Hagood

Great looking room Avman ! I'm in the process of adding on an HT room to the house and I think I'll steal some of your ideas. I love the celing and carpet. Is the raised floor where the a/v equipment is located the way the slab was poured or did you construct some sort of platform ? What are the dimensions of the room ? Enjoy !

Sounds great T-Man ! We are adding on a room to the house that was originally going to be a game room, but I'm leaning more towards a dedicated HT room now. I'll remember you couch suggestion. Do you have any photo's you can post ? This message has been edited by Hagood on 02-01-2002 at 12:28 PM

Justin, yes the old sound card was connected to the CD ROM with the regular Analog cable, which I did use for the Santa Cruz. In addidtion to this connection on the Santa Cruz, there is a 2-pin Digital connection which is also on the CD ROM. I am getting sound fine from the CD with the Analog connection (an I must say, I love the Santa Cruz), but I'm just wondering what the benifits of the digital connection are ? I saw the cables at Fry's, but haven't purchased one yet. I don't know if this connection should be in place of or in addition to the analog. It doesn't say much about it in the manual.

I think we would all love to have a Ferrari or Lamborghini, but you're not comparing apples to apples. These are $150,000 plus cars, and they're difinitely not rice burners ! We're talking about comparing Honda's and Toyota's to American Muscle.

I was very disappointed in the movie. Great comments Mike, I couldn't agree more. I'll take the '68 Camaro w/ 500HP+ 427 Rat that I had bak in High School over any of these rice burners any day !

You're right, all they have on there now is just hats and shirts and such. Well, they did say it was a Clearance Sale and supplies were limited. I got everything I ordered.

I just installed a Santa Cruz in my PC in preparation for my PM 4.1 purchase (yes, I'm taking a chance on them). It has a connection for a digital cable along with the analog cable from the CD ROM, but did not include this cable. I'm wondering what the deal is with this connection ? Is it worth me buying a cable - what is the difference ?

One more thing, applebite. Consider upgrading to the KSW-12 instead of the KSW-10 sub that comes with the System 6. Only $75.00 difference and much better. You might also try a little bargaining with your dealer. Check out Sounddistributors.com for their prices on the System 6, print it out and take it to the dealer. It worked for me - they matched the price.

Applebite, I have the System 6 and was also comparing to the Quintets before purchasing. The Quintets did quite well for HT, but there was a very noticeable difference in dialogue with the System 6 center speaker. The deciding factor for me, however, was the difference in playing music - no comparison. If you need to mount the SB-1's (mains for the system 6) to the walls or ceiling, look at omnimount.com for their various brackets. I think the ceiling mounts are better, as you can keep them away from the walls like Doug suggested for the port. You can also angle them down and in toward the sweet spot (a good idea for horns). This is how I have mine mounted, and it works pretty well. You can also adjust the center channel delay in your receiver so it appears to be at the same distance from your sweet spot as the SB-1's. As for mounting the SS.5's, the manual states "Due to their full 180 degree coverage pattern, the SS.5's offer a high degree of placement flexibility. The most common placement for HT rooms is on the side walls adjacent to or behind the listening area , or on the rear walls near the corners of the room. A height of 5 to 7 feet from the floor to the base is recommended". As Doug said, they have the keyhole brakets attached and are indented enough for the speaker wire, but I would definitely recommend putting them into studs instead of using the plastic anchors. Good Luck and enjoy. This message has been edited by Hagood on 12-28-2001 at 02:04 PM

Sorry for giving you erroneous info there applebite, but that is what I had always read, and it even states that in my Yamaha's manual. I'll try out the other programs to see if it works for me. Did you just download the trial version or pay the $50.00 yet ? If you haven't paid, you might try the Media Jukebox that Justin mentioned. I downloaded it also, and it has a totally free version that sounds like it has the same features as the NTI.

Thanks Justin, I was betting you would be the first to answer. I just downloaded it and will start checking it out. Do you think the "Plus" version is worth paying for, or should I just stick with the free version ?

A question for you computer pros. I have a Yamaha DVD player that will play MP3's on both CDR's and CDRW's. I have been using this feature, but it is difficult to keep track of 100+ songs on a disc. My Yamaha manual mentions that up to 32 "Albums" on a disc with their own tracks are supported by the player, with a max nested directory of 8 levels. How do you burn them this way ? I am using Adaptec easy CD Creater, and also have Musicmatch Jukebox.

Applebite, you must have analog connections to play MP3's. It is different than playing a CD burned with WAV files that will play in virtually any CD player. On DVD players, digital output is muted while playing MP3 discs to comply with the SDMI (whatever that is). You need to hook up the analog audio connections along with your digital, and select the analog input on the receiver.

If you do have the analog connections hooked-up like decibel man said, you may also have to manually select the analog input on your reciever. I know I have to on my Yammy.

Great read Colin, you should be a writer. Oh, I forgot, you are !!

Check out the DTS site store for clearance DTS Music and DVD's. Not a great selection, but I picked up a couple of 5.1 Mozart Music DVD's for $7.50 ea, and the Gladiator DVD for $12.50. Not bad. http://store.dtsonline.com/

Looks great Mike, thanks. Do you think it would be worth it on the SB-1's ?

I was having a similar problem with the auto on on my KSW-12, but it seems to have straightened itself out. When I asked my dealer about it, they said I could bring it back in if I wanted, but that they recommend just leaving it on all of the time. They said that is what they do with all of their subs in the shop so there is no delay when a bass signal is detected, and it doesn't hurt anything. It uses very little electricity when not actually playing.

I only have the SB-1's as part of my Synergy 6, and am generally very happy with the music, especially from such a small speaker. There are times, however, with rock or jazz at high volumes that they are a little "bright". I have read many old threads about damping, but don't know if this would even be worth it on such small speakers. I'm also not real clear on the procedure using rope caulk. Does anyone have any photos they can post of this ? Would it be worth it ?

Check out omnimount.com. They have different brackets for wall or ceiling mounting - you will need the larger ones for the RB-5's, and I would definitely recommend attaching the bracket to studs instead of using the enclosed anchors. Check the weight ratings of the various models. I don't know if the RB-5's have a pre-tapped hole for the omni mount, but they come with a universal mounting plate if not. This message has been edited by Hagood on 12-11-2001 at 12:09 PM

What is the best material to use ?

Until I get my room addition finished and have room for some RF-7's or Heritage/Classics, I have to have my SB-1's (the mains on my Synergy 6) mounted with Omni-mounts in the front corners. They are mounted from the ceiling about 12" out from the corners. I know this is not ideal for a ported speaker, and even with them set to small with my receiver, and all bass below 90HZ going to the KSW-12, they still sound a little boomy. Would it help to plug the ports ? If so, what would I use so as not to cause any damage ? This message has been edited by Hagood on 12-10-2001 at 08:35 PM

I went back up to my locl shop again last night to listen to the RF's and they had finally gotten the RSW Subs in. I listened to the RF-5's with an RSW-12 and then the RF-7's with the monster RSW-15. I'll I can say is WOW ! The RF's sound great to me alone, but with the RSW's - what a combination ! If the Heritage or Classics sound much better than this, they would be truly awesome ! Even the RSW-10 sounded 5 times better than my KSW-12 for music - great deep, punchy bass, without the boominess. I'm thinking of trading in my KSW, but at over twice the price even for the RSW-10...... This message has been edited by Hagood on 12-08-2001 at 04:16 PM

Count me in. This is a great idea - I've already hooked up with the some of the DFW folk from my other post. I don't have much yet, but would be glad to let anyone check out my System 6.

Thanks for all the comments and invitations. I have sent some of you emails. Colin, I have a feeling you're right about going down the path to a tweaking audiophile - I tend to get very serious about all of my hobbies. I should probably wait until I get the kids through College before getting too serious and spending too much money. Maybe some RF-3's or RF-5's. I do presently have a KSW-12 with my System 6 and it sounds great for HT, but I'm not that thrilled with it for music. I didn't think I would need one with the RF's - don't they have plenty off deep bass ?