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Author Topic: weak subwoofer output Charles Dale Carter Film Handler Posts: 20 From: Cary, NC Registered: Mar 2004 posted 04-21-2004 02:19 PM                        Bobby, What do you consider small room? My tv room is around 19X19. I haven't had a chance to try out any of the above folks' suggestions yet, but I will when I can get some free time away from honey-do's. What do you think of the Bose 3-2-1 system? Too good to be true from just three speakers?  |  IP: Logged Ron Lacheur Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 650 From: British Columbia, Canada Registered: Feb 2002 posted 04-21-2004 05:57 PM                     I don't recommend Bose speakers. Despite how good their marketing is, their product isn't all that great for the price you pay. Cheap drivers and their box contruction isn't that great either.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 04-21-2004 06:17 PM                     I would consider a room "small" if it measures under 225 square feet (15' X 15' approx.). My living room is just 16' X 12', a pretty small cubic area of space. With a room roughly 20' square, I might consider bumping up to a sub with a 12" driver and at least 500W of amplification. I don't like Bose products. Their systems just don't have the bottom end of a traditional surround sound speaker package (and the midrange is greatly lacking as well). On top of that, the price just isn't right. It's entry level gear at a high "mid-fi" price. For what Bose charges, you're better off spending a couple hundred or so more for a set of Paradigms. Regarding the Bose 3-2-1 speaker system, as well as ALL would-be "surround sound" 2 speaker and 3 speaker systems, none of them work as advertised. If you want REAL surround sound for DVD, DSS, HDTV, etc., you have to go with at least a six speaker setup. Lots of people get suckered into 2 and 3 speaker systems for two reasons. First, they believe all the psychoacoustical techie hype coming from companies like SRS that you can get surround sound from two speakers. Second, women latch onto the idea because there will be less stereo system hardware visible. Many ladies are more interested in making the living room look good rather than having things in the living room that makes you want to be in there (such as a kick ass home theater system). Now, if you are wanting the best home theater surround sound coverage, get a receiver and speaker package that supports Dolby Digital Surround EX and DTS-ES. Instead of having two surround sound speakers, you'll have four. One pair goes to the back wall and the other pair goes to your side walls. The better receivers will have various 5.1 and 6.1 modes to properly treat and divide speaker pairings. Still, with DD-EX, you have to be careful about enabling that with some DVDs (like "The Abyss" for instance). Many films originally mixed for 70mm Dolby mag release will feature mono surround summed across the LS and RS channels. Activating DD-EX modes on those types of DVDs will cause all the surround activity to collapse to the back wall pair of speakers.  |  IP: Logged Charles Dale Carter Film Handler Posts: 20 From: Cary, NC Registered: Mar 2004 posted 04-23-2004 05:59 PM                        Thanks for the advice fellas. I've got no plans to scale down to 3 speaker system, given your glowing denunciation of the much-touted Bose equipment. I was mostly curious what you thought of it. I'll definitely stick with the six speaker system that I've got now--just trying to improve on them. The technical expertise that eminates from this site is truly amazing to me. You have a question about airplanes? Ask me. When I have more questions about theater stuff, I'll keep coming back here!  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 04-23-2004 07:35 PM                        How many parts fall off of a DC Late on a typical landing?  |  IP: Logged Charles Dale Carter Film Handler Posts: 20 From: Cary, NC Registered: Mar 2004 posted 04-24-2004 08:27 PM                        Depends on who's flying--Captain or First Officer (or flight attendant sitting in either's lap)  |  IP: Logged Charles Dale Carter Film Handler Posts: 20 From: Cary, NC Registered: Mar 2004 posted 05-14-2004 07:12 PM                        I've finally had a chance to play around with all my speaker/amp settings following all of your advice. The output is considerable weaker in surround and DTS modes even with the changes. I think Daryl is right. I'm gonna have to buy a powered sub. Luckily, some advice there has already been given! Thanks for your help. (sorry! I meant Darryl (Spicer))  |  IP: Logged Brad Allen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 688 From: Evansville, IN, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 05-15-2004 11:19 AM                     Home speakers that will blow your socks off for a fair price. Onix Rocket speakers Charles, have you used a sound pressure meter to properly setup the sound levels of your speakers? The system will sound only as good as your setup procedures.  |  IP: Logged Ron Lacheur Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 650 From: British Columbia, Canada Registered: Feb 2002 posted 05-15-2004 01:28 PM                     The Onix Rockets have been a favorite among the Home Theater community for sometime now. They are a web based company ( like Axiom ) but offer solid performing speakers for the dollar.  |  IP: Logged Charles Dale Carter Film Handler Posts: 20 From: Cary, NC Registered: Mar 2004 posted 05-16-2004 08:57 PM                        Brad I don't even know what a sound pressure meter is, much less have one to use to set up my speakers. I use a distance setting based on seating position v. speaker location. These settings are preset into my receiver. Thanks for the sales advice on a powered sub. Those look like real nice units! I'll need to do some extra flying to get one,though.  |  IP: Logged Ron Lacheur Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 650 From: British Columbia, Canada Registered: Feb 2002 posted 05-16-2004 09:06 PM                     A sound pressure meter measures the volume of sound in decibels. It is used with a pink noise tone from a calibration dvd such as Avia or Digital Video Essentials. Most common SPL meter used for home applications is Rat Shack's Meter.  |  IP: Logged Charles Dale Carter Film Handler Posts: 20 From: Cary, NC Registered: Mar 2004 posted 05-17-2004 10:49 AM                        Thanks for the info Ron. When I get my new sub, I'll look in to buying or using a meter to fine tune system. I'm afraid, though, that my ears may not be as refined as some, but I'm willing to give it a shot.  |  IP: Logged

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