samsiu Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 Hello Guys Appreciate any feedback from all you guys. I have the following setup: Denon 1707 AV Amp Quad 11L Speakers (Front only) What's your suggestions for HT setup add-ons? 1. Centre speaker 2. SUrround speakers 3. Subwoofer
petetherock Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 Hi It might be useful to tell us your budget, room size etc. Most bros try and use matching centres, rears from the same brand. Depending on your budget, rears can be from the same brand or not (Quad does not make dipoles though) The sub can be from many brands. Fav subs here range from REL, SVS, Velodyne, Hsu, etc covering a wide price range. For example, there are quite a few threads on "1 to 1.5k suggestions for HT" etc, many bros have written their suggestions. Have a look then see what other info you need bro, good luck!
samsiu Posted January 9, 2007 Author Posted January 9, 2007 I have no budget in mind, but do not want to spend too much. I was suggested the following: Matching Quad 11L for the surround - S$699.00 Matching Quad Centre - ~S$600.00 Wharfdale SW150 subwoofer - ~S$560.00 Total approximate: S$1,860.00 SPent S$1,800 for the current setup already, including a Denon DVD-1930. Can't justify spending lot more for the above. Room size is about 3m x 3m. I was hoping to get one of those small speakers for surround, size something like the Bose series, so that I can mount on the ceiling. Bose has this VCS30 Series II surround and centre speakers that cost about S$600. Any comments here?? Thanks for the showing me the link... I'll look into it.
petetherock Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 I suggest getting the Quad centre, enjoy the music / HT for a while. Find or borrow an old surround speaker for the rear. Save for a decent sub, audition a few which fit your budget. Buy again in Phase II when funds and a bit more listen tell you more about what you need. Cheers P
Guest jonlee Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 Get the quad centre. For surrounds, no real need to be the same as ur front. Can go for smaller alternatives. I have no budget in mind, but do not want to spend too much. I was suggested the following: Matching Quad 11L for the surround - S$699.00 Matching Quad Centre - ~S$600.00 Wharfdale SW150 subwoofer - ~S$560.00 Total approximate: S$1,860.00 SPent S$1,800 for the current setup already, including a Denon DVD-1930. Can't justify spending lot more for the above. Room size is about 3m x 3m. I was hoping to get one of those small speakers for surround, size something like the Bose series, so that I can mount on the ceiling. Bose has this VCS30 Series II surround and centre speakers that cost about S$600. Any comments here?? Thanks for the showing me the link... I'll look into it.
samsiu Posted January 9, 2007 Author Posted January 9, 2007 I like the current 2-speaker setup for music listening. Will the addition of the Wharferdale SW150 make it better? what improvement can I hear if I add the Quad Centre as well??
petetherock Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 The centre is used for dialogue in HT, a vital component for HT but not so for music. Try the Quads with the Wharf and see if they integrate well. Your Quads can do decent mid-bass and the sub must be able to keep up in rhythym and slam. Otherwise save for something better, esp if you are a music buff rather than a HT one.
samsiu Posted January 9, 2007 Author Posted January 9, 2007 I know a bit about ht. I know centre is for dialogue. But the current left and right is loud and clear enough for dialogue when I see movie. So is it really necessary? Forgive me ignorance. Afraid I lost you there with the "rhythm and slam". I am both into music listening and movie collector (DVD). I would like to have the best of both. The clarity of my music is amazing with these Quads, compared to the Aego2 computer speakers that I've been listening for a while, listening to mp3. But the Aego2 still produces great sounds from the 2 satellites, granted the Aego2 comes with a subwoofer. I would also like to hear the "extra" sounds when I watch those DD or DTS movie. I used to own a Sony HTiB sometime ago. After it was dead, I did not bother to get a good replacement. Only recently that my interest in mid-end components for music listening and movie watching returned.
naglfar Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 As what the other bros would say, get a matching Quad for your center speaker. The center speaker is the most important speaker for a home theater set up. Get that, and calibrate the speakers properly using an SPL meter. You'll be even more in love with what you already have. I don't know about others, but I am still sticking to a stereo set up when listening to music. Don't have to spend so much on rear speaker. Look at the Classifieds for used pair of small speakers for surround.
petetherock Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 A sub needs to have : Pace and rhythm--does the note it produce lag behind your Quads, does the thump stop immediately Pitch -- does it sound all like one note, does it define each note seperately SPL - enough slam? Loud, fast and tight? Can it do a double bass, organ or just rumble along at 60-40Hz? Some places to read about subs: http://www.soundstage.com/maxdb/maxdb021999.htm http://www.ecoustics.com/Home/Home_Audio/Speakers/Subwoofer_Articles/ http://hometheater.about.com/cs/toppicks/tp/aatpsubwoofera.htm
armoury Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 I know a bit about ht. I know centre is for dialogue. But the current left and right is loud and clear enough for dialogue when I see movie. So is it really necessary? Forgive me ignorance. Theoretically. Especially if your setup is less than ideal and the front left/right are quite far apart. Having said that, I know yellowhandman uses a pair of Quads for his front L/R without a centre, i.e. they image a phantom centre, just like ordinary stereo music, and he is very happy with his results. The main downside, I think, of relying on L/R to create a phantom centre is that if many people are watching the movie, those further from the "sweet spot" in the middle will hear "funny" things, i.e. the dialog for them will not be firmly anchored in the middle, making their HT experience less ideal. But if there's only you (and your missus?), that's less of a problem.
samsiu Posted January 9, 2007 Author Posted January 9, 2007 Hey guys, sorry for the abrupt departure. I'm back. Thanks for the advice. Pete you're a rock! Same to all others! I need to read up more to know what those things are about. The following is what I'll be getting: 1. Quad centre 2. Wharferdale SW150
samsiu Posted January 9, 2007 Author Posted January 9, 2007 I read as much as I can before I finally decided on the Quad 11L. Wish I have money for 12L, or even the 21L or 22L. Quad 11L is within my budget at that time and I got it. It's true, that the Quad, when playing music and movie, has this "effect", if I may say, that the vocal/dialogue seem to be coming out from a "centre" speaker, which I do not have. The calibration of my Denon 1707 is done automatically. I just followed the instructions from the manual. The clarity and other sound that were produced from the left and right is equally great. I just get vocal "in the middle", and backup vocals from left/right. Yep, setup is only for me and my wife.
armoury Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 It's true, that the Quad, when playing music and movie, has this "effect", if I may say, that the vocal/dialogue seem to be coming out from a "centre" speaker, which I do not have. Well, that's the entire concept of hi-fi stereo in the first place. To some music purists anything beyond L/R is sacrilege... If it's just you and your wife, you both "hear" dialog coming square from the centre on your movies, proper pans across the front when the action requires it, then I'd say you can hold off on buying the centre for now, since your front L/R already do the work. In due course you should probably get a full 5.1 setup, but if money is tight the centre can IMHO wait. As for sub, that will certainly improve your HT experience since bookshelves just do not go low enough for HT effects, but for music, again purists don't like using subs with music, whilst others would disagree. Either way, the fact is music generally doesn't go as low as an HT effects soundtrack does, so most speakers handle music fine and don't really "need" the help from the sub, whilst the crossover may mess things up. So YMMV (your mileage may vary). IMHO, your first add-on should be the sub, followed by the surrounds. Centre can wait. But that's just my view. Oh, and whatever you do, don't get Bose speakers. Overrpriced. The surrounds will need to tonally match (somewhat) the Quads; I have no suggestions as to what would match, but can suggest you ask the experts at KEC for recommendations. No doubt there is a satellite speaker of some sort that matches reasonably well with Quads.
petetherock Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 The Quad centre will aid your HT experience, and you don't have to sit in the central position so much or fight with your wife to get the best seat and locks the speech onto the screen for a better experience. As fo the sub, I don't know the Wharf series too well Make sure you audition before you buy, with the Quads and see if it works well together. Don't rush into the sub, its not small change. Good luck bro. We are doing some shopping in Adelphi soon. Why not come and make friends. Hey guys, sorry for the abrupt departure. I'm back. Thanks for the advice. Pete you're a rock! Same to all others! I need to read up more to know what those things are about. The following is what I'll be getting: 1. Quad centre 2. Wharferdale SW150
samsiu Posted January 9, 2007 Author Posted January 9, 2007 Thanks for the invite and yes, I would love to come! Please let me in on the details - date, time, meeting place...
Guest jonlee Posted January 10, 2007 Posted January 10, 2007 On a higher end stereo system with only 2 speakers, u can actually "hear" where the individual musicians are seated (which row, left to right) if u are listening to an Orchestra piece. This is the magic of stereo, and why many audiophiles will pay and pay to upgrade to hear more details. ;D Well, that's the entire concept of hi-fi stereo in the first place. To some music purists anything beyond L/R is sacrilege...
relakbro Posted January 10, 2007 Posted January 10, 2007 samsiu, Do you still have your Aego2? If so, you could use them temporarily for surrounds until you get the budget to upgrade them. For normal dramas (talkies), the surrounds are only utilised occasionally for the orchestral scores and the Aegos would do alright. Concentrate on getting the centre and a decent sub first. However, if you mainly watch action movies and blockbusters with a lot of surround use, then you simply got to increase your budget :P Good subs can get quite expensive. You may want to get a 2nd hand one.
samsiu Posted January 10, 2007 Author Posted January 10, 2007 thanks for advice. I thought of using the Aego2 satellites for surround. On second thought, maybe not powerful enough. Most Surround speakers that I saw and recommended are 2-way. My Aego is only 1-way. Bass enhanced/supplied by the subwoofer that comes in the package. Good idea to get 2nd-hand subwoofer. But i always worry I get lemon. No warranty, no course for redress, take it as it is. I may take that chance...
relakbro Posted January 10, 2007 Posted January 10, 2007 thanks for advice. I thought of using the Aego2 satellites for surround. On second thought, maybe not powerful enough. No worries there - just put closer to your seat can already ;) Don't get too concerned with two-way or whatever. Ideally, your surrounds should be (at least) the same tweeter and drivers as your fronts - which means another Quad. But for the time being, use what you have. Only when you experience the surround can you make a better informed choice on what to do next. As I said, if you only watch talkie dramas (or soaps! ;)), you may not want to spend so much on surrounds....
relakbro Posted January 10, 2007 Posted January 10, 2007 Maybe I left out what is really on my mind: If you have limited budget, do NOT try to spread out the budget too thinly and get too low quality stuff. You may end up selling the lot (and taking a big hit on your pocket) once upgradtitis hits you (which may happen immediately after you connect them all up and you find the sound sucks :'( ). Rather, better to just concentrate the budget on similar quality stuff to match what you already have and make do with the others. If you watch mainly talkies - the centre is more important. If action is your taste, maybe the sub and then the surrounds should be on your list.
relakbro Posted January 10, 2007 Posted January 10, 2007 Maybe I left out what is really on my mind: If you have limited budget, do NOT try to spread out the budget too thinly and get too low quality stuff. You may end up selling the lot (and taking a big hit on your pocket) once upgradtitis hits you (which may happen immediately after you connect them all up and you find the sound sucks :'( ). Rather, better to just concentrate the budget on similar quality stuff to match what you already have and make do with the others. For 2nd hand stuff (I have quite a few), you have to shop around - you'll be surprised how new some of the stuff being sold is (mirrors our 2nd hand car lots)... If you watch mainly talkies - the centre is more important. If action is your taste, maybe the sub and then the surrounds should be on your list. Hope this helps...
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