2.1 Altec theater?
December 14, 2007
I have a small room set up as a mini home theater where a
Sony HDTV is built into the wall along with the usual cable and DVD setup. What I would
like to do is add a surround-sound system, but the design of the room makes the
installation of rear speakers a no-no. As the room is small (11’ x 14’) and the
main viewing is TV programming and DVD movies, I was thinking a 2.1 system by Altec
Lansing (PT6021). This would be simple to install, but would it do the job? My budget and
musical tastes are such that spending a lot does not make a lot of sense, but I would like
something better than the current TV-set sound. I realize that this is not a high-tech
question, but a real duffer trying to buy the right thing. Can you help?
Bob
The Altec system you are considering is designed for a
computer setup, but that does not mean you can’t use it for a small stereo system. I
do think it would be better than what is built into your television set. The addition of a
small subwoofer, and the multiple drivers in the speakers, will provide fuller-range sound
and no doubt play a touch louder. There are better options in my opinion, however, one of
which is a set of good bookshelf speakers such as the Paradigm Atom Monitor v.5 or the
Axiom M3 v2. Both of these small speakers would sound better than the Altec system in the
application you would be using them, and cost about the same money.
Speaker choices
December 7, 2007
I would like to purchase a new pair of speakers in order to
complete my home theater. I have read that bookshelf speakers, not those intended
expressly for surround use, are good to use in the rear positions. Can you confirm that
this is true? I don’t want to spring for the dedicated surrounds, and the bookshelf
models are more attractive to me anyway.
Ted
Many companies don’t make dedicated surround
speakers per se, but do in fact market their smaller bookshelf models as surround
speakers. A good speaker is a good speaker, whether used for surround duty or as main
listening speakers. The only exception might be an application where a dipole speaker is
needed due to the close proximity to the listening position, but this is not even a
set-in-stone rule. So yes, I can confirm that using a bookshelf speaker in the surround
position is just fine and completely common.
Bose speakers and a new receiver?
December 4, 2007
I have an old Bose Lifestyle 12 system. The receiver is
pretty worthless -- no input/output options. I want to upgrade to a new home-theater
receiver with HDMI switching capabilities, but I cannot afford to replace my speakers and
sub right now. Is it possible to hook a different brand receiver up to the Bose
Acoustimass module and cube speakers? If so, any recommendations?
T.J.
Bose typically uses their electronics to shape the
sound of their speakers. In other words, they use active equalization to achieve the sound
they are after. I can’t tell you if this is the case with all of their speakers,
however, so I’m not 100% sure in your case. Perhaps the most prudent idea would be to
borrow a receiver from a friend or a store and see if it will work in your setup. I sure
wouldn’t buy one to only find out that you can’t use it.
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