Boston Acoustics Owners Thread - Page 55

Originally Posted by zephro

Here's what I've got:

My 7.1 System driven by a Denon AVR-5308CI includes:

Fronts - A pair of VR-M90
Center - VR12
Sides - VR-MX
Rears - VR-M50
Sub - PV-1000

Bed Room 2 channel system driven by a Denon DRA-635R:

VR-M60

If anybody has a question about any of these speakers, just ask, I bought them new when they were first released and I still love them today as much as I did day 1.

Chris

Originally Posted by RMcR

Can anyone tell me whether the VR-M50s and 60s are dipole, bi-poles or monopoles?

I recently replaced my VR-M50 fronts with VR-M60s and demoted the 50s to surrounds in my 5.1 setup.

I've read various opinions about how to postion the rears and a lot of the advice depends on what kind of speaker you are working with.

Anyone care to help a brutha out?

Originally Posted by mesojdm

OoOoOoO im mega stoked...

now i just need an amp!

Originally Posted by RMcR

Another VR-M50, VR-M60 and VR12 center channel question:

In a 5.1 setup with a powered sub, should the front and center channels be set to 'small' or 'large'.

The VR-M60 has a frequency response of 51-20,000 Hz and a crossover frequency of 2,700 Hz.

I've tried different combinations of 'small', 'large', subwoofer only and subwoofer+LRF, but its hard to A/B the results since each change really begs tweaking the subwoofer controls.

Dialogue sounds a bit congested coming from my VR-12 center, especially when it's volume matched with the rest of the set up. I've used the tone controls on my Denon DVR to turn up the treble 1-2dB and turn down the bass a like amount and that has helped. But I'm wondering if the whole small vs large issue is a factor here. For what it's worth the VR12 is located directly below my stand-mounted plasma, which puts the VR-12s tweeter about 20 inches below the tweeters of my left and right front channels, which sit on 30 inch stands and thus are positioned at ear level when I am seated.

Originally Posted by zephro

In my set up, which is a little different given that I have the VR-M90's for the fronts, I have the fronts set to large and the center (a VR12) set to small. I have played with large and small for the the VR12 and I find that small sounds better in my room. As for the VR-M60's, hmmm, I would set them to large and adjust the crossover setting in the Denon for movies and for CD's to protect them for getting anything below 50 Hz. If you can't adjust the crossover manually, I would set them to small and set the subs crossover to 60Hz. You might want to run Audyssey and see what it sets the crossover to, it was very accurate for me.

Originally Posted by RMcR

I know how to set my sub's cross over -- there's a big fat knob marked crossover and I usually keep it all the way to the right for Dolby Digital on the theory that the receiver is taking care of the bass management.

I'm not sure my receiver, a decade-old Denon AVR1800, has a crossover control. I can change LFE from 0dB to -10dB, but not aware of a separate crossover setting.

My AVR also lacks Audyssey or any other type of auto setup feature.

Any pointers?

Originally Posted by zephro

I had an AVR 1800 at one point, that's a great receiver. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with custom internal bass management, however, if you set the fronts to small, than it will not send any bass signal to the fronts lower than 80 Htz. So, I would set the fronts to small and use the big fat knob on the sub marked crossover and set it to 90 Htz, which gives you a little bass overlap. Also, it's probably not a bad idea to go down to Radio Shack and get yourself a $40 sound meter. Turn the test tones on in the AVR 1800 and adjusts the frequencies of all channels to 75 Htz at the primary seating position.

Originally Posted by RMcR

Thanks, I'll give that a try. Might be time for a new receiver. But I'm having my plasma display calibrated and I think I might add some room treatments first before putting down for a new AVR (dear god, how did I sink this low?).

Meanwhile, I have a RadioShack sound meter that I use to level match my channel levels at 75 dB. Is that what you are talking about or something else?

Originally Posted by mjpuls

I love my VR20's and would not trade them for anything but another boston...However they are 2-way.

I have been comtemplating going to some used VR40's or VR3's. When I initially listened to the VR30's I decided that if I couldn't tell the difference between the 20's and 30's in a hi-fi sound room I couldn't justify the additional money.

Thinking of upgrading to 3-way VR3's from my VR20's. Has anyone had both of these and can attest that it will be a distionguishable upgrade?

How would either of these match with my current VR10 center and Subsat 6 Surrounds?

Opinions.....

Mark

Originally Posted by BluntInstrument

My shipment of CS26's, CS225 & CS Sub10 arrived last Friday. I've only hooked up the CS26's so far, and I'm glad I got the sub! They definitely lack the bass of the VR2's.
In any case, what's the average burn in time for speakers, 20-30 hrs?

Now all I need is the surround amp!

Thanks.

Originally Posted by zephro

It's typically more like 100 hours, but like new running shoes, they should sound good out of the box.

Originally Posted by BluntInstrument

Thanks Zeph, they do sound good, just a little bright at the moment.

Originally Posted by rider73873

I have been reading on these forums for awhile but never posted before.. I am still a noob to everything and would like some feedback, suggestions, and comments on what I have so far. I am a college student so I never have much money, but I always like to expand my knowledge and current components.

My current main setup

Mains: Boston Vr3's
Center: Boston Vr10
Rear: Boston Cr7's
Rec'vr: Denon AVR 988
Sub: Velodyne VRP-1000

Bedroom Setup

Bose Acoustamass 10
Rec'vr: Denon Avr 988


Couple Questions I have are...
1) Do you think the vr10 sounds good enough with the vr3's? It was a gift from my stepdad. I was planning on a vr12.
2) My Velodyne VRP-1000 seems like it isn't up to par with everything else I have right now. How do you pick the right subwoofer to match your speakers?
3) My Bose subwoofers are torn on the foam. I have a pair of Boston cr6's laying around. Should i ditch the bose and match the cr6's with the Vel VRP-1000 for my bedroom or just fix the bose sub.

Everything I have has been pieced together over time. I first received a Denon Avr-900 (I think but I dont want to pull it out from under the bed) and the cr7's when I was like 10 for my birthday. Then the cr6's for Christmas. Two years ago my Step dad bought me the velodyne because he plays tennis with one of the top management people. Finally over summer I found the vr3's in original boxes on craigslist down the street from my college apartment for $250. Once I had those I was itching for a new receiver with more power and HDMI for my plasma and PS3. I bargained down the Avr-988 to $275 at Fry's in oct 08. At the same time I was bidding on one on Ebay. Somehow the highest bidder retracted there bid or something and I won but I never realized it. 3 weeks later the 2nd Avr 988 came in the mail when I didn't even pay for it. Called up the guy and he said not to worry about it because it was his fault for sending it out without payment and informing me that I had won after the highest bidder didn't pay or retracted their bid.

Originally Posted by Slare

@rider73873

- If you are running 5.1, I would changeover your AVR-988 to bi-amp your VR3's. Those 6/7 channels are sitting there wasted and it is worth the cost of an extra set of speaker cables especially for 2 channel music listening. I had VR2's with a AVR-987 and was quite pleased with the benefit for music.

- The VR10 is a fine center and your AVR-988 has enough crossover flexibility to keep the hp frequency tweaked correctly. Your only easy choices for upgrades would be a VR12 or VR920 but I would not consider the VR10 outmatched in your setup. It's fine.

- The VX-1000 is outclassed by your VR3's. To keep things in balance most folks would recommend quite a bit nicer of a sub. Moving it to bedroom duty is a good idea. It's a merely ok entry level sub that isn't very nice at decent volumes. Fine for a 2nd system or as a music sub, not really that great for HT in a medium sized room.

- For a sub to match the VR3's, it's my opinion you should be looking for at least a model in at least the $300-500 range. I would not recommend Boston subs unless you can find a used one very cheap. The X and PV series are quite dated by now, both the XB6 and PV800 can be outperformed with a new offering at $250 or less. For something new I would start by recommending a JBL 8400, ED A2-300, HSU VTF-1, or maybe a Velodyne DPS-12 if you can find one. The VR3's are quite capable speakers and deserve a sub of at least that capability level to match with them.

Originally Posted by BluntInstrument

I'm putting my system together piecemeal, and as mentioned, still deciding on the surround receiver. So far the immediate contenders are either the Marantz SR5003/6003, or the Poineer Elite VSX-03TXH.
On paper, the Elite has a few more bells & whistles, but I've read the SR's have the nod on sound.
A bit of background on what I've been using: Rotel to drive a pair of VR2's and CR6's the the dining room. Downstairs in my studio, I mix through a pair of Adam P22As.
The surround system will be the VR2's & a CS225c center, CS26's for rears, and a CS Sub10 for the rumble.

For me sound quality is the first requirement (will be using system for SACD/DVD-A), with movies being second.
Any other suggestions other than the above are welcome, but need to be in the same $$$ ballpark.
Thanks much.

Originally Posted by zephro


Good luck and have fun ;-)

Originally Posted by BluntInstrument

Thanks! That was one of the more informative reviews on the Marantz.