First Speaker Build Question 7.1 - Which one?

[ani_101]

Hi

I want to build my first DIY speaker for a 7.1 build. Need some pointers for easy to build speakers.

I am leaning towards the flat pack kits offered by Erich. But do have some questions.

These seems the easiest way to go into DIY. So here's my question.

Which one for Home Theater
- Overnight Sensation TM?
- Overnight Sensation MTM?
- Nano Neo with updated crossover?

Or can i go for a combination such as
- L/R - Overnight Sensation MTM (link here)
- Surrounds - Overnight MT (link here)
-Center - Pauls OS thin center with the Hivi Tweeter (link here)

Would this combination even work or is it better to stick with 7 pieces of the same speaker?

And if i manage to build the center speaker (there is no kit available for it), can I substitute the HiVi T20 Tweeter with the Dayton ND20 one?

Regarding the Amp, do i need to get a commercial off the shelf AV receiver, or can i make do with two of the SURE/ PE 4x100 TK2050 amps?

Thanks
-Ani

[donradick]

Hi

I want to build my first DIY speaker for a 7.1 build. Need some pointers for easy to build speakers.

I am leaning towards the flat pack kits offered by Erich. But do have some questions.

These seems the easiest way to go into DIY. So here's my question.

Which one for Home Theater
- Overnight Sensation TM?
- Overnight Sensation MTM?
- Nano Neo with updated crossover?

Or can i go for a combination such as
- L/R - Overnight Sensation MTM (link here)
- Surrounds - Overnight MT (link here)
-Center - Pauls OS thin center with the Hivi Tweeter (link here)

Would this combination even work or is it better to stick with 7 pieces of the same speaker?

And if i manage to build the center speaker (there is no kit available for it), can I substitute the HiVi T20 Tweeter with the Dayton ND20 one?

Regarding the Amp, do i need to get a commercial off the shelf AV receiver, or can i make do with two of the SURE/ PE 4x100 TK2050 amps?

Thanks
-Ani

PE now has the OS kits in stock. TM for surrounds, MTM for LR. Not sure if the MTM can be used horizontally as a center channel. You will need a HTR (Onkyo or Denon about $350 min) to decode PCM / Dolby and drive the speakers properly.

[cwad8505]

Crazy timing... as Don said, the OS kit...which was JUST announced earlier today from PE. Superb deal and wonderful sound. Could implement a sub at a later time if you felt you needed a little more low end.
Chris

[djkest]

OS-MTM works great for a center channel.

How big of a room do you have, and what's your budget? I can think of some other kits that have cabinets but it depends on price.

3 OS-MTM L/C/R
4 Overnight Sensation MT (rear / surrounds)

I would highly recommend an AVR that has HDMI inputs. The best source of 7.1 currently is blu-ray disc and you'll need HDMI. I really like Audessey for room calibration. Denon, Marantz, and Onkyo/Integra have Audessey. You can also check accessories4less for some good deals on AVRs.

[ani_101]

Crazy timing... as Don said, the OS kit...which was JUST announced earlier today from PE. Superb deal and wonderful sound. Could implement a sub at a later time if you felt you needed a little more low end.
Chris

I just saw that after posting this! Looks good.... !

[ani_101]

OS-MTM works great for a center channel.

How big of a room do you have, and what's your budget? I can think of some other kits that have cabinets but it depends on price.

3 OS-MTM L/C/R
4 Overnight Sensation MT (rear / surrounds)

I would highly recommend an AVR that has HDMI inputs. The best source of 7.1 currently is blu-ray disc and you'll need HDMI. I really like Audessey for room calibration. Denon, Marantz, and Onkyo/Integra have Audessey. You can also check accessories4less for some good deals on AVRs.

My room isn't too big. It's a longish rectangle, with an open kitchen at a corner, making it L shapes. But the living area is around 15 feet by 20 feet and this is where the HT will come in. The Surrounds will be up near the wall, max of 12 inch gap, but the L/R will be in the middle of the room, over 6 ft from the back wall, and may be 3 ft from the side walls. The center will on the TV console.

My budget is around $500 for the speaker and surround, but i can go up to $1000 if it means better SQ (probably spend more on the L/R). I also need not build all 7.1 of them now, can do it in steps, but the ultimate goal is 7.1 in a couple of months time.

Since this is my first DIY, i want to start with a Kit, and then expand on from there. Building from a Kit will also give me reference point of my woodwork and fit, etc down the line.

My source is a DIY Computer that I build over chirstmas. It has Blue ray and 7.1 sound card. So i was hoping to use that along with the DIY amp. This of course doesn't have any bass management or speaker management like the receiver from onkyao, denon, yamaha, etc. I also have a Audio fire 12 in the plans, but things get added up so quickly, I need to spend in phases. But if that doesn't gain me much in flexibility, then I may as well as get an off the shelf Reciever. (the audio fire is around 400-500$, which can go towards a nice AV receiver)

Any and all suggestions are welcome.... I'd like to dive right in, but common wisdom suggest i start with dipping my toes in...!

Thanks
- Ani

[ani_101]

Any further suggestions?

Thanks
-Ani

[brenwaterys]

I built a 7.1 system using the TriTrix speakers. 4 TL MTM's for the front and rear R/L, A sealed MTM center channel and two MT's for the extra surrounds. I don't have the MT's hooked up at this point but I am very pleased with setup. This gets above your $500 budget depending on if you get the flat pack enclosures or not. I haven't really read comparisons between the TriTrix MTM and the OS MTM's except that the TriTrix are more sensative.

Good luck. Just don't make the mistake that I did. I hooked up the speakers before the enclosures had the finish applied so 9 months later I still have bare MDF speakers sitting next to my projector screen.

[ani_101]

Just don't make the mistake that I did. I hooked up the speakers before the enclosures had the finish applied so 9 months later I still have bare MDF speakers sitting next to my projector screen.

Good Advice Bren, will keep that in mind!

[johnastockman]

I just saw that after posting this! Looks good.... !

The OS MTM's across the front for left, right and center, then the OS TM's for the surround channels will be a great set-up! That way, you get the matching drivers for the complete set-up, which some say is the best way to achieve a balanced/matching sound quality through all channels. Unless there's a recommended substitution for the tweeter, go with the one that's in the plans/kit. The cabinet baffles are cut out and recessed for the specific tweeter...using a different one will require a XO re-design because of the different characteristics between the various tweeters. That will be a terrific set-up, besting most any name-brand commercial big-box-store system for far less money. Good luck and let us know how you're coming along.


John A.

[ani_101]

The OS MTM's across the front for left, right and center, then the OS TM's for the surround channels will be a great set-up! That way, you get the matching drivers for the complete set-up, which some say is the best way to achieve a balanced/matching sound quality through all channels. Unless there's a recommended substitution for the tweeter, go with the one that's in the plans/kit. The cabinet baffles are cut out and recessed for the specific tweeter...using a different one will require a XO re-design because of the different characteristics between the various tweeters. That will be a terrific set-up, besting most any name-brand commercial big-box-store system for far less money. Good luck and let us know how you're coming along.


John A.

I placed an order for a yamaha rx-v667. It has pre-outs so if i want to upgrade the amp later, there's an option. For now, i hope it will suffice my needs for processing and amp.

I placed an order for 1 pair of OS TM in parts-express while the stock was still there. Missed out on picking up another paid for the surrounds....!

That went so fast - oh, well, at least I get to play with one pair first... then on to the rest of them!

[JohnnyT]

If you are serious about the home theatre pc I would look at getting a video card that supports bit stream audio over hdmi. This is the only way you are going to get the proper/cleanest sound to movies/music and the easiest "well sorta" LINKY Also check out the AVS forums they have a lot more info on going pc to reciever to tv via hdmi and getting it all to work like it should. I have been using a media center pc with bluray into my rxv765 and it works like a champ. Let me know if you have some questions, you are now entering into a world of much confusion and will soon know more than you ever wanted about codecs, bitstreaming and hardware decoding. Building speakers is going to be cake compared to the software side. Have fun

[ani_101]

If you are serious about the home theatre pc I would look at getting a video card that supports bit stream audio over hdmi. This is the only way you are going to get the proper/cleanest sound to movies/music and the easiest "well sorta" LINKY Also check out the AVS forums they have a lot more info on going pc to reciever to tv via hdmi and getting it all to work like it should. I have been using a media center pc with bluray into my rxv765 and it works like a champ. Let me know if you have some questions, you are now entering into a world of much confusion and will soon know more than you ever wanted about codecs, bitstreaming and hardware decoding. Building speakers is going to be cake compared to the software side. Have fun

Thanks for the heads up. This is new. Now i need to find out all about bit stream audio over HDMI. surpirsingly, i am using an Asus ROG MB (ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z LGA 1155 Intel Z68), that doesn't have any video connector other than a mini HDMI. I do get audio over HDMI, but no idea abt bit stream. Well, i'll find out pretty soon!

Thanks

[JohnnyT]

Is this a gaming pc also? Or just dedicated for home theater use? If you want to play some games on it too then I would look at a better card than what I sent you. Something like THIS but it all depends on the games you are playing too and if your tv is 720p or 1080p. I don't hardly play any games on my tv but with my 5750 card company of heroes and need for speed hot pursuit run fine and 1920x1080 with average settings. Sorry to be going off on a tangent I just don't want you to spend the money and then realize it doesn't do all that you wanted. Been there done that.

[djg]

Suggest you build that pair of OSMTs before you order any more kits. You may be surprised. John Stockman's suggestion of MTMs across the front is good also if you just can't wait. I have built both and they are nice sounding speakers with a very big sound.

[cjmartiny]

im just throwing out the route im going for my HT setup.

Im using,
ZX Spectrums for Left/right
OS MMTMM for center
and OS TM for my surrounds.

as it stands i only have the OS TM built (flat packs) im waiting for the weather to get warmer so i can build the other enclosures without issues.

[ani_101]

Is this a gaming pc also? Or just dedicated for home theater use? If you want to play some games on it too then I would look at a better card than what I sent you. Something like THIS but it all depends on the games you are playing too and if your tv is 720p or 1080p. I don't hardly play any games on my tv but with my 5750 card company of heroes and need for speed hot pursuit run fine and 1920x1080 with average settings. Sorry to be going off on a tangent I just don't want you to spend the money and then realize it doesn't do all that you wanted. Been there done that.

Thanks. this would be an gaming PC eventually, but not right now. I did check out the link for the video card, while it is good for HD video, maybe a bit weak for gaming. So, i am off to figure out how to get the most efficient (budget wise) way of bit streaming.

BTW, the yamaha rx-v667 has 7.1 Multi ch audio in as well as 7.2 pre outs. And it's available for 320$ at newegg, refurbished, if anybody's interested and it's still in stock.

[ani_101]

Suggest you build that pair of OSMTs before you order any more kits. You may be surprised. John Stockman's suggestion of MTMs across the front is good also if you just can't wait. I have built both and they are nice sounding speakers with a very big sound.

I have only ordered for one pair of OSMT , so that's what i am going to build!

[ani_101]

im just throwing out the route im going for my HT setup.

Im using,
ZX Spectrums for Left/right
OS MMTMM for center
and OS TM for my surrounds.

as it stands i only have the OS TM built (flat packs) im waiting for the weather to get warmer so i can build the other enclosures without issues.

This is interesting. ZX spectrum for the L/R would also do nicely for stereo music, and the OS MMTMM looks really slick.

One question though, how would the Overnight Sensations go with the ZX spectrum? Would they match???

Also, the design for the OS MMTMM is for the Hivi tweeter, while the OS flat packs are for the Dayton Tweeter. Would they match, or can i just substitute the Dayton tweeter for the Hivi Tweeter in the OS MMTMM? The crossovers for the OS MT and the OS MTM are the same for both the daytons and the Hivi...? Anybody know?

Thanks... This is exciting!

[Paul Carmody]

I try to keep a "house sound" with a lot of my designs. So yes, the Spectrums and various OS incarnations will work just fine together.