Home Theater Direct (HTD) Owner's Thread - Page 3

Any detriment to pairing a L3 center with L2 towers?

You would be losing the benefit of matched drivers which, depending on your receiver, may unbalance your listening experience. Certainly wouldn't harm the speakers or the amp section so long as the amp can safely drive all the speakers.

well my thought process is as follows (which is probably wrong anyways).

1. I am thinking that the L3 will give me the clearer and crisper dialogue with the ribbon tweeter than the L2. Since I am using my system for 99% Movies/TV use, I would imagine that this is a good thing.

2. Since I am pairing whatever I get with a good sub (Velo 1210 now and Epik in the future), I am not too worried about lower frequencies.

Thoughts?

I would keep things matching for best sound continuity. So I would stick with either the L2 or the L3 all the way around. If you really want the ribbon tweeter center channel, but are trying to keep cost down, I would at least keep the other front speakers Level 3 as well. Maybe just stick with the bookshelfs to keep cost down if you are using a good sub. You could probably get away with Level 2s in the surrounds. But personally I would prefer to keep the same series all the way around.

Well I took a huge leap of faith and ordered a L3 Center. Ive never purchased a speaker blindly but I havent read anything bad about this company. Just got off the phone with Mike in customer service and was EXTREMELY polite and helpful.

I'll post up pics when I get it.

(VERY excited!!!!!)

I took a similar leap a few months ago. Although I ended up purchasing from The Speaker Company when they had their going out of business sale. Its scarry to purchase speakers without hearing them, but the 30 day trail period is nice. Since purchasing my speakers, I've also found out how much of a difference a room makes. My speakers started out upstairs since I was in the process of finishing my basement. When my basement was completed, I moved the speakers down stairs. I was shocked at how different the speakers sounded in a different room (unfortuneatly for the worse). But it made me realize that listening to speakers at a stereo shop is almost pointless. The room that the speakers are in can have as big of an effect on sound quality, or maybe even bigger, as the speakers themselves. So unless both sets of speakers are in the same room, you really are listening to the room as much as you are listening to the speakers. In which case its nearly pointless to listen to speakers in any room but the one you will be listening to them in.

The one caveat I would make to this is that its helpful to listen to speakers in a stereo shop because if it really sounds bad there, its a good possibility it will sound bad at home too. You may also get some idea of what the sound characteristics of a speaker are in a showroom, but again, the showroom can change dramatically the sound of the speaker. More that I ever imagined.

Anyway, let us know what you think of the Level 3. I still may change out my system for the HTD system in the future.

Thanks Fargo. Eventually, I will tackle the room characteristics issue that I have, (large room, open on both sides, vaulted ceiling).

Well after waiting 3 days, my L3 center channel arrived. It was packed double boxed with a very nice cloth bag over it. My first impression was that this thing is HUGE. and VERY heavy. At least for me it was. It is at least twice as big as my 10 year old Jamo center 100 that I had. Fit and finish is excellent. Simple yet very well put together.

I immediately notice the sound of the ribbon tweeter. Very clear and concise dialogue. And that is from watching the penguins of madagascar on directv for the millionth time. I am very looking forward to watch something on Bluray when I get the kids to sleep. The midrange/midbass from the dialogue is also much deeper. I suppose that is due to the dual 6.5in drivers as opposed to dual 4 inchers. I also noticed that I had to turn my AVR up more than on my old CC to get the same volume. But I imagine that has more to do with the very basic Sony STR-DG710 AVR that I am using. Eventually I will be upgrading this to a Onkyo/Denon/Marantz AVR with a Emotiva Amp.

Still hemming and hawing about speaker break in, as I have read just as many dont worry about it threads as I have its a big deal threads. Right now, I am just enjoying my new purchase that sounds amazing. I most defintely will be buying from Home Theater Direct again soon!!!

Are their Ceiling Speakers good? I was looking at their HD-R65 and I'm debating between those or Monoprice Ceiling speakers.

Any suggestions?

You may have pm'd me about these, but other's might want to know as well. Monoprice is great for wires, but don't waste your $$ on their speakers. for the money, HTD is fantastic. I have used their level 2's the mp's and the hd's for in-wall and in-ceiling and couldn't be happier. I didn't notice much difference in the sound between the MP's and the HD's. I have both HD W65's and R65's and am very pleased with my 7.1 surround system made entirely of HTD speakers.

Although, for you HTD sub owners, what are your impressions of the Level 3 sub. I have one, but I can't seem to get it to be as smooth as I want it. Am i going to have to go with HSU to get my intended sound? Dual Subs? My room is huge, 25x30 with a listening area of only about 15x12.

Hi.

New buyer to all home theater sound system. Looking for a quality great sounding system in a 2k budget.

Unfortunately exposed myself to B&W system but it's 6k.

Looked online and found htd. I am considering level three center, pair of level 3 bookshelves, the 8" in ceiling for my back 2. Level 3 12" sub and a onkyo 7.1 receiver at $349. I think it was the 508 model.

Questions.
1. Should I get a better receiver? I didn't mention but behind the theater I have a bar and pool table so will get two more in ceilings yo have as more sound. So need 7.1 receiver.

2. As a first time buyer of home system am I going to be floored by htd? Do experienced buyers enjoy their product?

3. I am going to have the front three up against a wall playing through speaker grill cloth fabric (kind of hidden). Am I going to regret going this route to be hidden with my speakers?

Thanks for the advice

quick question

can the in-wall speakers (such as the HD-W80) be mounted horizontally without a problem? I was planning on using it as a center

thanks

Yep. There is no problem doing that at all. We placed them like that in my moms build.

I am setting up a 6.1 system and all of my speakers except the Center Channel and Sub must be ceiling mounted. So my question is, what Center would best match the output from the HD-R80's? 99% for for Home Theater.

Talk to Mike at HTD, he'll hook you up with good advice and most likely talk you out of the 80's and tell you the 65's will handle everything you need and save you some money. That's what he told me and my basement is huge! I think the 65's are great!

Thanks for the advice. I have an email in to HTD and will report back what I find out.

Finally got a chance to hear the Level 2s and Level 3s. The Level 2s were nice but the Level 3s were phenominal. The imaging, bass response and clarity blew the Level 2s away. Easily worth double the price. Will definitely be picking these up. Come on tax refund.

Has anyone seen or considered using two of the level 2/3 center channel speakers for front surrounds as opposed to the bookshelf version? For not a huge jump in price you get an extra 5.25" mid per side. Could be fun....?

Hi, I just bought a pair of HTD Level 3 bookshelves for the front L/R. My TV console can't fit the large 23'' Level 3 center but it can fit the L2 center.

What do you guys think about using an L2 center with L3 mains?

I would ask Mike at HTD just to make sure but I don't think this is the best idea especially for the price. I wanted the best match for in-ceiling HTD speakers and really wanted the level 3 for my center. He advised against it as the level 2's are a better match. Point being the 2's and 3's are pretty different.

looking into a pair of middy's or flat panels for the BR or as an upgrade for the LR. I'm curious, how is the bass response of these speakers compared to the normal bookshelf size speaker?

The TV is mounted on the wall and the speakers will be mounted beside it and I'm trying to get away without a sub for the bedroom.... but with smaller speakers, lol.

I recently upgraded from a level 2 set I bought 6 years ago to the level 3 set and I love them! the level 2s sound great but the 3s sound more full and not quite as bright but are way crisp and clear and have a wider sound stage... they really come alive when you crank the volume but as advertised they aren't harsh at hight volumes. I would have to turn the volume down on the 2s from fatigue but not with the level 3s!

tsimonster... the middy doesn't have much bass output at all compared to the bigger bookshelves, I havn't heard the flat panels..

Flat Pnaels to around 80 hz - The bookshelves play lower. The Middy's
no lower than 100 hz. The Flat panel sounds a little better than the
Level Two's, except for the bass.

Any Level 2 owner's out there care to comment on their sound? I'm still debating between them and a set up from Elemental Designs. I'm most concerned about the center channel for dialogue in movies as my small HTiB center doesn't cut it. I would be getting the Level 2 Center and Level 2 Towers.

The only way I could make the jump to the Level 3's would be to get the bookshelfs for the front instead of the tower's - which I don't really want to do because I wont have a really great sub yet (BIC v1220).

Any help is greatly appreciated - Thanks.

The level twos sound awesome and play just as loud as the threes. the biggest difference between them is the tonal quality from the ribbon tweeter, and the threes have a larger sound stage and better imaging. I used the twos for six years and everyone that came over to watch movies always said my setup sounded better than the local theater. The level three bookshelf puts out way more bass than the twos but I don't know how they compare to the level two towers. I would call htd and ask them about how much bass they output compared to the 3 bookshelves. If they are comparable, I would definitely get the level three set. You will bs happy with either set! Htd produce awesome speakers. The center channel reproduces dialog very naturally and sounds tons better than my uncles infinity center channel.

Thanks for the info. I'm also concerned about having the THREE Bookshelves on stands with little kids running around. Don't want to risk something falling... Given that, I may just end up ordering the Level Two Center and Bookshelves, test them out in my listening area and see how I like them. I'd order the Towers to test but they don'y pay for the return shipping on the Towers.

I'm not too concerned about the bass output on the Towers as I'm sure its more than enough given I have a BIC v1220 to handle the load.

I just keep going back and forth between the HTD Level Two and Elemental Designs A6.t Towers and A6.mtm center...Maybe I'll save a few more months and just get the Level Three Towers and Center...

Level three towers would be awesome! I would have gotten them but couldnt afford them. If you wait and get the threes, you might not have the urge to upgrade in a few years!

LOL Whatever I get will have to last A LOT longer than a few years. The wife wouldn't be thrilled about constant speaker purchases

I would love to get the Level 3 Towers but that would require much more saving..hmm

I'm saving up for the Level 3 towers. The difference is night and day in regards to sound quality. Also great selling point for me was the Level 3 towers had great bass response down to around 30hz so I wouldn't have to have a sub right away.