7.1 on an $1800 DIY budget

I have been tasked by my father to make the HT in his new home sound like the one in mine. I think I can get him close, until we get to the subs. The floor plan is open, with the kitchen/dining area behind the main seating, three ajoining hallways, tall ceilings, tile floor, floor to ceiling glass on the long wall. They want for the mains, sub, and center to be in cabinet on the floor that is 12' long and 2' tall, with a 70' plasma screen above it. The builder won't let us do anything until the home has closed, my mother says "no!" on in or on-wall mains, or horn subs in the ceiling. The surrounds in the ceiling with unlimited space in the attic above. Two more surrounds in a different area on a different channel.

Here is what I am thinking, but I really need you guys to throw in some ideas, especially with the DIY main, surrounds, sub build options. 4.6 cubes max on sub.

Onkyo 717 - not included in budget #s

mains
Zaph ZDT3.5 - around $250 each
http://zaphaudio.com/ZDT3.5.html

center
Zaph ZD3C - around $250 each

surrounds
Classix II kit - around $100 each x 6
http://meniscusaudio.com/classixii-pair-p-1333.html

sub
Dayton RSS460 HO 18" - $250
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=295-472&utm_source=Retail&utm_medium=Email_Newsletter&utm_content=295-472&utm_campaign=email092012

Dayton 1000w plate amp $270


Thanks for your input,
Doug
Edited by d_c - 12/27/12 at 8:25pm

I didn't even think of IB - it is one that I have never used and I know almost nothing about it. What would you recommend Brian?

Totally agree. For the kind of money they are forking over, you would think that there would be some freedom. The won't let them even add an outlet if it is not in one of their model options - literally. The builder's electrician will add each one for $120 after the closing, and it won't pass the inspection if you sneak in with your $5 in supplies and add one yourself. Typical Naples golf course community thing. They will drop cable for up to 7.1 surround per the contract and I will run the RF and other wiring out to the patio. They want to keep it clean, so we don't turn off a future buyer that is afraid of too much aftermarket-looking "speaker stuff" that we folk think is necessary. The restriction of the mains on the floor and under 24" already screws up axis...

Cool site, thanks for the link. i am interested to hear a few IB drivers in an array or manifold as they suggest. I think a look at these is in order as two 15's IB mounted in a manifold in the ceiling directly above and inbetween the mains would leave some room in the cabinetry. The opening for an IB manifold can be as small as 15 x 12" but the output would still be much less than a single 18 sealed, and more money with a large hole in the ceiling. I would move to an 18" THTPL in the ceiling if that size vent was accepted by the CEO (my mother). I have 8 sheets of Arauco on order from HD for my build of these in my own basemnent HT #2. This idea of a THTLP for my parents project was already shot down. So the IB solution would be out as well.

Those all look nice. I have been been looking at Troels' DTQWT MkII using the Deltalite 2510's for a 2c setup for myself. I like the idea of those with the waveguide for the fronts... very interested there. Do you have these, or have you heard them? I like the JBL monitors, but would really like to build each part. I'll keep my eyes on them though. The cheapest I see are $550 for a pair so far, but I only looked for a few minutes there. I forgot about the SI sub. I need to model that against the Dayton. Thanks for the ideas!

edit: The SI is top of the list so far, as long as it ships. Neither the SI or 18" Dayton are shipping now. I just assumed it was more expensive. That one is a steal as long as it is quality.
Edited by d_c - 12/26/12 at 6:21pm

Brian - I definitely don't know much about them, but the nutshell version that I took away from the IB site was that even though comparing IB with confined enclosures is apples to oranges; two IB 15s is about what one enclosed 15 would be, with a more accurate sound coming from the IB system. The manifold is still IB using the attic as the enclosure taking up less real estate in the ceiling. The Cult of the Infintely Baffled FAQ states, "...a single 15" in a ported or seal box can play quite a bit louder (be driven harder) than a single 15" mounted in an IB. So depending on the room, the listener, and other variables, it can take 2 to 4 times more drivers in an IB, to equal the output of a box sub."

I might love 'em, but I can't use this for this project. I appreciate the awesome idea though and IB is definitely on my radar for a rainy day at my own house.

Any other ideas for DIY mains or surrounds?

So far the ZDT 3.5, SEOS-12, JBL8340, Nat P...

modula MT for surrounds and patio, about $110 each:
http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=13154
Edited by d_c - 12/27/12 at 8:56am

oops, I meant 1000w plate amp, which I could jump to the EP4000 for another $5 since I will most likely be going sealed on this sub

I agree that for you or me it would be better for expansion. I thought for my dad a plate amp would be like having an "Easy" button. My parents are at my house for 2 weeks over the holidays and each night we watch a movie. After last night I mentioned that if we went to a pro amp and the SI 18, we could get closer to my low end levels than with just 1000w on the plate. He says "do it!" I run two CSS SDX15s tuned to 19hz with an EP4000 bridged for each sub. Sounds pretty decent.

Sub duty is complete. SI 18 D2 powered by an iNuke 1000DSP, cable, enclosure, finish: $545


For the surround, I chose a design sold by the guys at Meniscus Audio. It is the Classix II with a Vifa DPJ38 Tweeter and Dayton Classic 6.5" woofer, detailed crossover designed for the budget drivers. I have already put two together for testing, and they sound fantastic, especially for a $155 pair, ridiculous actually. I gave them a listen over several beers tonight - enough that I shouldn't be anywhere near the internet.

It looks terrible, but it's accurate in parameters for the sound.

Here are some photos of my build for the final enclosures.






I use a razor sharp chisel to push the MDF, very little finish to do after

Edited by d_c - 2/1/13 at 9:09pm

I built these 6 of these guys the other day, not pretty, but they will do the job.


The tight fit for now

So anyways , I delete 2 letters for every one I type due to it being Friday and beer is delicious, so I'll give a more detailed account of what I'm doing here when my head hurts more tomorrow.