A $600 7.1 speaker system?
July 11, 2005
I have just entered the world of home theater and managed
to acquire a Yamaha RX-V650, which is a 7.1 receiver, but the problem is that I have not
gotten hold of speakers for it. Kindly advise which 7.1 speakers would go with the
receiver. My room size is 6m x 4m, which is small, and therefore I need wall-mounted
satellite-type speakers and a decent subwoofer. I would be listening to all kinds of music
and watch movies, too, on the same system. I have a 29" Sony Wega flatscreen TV and
Pioneer DVD player to go with it. I am in India, so availability is a problem. I would be
seeking the help of my friend in Dubai to source the speakers, but carrying them would be
inconvenient, so a compact system is requested. My budget is about $600-$700.
Atmaram Deshpande
Your best bet is a packaged system -- one where all the
satellites and the subwoofer come in one box from the same maker. Companies such as
Athena, JBL, Infinity, and Energy are just a few to watch for. Not only will a system like
this be affordable and easy to carry, but the subwoofer is typically tuned to work
specifically with the speakers with little or no fuss. Good subwoofer integration is a key
to good sound from such systems. Buying a packaged system is cost effective, too, and they
can sometimes be found on sale in large stores or even online. I'd not rule out sources
such as eBay, since you obviously have Internet capability. The large shipping companies
advertise that they can ship anywhere, so I'd suspect you'd be able have something shipped
in that was not available to you locally, expanding your possibilities.
Inexpensive receiver
July 6, 2005
I am looking for a receiver priced below $180 that has
6.1-channel sound capability for my new home theater. Are you aware of any model that
might fit that description? I'd also like it to have Dolby Pro Logic IIx.
Kent
The Pioneer VSX-515 fits the description. It is rated
at 110W x 6 and features DPLIIx as well as Windows Media Audio 9. It commonly sells for
under $175 online. It is also rated to drive speakers of 6-ohm impedance, which may give
you a little more flexibility when it comes to choosing your loudspeaker system.
Subwoofer "bottoming?"
July 5, 2005
I'm wondering if you can help me. On loud peaks during
movies -- like explosions or car crashes -- my subwoofer makes a crackling, thudding
sound. It doesn't do it during normal music or lighter effects. Is what I'm describing
known as "bottoming" the woofer? Will it damage the subwoofer if it keeps
happening? What should I do?
T. Kish
I have heard the term bottoming when describing a driver
reaching its physical limits. You're essentially hearing the woofer in your sub reach its
maximum excursion and stopping abruptly. Repeated instances of this will surely damage the
driver at some point, making replacement a necessity. You either need to turn the output
level down, add another subwoofer to reach the same volume with less stress on that
subwoofer, or simply replace the subwoofer you have with a more powerful unit capable of
higher output.
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