arande2
09-28-07, 12:58 AM
I have two setups: One in my room (stereo), another in the HT room.
Here's the problem. I like the sound in my room with a lot less expensive equipment, but the sound in what's supposed to be the "best" system does not seem to measure up to the sound in my room.
Now here are my setups.
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BEDROOM: ~1000 feet cubed
35-year-old Scott Receiver (Retailed $500 year 1972) ... Also has a transformer rating of 400VA with a 4-ohm rating for each of 2 channels/120-watt 4-ohm rating/60w at 8-ohm ... Pretty Accurate Rating.
Yamaha Home Theater Receiver Model HTR-5740 (Retail $250) ... Transformer rating of 400VA for 6 total channels rated 85w 8-ohm (realistically only get that much with 2 channel op).
Bose Model 100 Stereo Speakers (Retail ?? Approximately $200 ??) 4-inch driver in each small enclosure with an estimated tuning of 50hz (from testing) rated 50w continuous.
SCOTT used as tuner - Output of SCOTT connected to multi-ch L/R inputs of YAMAHA - BOSE connected to YAMAHA L/R speaker outputs
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MAIN ROOM: ~5000 feet cubed
Magnavox AV123 Dvd Player ($100 Retail a few years ago) Standard Dvd player of poor-to-mediocre quality (has a few problems) - connected using digital coax audio (Straightwire) and composite video cables
Xbox Standard Pack - Connected with digital toslink audio and composite video cables
Pioneer Elite Vsx-91txh Receiver ($1000 retail) - Transformer Rating ~800VA - 7 channels of amplification (rated 110w 8-ohm 20hz-20khz .09% THD)
KLH AV5001 Floorstanding Speakers 12" Woofs ($300 Retail for the pair) - Quality seems to be suffering - 10-300 watts recommended amplifier power 20hz-20khz :rolleyes: - Actual Usable Response to 37hz (from testing)
JBL 4311 Control Monitors 12" Woofs ($750 Retail/Pair Year 1972) - Excellent Quality - 75 Watts Continuous Rating - Rated to 40hz -3dB - Manual shows 50w 35hz sine-wave input on oscilloscope with unseen distortion nearfield; I thought that was pretty good - 25hz measured usable response - estimated tuning mid-30s of hertz
Dvd Player and Xbox connected to receiver - KLH used as mains - JBL used as surrounds - quadrophonic setup
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Now that you've read all that, and you know what I am using in my setups ;), I can describe what I'm hearing.
Bedroom: I hear a full sound. The problem is I can't turn it up that loud before the drivers start hitting their limits and ports start chuffing, specifically with bass <50hz. The exact position of the instruments in the sound image seems to not be there so much though.
Main Room: The main problem I seem to be dealing with is a weakness of bass. I turn it up and the KLH seem to be bottle-neckling the system because the tweeters ring and distortion is prevalent, although this is apporaching 110dB. This is not so with the JBL. I can close my eyes and see everything in an exact position and can position myself where I'm sitting within the music. It has a thin sound compared to the system in my room.
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WHAT DOES HE LISTEN TO? ... Well, what is it that I listen to?
This really depends on what mood I'm in. Let's say it's Saturday afternoon. I decide to turn on the radio and "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath happens to be playing on the radio. I am happy with this selection (on a station I get great reception with).
Now I decide to pop in Dark Side of the Moon and turn it up quite loud. I am impressed with the very good imaging of the sound, but am disappointed with the lack of fullness and so get distracted from the music itself. The Dvd Player also has a problem where it skips sometimes (I clean it.) This is not what I want.
I go to a Christian radio station for background music while I do homework (Freshman in HS) ... I love doing homework with great sounding music.
At school, I hate it when teachers turn music on because of the horrible sound quality as it distracts me so much. One good friend of mine stuck his cheap in-ear headphones in my ears and turned his MP3 Player ALL THE WAY UP. It wasn't very loud, first of all. There was no bass whatsoever. I asked him if he had the bass turned all the way down. It was all the way up. My words were, "Are you kidding?" I got a no. He said it sounded good to him. I did not say anything. It's sad what people can pass as good sound quality. :( I could write a whole article on that, easily.
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Thoughts and Conclusion: I have my ideas of what I should probably do, but there might be a lot of things I'm missing too.
Needed Possible Changes I've Come Up With:
Speaker Swap: I might see if I can take the JBL Control Monitors in to have them looked at and that they're in good condition (maybe a cap replacement is needed, possibly a recone). I could then try them as mains and move the KLH to the back. This might be good.
Dvd Player Upgrade: I might need to get a better source. Garbage in - Garbage Out
Subwoofer DIY-Style I've got a subwoofer designed with an F3 of 10hz and >115dB output (according to modelling) from 10hz up. This is for both music and movies. I don't think I'd have much trouble with SQ. I have been saying the bass is missing.
Other: I could try a lot of things. I am not sure what some important things might be. Thanks for help.
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I hope I didn't totally bore anyone who didn't skim. :p
I think it might be kind of hard not to skim due to the way I put information in.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I LEFT SOMETHING IMPORTANT OUT
Here's the problem. I like the sound in my room with a lot less expensive equipment, but the sound in what's supposed to be the "best" system does not seem to measure up to the sound in my room.
Now here are my setups.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEDROOM: ~1000 feet cubed
35-year-old Scott Receiver (Retailed $500 year 1972) ... Also has a transformer rating of 400VA with a 4-ohm rating for each of 2 channels/120-watt 4-ohm rating/60w at 8-ohm ... Pretty Accurate Rating.
Yamaha Home Theater Receiver Model HTR-5740 (Retail $250) ... Transformer rating of 400VA for 6 total channels rated 85w 8-ohm (realistically only get that much with 2 channel op).
Bose Model 100 Stereo Speakers (Retail ?? Approximately $200 ??) 4-inch driver in each small enclosure with an estimated tuning of 50hz (from testing) rated 50w continuous.
SCOTT used as tuner - Output of SCOTT connected to multi-ch L/R inputs of YAMAHA - BOSE connected to YAMAHA L/R speaker outputs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAIN ROOM: ~5000 feet cubed
Magnavox AV123 Dvd Player ($100 Retail a few years ago) Standard Dvd player of poor-to-mediocre quality (has a few problems) - connected using digital coax audio (Straightwire) and composite video cables
Xbox Standard Pack - Connected with digital toslink audio and composite video cables
Pioneer Elite Vsx-91txh Receiver ($1000 retail) - Transformer Rating ~800VA - 7 channels of amplification (rated 110w 8-ohm 20hz-20khz .09% THD)
KLH AV5001 Floorstanding Speakers 12" Woofs ($300 Retail for the pair) - Quality seems to be suffering - 10-300 watts recommended amplifier power 20hz-20khz :rolleyes: - Actual Usable Response to 37hz (from testing)
JBL 4311 Control Monitors 12" Woofs ($750 Retail/Pair Year 1972) - Excellent Quality - 75 Watts Continuous Rating - Rated to 40hz -3dB - Manual shows 50w 35hz sine-wave input on oscilloscope with unseen distortion nearfield; I thought that was pretty good - 25hz measured usable response - estimated tuning mid-30s of hertz
Dvd Player and Xbox connected to receiver - KLH used as mains - JBL used as surrounds - quadrophonic setup
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now that you've read all that, and you know what I am using in my setups ;), I can describe what I'm hearing.
Bedroom: I hear a full sound. The problem is I can't turn it up that loud before the drivers start hitting their limits and ports start chuffing, specifically with bass <50hz. The exact position of the instruments in the sound image seems to not be there so much though.
Main Room: The main problem I seem to be dealing with is a weakness of bass. I turn it up and the KLH seem to be bottle-neckling the system because the tweeters ring and distortion is prevalent, although this is apporaching 110dB. This is not so with the JBL. I can close my eyes and see everything in an exact position and can position myself where I'm sitting within the music. It has a thin sound compared to the system in my room.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT DOES HE LISTEN TO? ... Well, what is it that I listen to?
This really depends on what mood I'm in. Let's say it's Saturday afternoon. I decide to turn on the radio and "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath happens to be playing on the radio. I am happy with this selection (on a station I get great reception with).
Now I decide to pop in Dark Side of the Moon and turn it up quite loud. I am impressed with the very good imaging of the sound, but am disappointed with the lack of fullness and so get distracted from the music itself. The Dvd Player also has a problem where it skips sometimes (I clean it.) This is not what I want.
I go to a Christian radio station for background music while I do homework (Freshman in HS) ... I love doing homework with great sounding music.
At school, I hate it when teachers turn music on because of the horrible sound quality as it distracts me so much. One good friend of mine stuck his cheap in-ear headphones in my ears and turned his MP3 Player ALL THE WAY UP. It wasn't very loud, first of all. There was no bass whatsoever. I asked him if he had the bass turned all the way down. It was all the way up. My words were, "Are you kidding?" I got a no. He said it sounded good to him. I did not say anything. It's sad what people can pass as good sound quality. :( I could write a whole article on that, easily.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thoughts and Conclusion: I have my ideas of what I should probably do, but there might be a lot of things I'm missing too.
Needed Possible Changes I've Come Up With:
Speaker Swap: I might see if I can take the JBL Control Monitors in to have them looked at and that they're in good condition (maybe a cap replacement is needed, possibly a recone). I could then try them as mains and move the KLH to the back. This might be good.
Dvd Player Upgrade: I might need to get a better source. Garbage in - Garbage Out
Subwoofer DIY-Style I've got a subwoofer designed with an F3 of 10hz and >115dB output (according to modelling) from 10hz up. This is for both music and movies. I don't think I'd have much trouble with SQ. I have been saying the bass is missing.
Other: I could try a lot of things. I am not sure what some important things might be. Thanks for help.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope I didn't totally bore anyone who didn't skim. :p
I think it might be kind of hard not to skim due to the way I put information in.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I LEFT SOMETHING IMPORTANT OUT