[canuck09]

I've just ordered a new Samsung LN52A750 TV and would like to buy something to improve the sound a little. I currently rent a condo so I don't want anything super loud and don't have the space for speakers everywhere. I was leaning towards a sound bar, and after the reading I've done here the Sony CT100 (if I can find one in stock in Vancouver, BC). The problem I have is that my living room is a pretty bad layout for TV and HT setups. I've drawn up what my layout is like, see below:

On the far left wall there is a huge sliding glass door that's 10'6" long with vertical blinds covering it. The TV is on a swivel stand so it's pointed at the couch most of the time but moves pending whether we're in the kitchen or at the bar. I would mount the sound bar just below the TV so it would swivel with it.


I'm currently running a HD cable box, PS3 (for games and Blu Ray) and 360. From what I've read the CT100 will work well with all my gear, just not sure if the space will kill any chance of getting a decent surround sound experience.


Should I give up hope on getting good sound on anything? Anything affordable that would suit my room better than the CT100?


Thanks for your help!

 

[da1writer]



Quote:
Originally Posted by canuck09 /forum/post/15457543


I've just ordered a new Samsung LN52A750 TV and would like to buy something to improve the sound a little. I currently rent a condo so I don't want anything super loud and don't have the space for speakers everywhere. I was leaning towards a sound bar, and after the reading I've done here the Sony CT100 (if I can find one in stock in Vancouver, BC). The problem I have is that my living room is a pretty bad layout for TV and HT setups. I've drawn up what my layout is like, see below:

On the far left wall there is a huge sliding glass door that's 10'6" long with vertical blinds covering it. The TV is on a swivel stand so it's pointed at the couch most of the time but moves pending whether we're in the kitchen or at the bar. I would mount the sound bar just below the TV so it would swivel with it.


I'm currently running a HD cable box, PS3 (for games and Blu Ray) and 360. From what I've read the CT100 will work well with all my gear, just not sure if the space will kill any chance of getting a decent surround sound experience.


Should I give up hope on getting good sound on anything? Anything affordable that would suit my room better than the CT100?


Thanks for your help!

I've seen alot worse (open hall ways on both sides of the room), I'm sure the CT100 will be fine. Make sure you have the Sub (which is included with the CT100 unit) on the right side of your TV/Stand. The Sub needs to at least have a foot or more away from your Fireplace (more of the Sub needs to be hugging the TV/Stand) in order for it to breathe properly and give you a better surround field (don't ask why or how, it's mentioned in the manual).

Make sure when you get the CT100 that you set it up properly. You can check the link in my sig below and also post in the main CT100 thread in this forum if you have any further questions.


Side note: I recommend you to get the CT100 from a store that doesn't have restocking fees just in case you don't like the way the CT100 sounds. If you don't like the CT100, go for the Yamaha soundbars if you are concerned about not wanting to deal with wires and clutter (aka still prefer soundbars).

 

[canuck09]



Quote:
Originally Posted by da1writer /forum/post/15458007


I've seen alot worse (open hall ways on both sides of the room), I'm sure the CT100 will be fine. Make sure you have the Sub (which is included with the CT100 unit) on the right side of your TV/Stand. The Sub needs to at least have a foot or more away from your Fireplace (more of the Sub needs to be hugging the TV/Stand) in order for it to breathe properly and give you a better surround field (don't ask why or how, it's mentioned in the manual).

Make sure when you get the CT100 that you set it up properly. You can check the link in my sig below and also post in the main CT100 thread in this forum if you have any further questions.


Side note: I recommend you to get the CT100 from a store that doesn't have restocking fees just in case you don't like the way the CT100 sounds. If you don't like the CT100, go for the Yamaha soundbars if you are concerned about not wanting to deal with wires and clutter (aka still prefer soundbars).

Thanks for the response! I've seen you post a lot about this unit so was hoping you might respond.


You mentioned sub placement of right of the TV, that's meaning when looking at the TV right? Place it between the TV and fireplace? I assumed that the sub should go close to the fireplace, always thought they were supposed to be close to walls/corners. The TV stand I use is a Sonax, one where the TV mounts to the stand like a wall, so it's pretty small and not a lot to bounce the bass off of. That would also allow me to hide it a lot better than being in the middle of the living room.


As I mentioned in my post I'm having trouble tracking one of these units down in a store local to me. I'm sure it will sound great but I'd like to have the option of a no hassle return either way. I'll have to keep hunting...

 

[da1writer]



Quote:
Originally Posted by canuck09 /forum/post/15458128


Thanks for the response! I've seen you post a lot about this unit so was hoping you might respond.


You mentioned sub placement of right of the TV, that's meaning when looking at the TV right? Place it between the TV and fireplace? I assumed that the sub should go close to the fireplace, always thought they were supposed to be close to walls/corners. The TV stand I use is a Sonax, one where the TV mounts to the stand like a wall, so it's pretty small and not a lot to bounce the bass off of. That would also allow me to hide it a lot better than being in the middle of the living room.


As I mentioned in my post I'm having trouble tracking one of these units down in a store local to me. I'm sure it will sound great but I'd like to have the option of a no hassle return either way. I'll have to keep hunting...

Q: You mentioned sub placement of right of the TV, that's meaning when looking at the TV right?

A: Correct, When you are facing the TV the Sub should be on the right side of the stand/TV.


Q: Place it between the TV and fireplace? I assumed that the sub should go close to the fireplace, always thought they were supposed to be close to walls/corners.

A: True but the speaker where the sub outputs sound is on the right side of the sub. You putting it close to the fireplace will not only muffle the sound most likely but also not allow the CT100's Sub to breathe. Also the farther away from the wall it is, the better (bigger) the surround field will get. This is mentioned in the CT100 manual, top of page page 7. A foot or two is fine though...

 

[canuck09]



Quote:
Originally Posted by da1writer /forum/post/15458229


Q: You mentioned sub placement of right of the TV, that's meaning when looking at the TV right?

A: Correct, When you are facing the TV the Sub should be on the right side of the stand/TV.


Q: Place it between the TV and fireplace? I assumed that the sub should go close to the fireplace, always thought they were supposed to be close to walls/corners.

A: True but the speaker where the sub outputs sound is on the right side of the sub. You putting it close to the fireplace will not only muffle the sound most likely but also not allow the CT100's Sub to breathe. Also the farther away from the wall it is, the better (bigger) the surround field will get. This is mentioned in the CT100 manual, top of page page 7. A foot or two is fine though...

Sounds good, theres sufficient room for the sub in there.


Another question regarding hooking everything up....From reading it seems best to run my PS3, 360 and cable box directly to the CT100, then to my TV from there. Does this mean that I would have to run the sound bar all the time and only be able to get sound through it and not just the TV? As mentioned I live in a condo and I wouldn't need the surround/bass at all times.

 

[da1writer]



Quote:
Originally Posted by canuck09 /forum/post/15458694


Sounds good, theres sufficient room for the sub in there.


Another question regarding hooking everything up....From reading it seems best to run my PS3, 360 and cable box directly to the CT100, then to my TV from there. Does this mean that I would have to run the sound bar all the time and only be able to get sound through it and not just the TV? As mentioned I live in a condo and I wouldn't need the surround/bass at all times.

Q: From reading it seems best to run my PS3, 360 and cable box directly to the CT100, then to my TV from there.

A: Correct, best route to do things, HDMI for easiest setup in my opinion.


Q: Does this mean that I would have to run the sound bar all the time and only be able to get sound through it and not just the TV?

A: Well I don't recommend having the speakers and CT100 on at the same time (sound with both). Reason being is because most soundbars produce their surround by using cross canceling delay. This means that the sound coming out of the CT100 will be delayed a second or two in order to split into different channels to produce 5.1 or 7.1 (or 6.1) surround sound. It's not noticeable at all.. until you have the TV speakers on at the same time, you get a somewhat echoing effect (TV does sound and CT100's sound follows a second or two after) that just doesn't sound natural. You can however, just have the HDMI Control: ON in order to have switching. What this means (when it comes to HDMI Control: ON) is that when the CT100 is on, sound will be outputted from the CT100. Now when the CT100 is turn OFF, or in this case "Standby" (via HDMI Control: ON), the CT100 passes all sound through itself to the TV... so you get sound out of the TV speakers. I can't vouch on how/if it works due to me being "Bravia Synced" but I was told this is possible.

 

[canuck09]



Quote:
Originally Posted by da1writer /forum/post/15459000


Q: From reading it seems best to run my PS3, 360 and cable box directly to the CT100, then to my TV from there.

A: Correct, best route to do things, HDMI for easiest setup in my opinion.


Q: Does this mean that I would have to run the sound bar all the time and only be able to get sound through it and not just the TV?

A: Well I don't recommend having the speakers and CT100 on at the same time (sound with both). Reason being is because most soundbars produce their surround by using cross canceling delay. This means that the sound coming out of the CT100 will be delayed a second or two in order to split into different channels to produce 5.1 or 7.1 (or 6.1) surround sound. It's not noticeable at all.. until you have the TV speakers on at the same time, you get a somewhat echoing effect (TV does sound and CT100's sound follows a second or two after) that just doesn't sound natural. You can however, just have the HDMI Control: ON in order to have switching. What this means (when it comes to HDMI Control: ON) is that when the CT100 is on, sound will be outputted from the CT100. Now when the CT100 is turn OFF, or in this case "Standby" (via HDMI Control: ON), the CT100 passes all sound throughitslef to the TV... so you get sound out of the TV speakers. I can't vouch on how/if it works due to me being "Bravia Synced" but I was told this is possible.

Excellent info! Thanks for all your help!!