Building New HI-FI HT sound system - Page 4 - Overclock.net

sonenelson · 05-26-09

I think everyone is right about the elt525's, they are the best choice for most of the people who might read this. but I am still convinced I am going to do a custom build, I put off buying some other new 'Toys' so I can invest more into this project.

sonenelson · 05-26-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by soloz2

-The Virtue Audio Virtue 2 with the big psu is a great little amp. Driving the ELT525T's was a breeze for this little amp and the mids and highs were a bit sweeter than my Marantz SR7001, but the lows were not as controlled. This was especially when I hooked up my two subs, so we listened without the subs (with both amps)
-The Oppo BDP-83 is a heck of a player, at $500 is is very, very similar to my modded Music Hall CD25.
-Everyone that has both seen and heard the ELT525's has come away impressed. One of my friends ordered a pair!

The virtue 2's 'look' cool but at 1% THD I don't think they would be much of an upgrade over my current receiver.
specs from manual

AUDIO POWER SPECIFICATIONS
POWER OUTPUT AND TOTAL
HARMONIC DISTORTION:
With 8 ohm loads, both channels driven, from
40 – 20,000 Hz; rated 110 watts per channel
minimum RMS power, with no more than
0.7 % total harmonic distortion from 250
milliwatts to rated output
Amplifier section
POWER OUTPUT
Rated Power Output at Stereo Mode
(8 ohms 40 Hz – 20 kHz, THD 0.7 %)
STR-K850P: 110 W + 110 W
Reference Power Output
(8 ohms 1 kHz, THD 0.7 %)
STR-K850P: FRONT:120 W/ch
CENTER: 120 W
SURR: 120 W/ch

XaNe · 05-26-09

FOR GOD SAKE buy the ELT525M pair that's ridiculously cheap and build a good sub woofer

sonenelson · 05-26-09

No.

I don't want wood grain and I'm going to be spending more than than I would on the elt525's, the 5.0 sale is good but I want 4 towers. but Mostly because it is a fun project and mobile audio has been one of my favorite hobbies and careers for a long time and I will enjoy expanding into custom Home Audio.

bobfig · 05-26-09

i hope when you start that you would post pics of the build

sonenelson · 05-28-09

I will post pics, plans and resources/references I have used as the project evolves.

I am debating on buying a receiver first so that once I have my speakers built I won't be frustrated by my 8 year old sony.

sonenelson · 06-01-09

After thorough research on receivers I am now convinced I need to get separate pre/amp and amp. I have read some very good reviews for NAD, although I have never owned one of there products and I'm not familiar with where they stand in the market compared to Denon, marantz, etc
From what I've read I really like the NAD T-175 pre-amp but I'm not sure yet if it's the best in it's price range yet, I have found one negative review on amazon.
http://nadelectronics.com/products/h...lifier/details
http://www.amazon.com/NAD-T-175-Surr...3831069&sr=8-1
At that price however I would have to use my sony receiver as an amp until I can afford the NAD T-975 or maybe the M25. I don't really mind, at least this way I would have HDMI audio for true 5.1

?Is a preamp like the NAD T175 really the best option, I'm pretty sure all I really need is a hi-quality 7.1DAC that accepts LPCM over hdmi, then my PS3 or PC can do all the sound processing. I just don't need all the extra multi-zone/xmradio/excessive inputs extras, but... I know some of the features would be useful.
I found these too HDMI DAC's but I don't think they have the HIFI I am looking for...

http://www.lektropacks.com/view_prod...1=126&show=126
http://www.tmfsolutions.co.uk/Octava_HDMIto71.htm

I just looked at the NAD weights, T-975=68lbs

M25=96lbs

**soloz2** · 06-01-09

for HT without breaking the bank I'd probably go with a setup like this:

Marantz SR4003 http://us.marantz.com/Products/2513.asp and use the pre-amp outputs to a nice power amp such as this:
http://emotiva.com/xpa5.shtm

Get a good amp first and a nice receiver with pre-amp outputs. Or if you're really on a budget do what I did:
I bought the best receiver I could afford lightly used. It has pre-amp outputs. The next upgrade will be to get a power amp, realistically this won't be for a year or two. Then when I'm ready to upgrade the receiver I'll get a pre-amp then. The nice receiver, while old will still be good enough for a nice secondary or bedroom setup.

sonenelson · 06-02-09

Thanks, emotiva was a great find, I had only glanced at them once before but after taking a closer look I really like what I see.
I'm planning to buy the upa-7
http://emotiva.com/upa7.shtm
http://globalmutantd.com/emotiva/amps.pdf

now I just need to find a budget/sale/open box preamp/receiver , and I'm still researching drivers for my towers.

@Soloz, why did you go with the Marantz? I noticed you usual recommend them first, along with a few others. from what I've read so far Marantz and Denon have slightly higher general build quality over Onkyo, pioneer, yamaha. NAD appears to be the best still in the high end of my price range. ?thought's agree/disagre?

I'd like to audition everything before buying but I don't think that will always be possible. What sites do you use(the most) to research and compare products.

These are most of the sites I have bookmarked for comparing products or research.

Edit: just found this, I guess we do have a thread of online retailers
http://www.overclock.net/sound-cards...ing-sites.html
Still any sites worth noting over others?

sonenelson · 06-04-09

Update on Tower design
after a very long process of elimination I have narrowed my options down but will only present my top 2-way tower choice (as of tonight).

2-way tower

TWEETER
Hi-Vi RT8II Isodynamic Tweeter 160 x 220mm, 30W, 95dB, 1.7K > 27K
http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...oducts_id=1491 $86
http://www.swanspeaker.com/product/htm/view.asp?id=18

WOOFER
Fostex FW208N 8" Woofer 100W, 90DB, 29 > 5K
http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...roducts_id=301 $174

Towers will be 42" tall 11" wide 13"deep(big I know

)
separate chamber for tweeter
3" bass port
2k Xover
1" mdf

In short I came to this conclusion buy setting a goal (hard to do at first), after some research I liked what I saw in fostex drivers(price/characterstics). So my goal was then to create a full range tower equal to or greater than the Fostex studio monitors pm mk2
http://www.fostexinternational.com/d...ies_mkII.shtml
price retail $599 avg $480 amazon $400
http://www.amazon.com/Fostex-PM-2-MK.../dp/B000F4GKLY
While studio quality was my goal I placed HT use over music. after researching the isodynamic ribbon tweeters they easily became my top choice for there 'high definition' characteristics. After my process of elimination for a midrange/woofer the 8" fostex FW208N was one of few choices left in my price range that fit with my goals for a 2way design.

my design has exceeded the cost of the fostex monitors but the value of the experience gained and having custom towers I can put my name on far out weighs the cost.

the enclosure design is based on the noah8 design
http://www.parts-express.com/project...oah8/noah8.pdf
optimized in bass box pro 6

I am starting design and research for Xover's tonight.

If everything works out I will build 2 or 4 more after buying the emotiva upa-7 and a new receiver If not I will take it as a learning experience and and try a 3-way or 2 way passive radiator design with different drivers/Xovers.

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Building New HI-FI HT sound system

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