leaning away from that.

Here is the layout. It is a little less than 5400 cubic feet (important for sub selection)

[blackmsport]

I am

Onkyo Amp fan
Canadian and Danish speakers fan

[masterserg]

Check out Aperion Audio (http://www.aperionaudio.com/home.aspx). I have a pair of Intimus 5T. They are absolutely fantastic, and at $395 each, they are the steal of the year.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by masterserg

Check out Aperion Audio (http://www.aperionaudio.com/home.aspx). I have a pair of Intimus 5T. They are absolutely fantastic, and at $395 each, they are the steal of the year.

Thanks, but I should have stated no towers. Little rug rat to knock them over.

[masterserg]

Originally Posted by mfer

Thanks, but I should have stated no towers. Little rug rat to knock them over.

Ahh ... The very same issue I am experiencing right now ...

[dysondiver]

big pluss the suspended ceiling , it will let you either put in good ceiling speakers , handy for running cable , and even better fast and cheap to sound proof.

[dysondiver]

if its a suspended ceiling you wont need to spend thousands ,,, and as for the rest , some simple things like soft wall hangings can make a big change and wont cost the earth.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

if its a suspended ceiling you wont need to spend thousands ,,, and as for the rest , some simple things like soft wall hangings can make a big change and wont cost the earth.

Hmmm, well the sound proofing material I've been researching is 2-3 $/sq ft. 700 sq ft * 2$/sq ft = $1400.

[dysondiver]

Originally Posted by mfer

Hmmm, well the sound proofing material I've been researching is 2-3 $/sq ft. 700 sq ft * 2$/sq ft = $1400.

if the ceiling is suspended , and you can lift out a tile , or tiles as needed , good old loft insulation will make fantastic results ,, total cost about a hundred and fifty dollars. because your putting the tiles back the acoustics in the room wont change , the roof is still a large flat reflector , but the insulation will help kill the sound traveling up to the rest of the house.

[paddy_crow]

Chances are good that your non audiophile household members would not approve of the volume cranked.

[JasoninDenver]

I would be concerned about the suspended ceiling framework rattling at certain volumes and frequencies if it has not been properly installed. I think the current best practices is to to batten insulation (or spray foam) in between the ceiling joists and then drywall the ceiling using j-channel de-coupling mechanisms between the drywall sheets and joists. This should greatly reduce the lower frequency rumbling between floors from the sub.

As far as speakers, I really like B&W products. I have an old pair of 602 bookshelf speakers that can be bi-wired for stereo audio. I also have some Paradigm stuff and really like it as well given the price point.

[JasoninDenver]

Following up on what Dyson diver said - You may be able to have a spray foam guy shoot a light coat on the inside of the ceiling tile framework as well to tighten up any vibrations there. Spray foam is expensive but it may be cheaper than redoing the whole ceiling.

[conrail]

That's good its a drop down - you can do a lot with that. There are all kinds of cheapo insulating material you could throw up there - literally throw up there. You don't have to have it professionally done. You can use pieces of foam like they use on sound/recording studio doors/walls. Anything to soften/bounce the sound off of.

[sherwin]

Originally Posted by conrail

That's good its a drop down - you can do a lot with that. There are all kinds of cheapo insulating material you could throw up there - literally throw up there. You don't have to have it professionally done. You can use pieces of foam like they use on sound/recording studio doors/walls. Anything to soften/bounce the sound off of.

pretty much this... though if the doors just to the right of the tv will have any affect on the sound signature?

also, may i recommend (if you havent already done so) to block off the room, so that you can confine the sound to just the theatre without effecting the adjacent rooms. i would erect a partition wall with proper sound insulation. serving as two purposes, one as a divider and second as a channel for cabling without it being all over the place

with a room like that anything can be done, its a matter of whats your budget and how far you want to go.

just looking at the rooms gives me ideas about my dream theatre

[mfer]

Originally Posted by sherwin

pretty much this... though if the doors just to the right of the tv will have any affect on the sound signature?

also, may i recommend (if you havent already done so) to block off the room, so that you can confine the sound to just the theatre without effecting the adjacent rooms. i would erect a partition wall with proper sound insulation. serving as two purposes, one as a divider and second as a channel for cabling without it being all over the place

with a room like that anything can be done, its a matter of whats your budget and how far you want to go.

just looking at the rooms gives me ideas about my dream theatre

Don't want to put up any walls or take out fireplace, etc. This is my house for the next 3-4 years, then we will be moving. Next house will have a dedicated HT room that will be confined, very well sound proofed (even with its own HVAC lines), etc.

Still debating on how much you'll be able to hear this throughout the house. Probable a ton. Maybe I should just forget it.

[wrxsti]

nice tv what are the specs?

[Dr. Robert]

Bowers & Wilkins make good speakers.

[Richardquattro]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Bowers & Wilkins make good speakers.

This so far seems to be the most sensible choice. I used to be in installation of high quality systems ie. Linn, Naim, Quad, Bower and Wilkins to name a but a few.
Still today i use Linn as a source, Naim Amplification and Linn speakers.
The important thing to remember is the speakers are the least most important part of the system. They will only reproduce the signal given to them. The source has to be the highlight of the system getting as much of the signal or imformation as possible to the amp then speakers.
Check online with any quality hi-fi company, the rules are the same even on budget systems.

[SPARTAN2161]

Highly recommend a Bose system. They are soooo clear that you don't need to "blast" it so sound proofing may not be 100% necessary

[drockadam]

I do like my dad's speakers. He's got a full set of PSB's in the basement, and a little system of Bose in the living room. The Bose are really clear!

[xbox]

Monitor Audio RX6 impressed me massively for the price.

Great for music and AV.

[Richardquattro]

Originally Posted by xbox

Monitor Audio RX6 impressed me massively for the price.

Great for music and AV.

Excellent choice my son uses them with Arcam amplifiers and Linn source.

[xbox]

Originally Posted by Richardquattro

Excellent choice my son uses them with Arcam amplifiers and Linn source.

Well, well, would you believe partnered with Arcam

They do some beautiful finishes.

[MP5]

I do 2 channel, tubes only

[blackmsport]

I have Sound Dynamics (Canadian) and several Jamo (danish) + Wharfedale

Yamaha and JBL Subs

Onkyo Amps

Much prefer two channels

[rob541]

I have small B&W speakers with a matching sub. I just added a small phono pre-amp for records. It sounds awesome.

I can't recommend Bowers and Wilkins enough. I love mine.

Rob