Hi!
We are moving to a new house, and listening to music and having background music is a large part of our (my) life, and so I have everything all wired up for several zones of music and a theater, but I have yet to nail down a few aspects (mostly amplifiers) so I am looking for feedback.
I know that I could have had one large streamer and a multi-channel amp. But I had a lot of this gear beforehand and got a lot of significant sales and used. So I am trying to piece together a system with the gear I already have. So it is a question of what is best to mix and match and what should go where. And then what amps to put with them?
The main way that I listen to music is via Spotify and controlled by Alexa voice commands (as our kids don't and won't be having cellphones anytime soon).
Proposed plan and questions:
Basement theater - The main area that I care about. I can do anything I want with this space as it truly is a 'man cave'. Want it good for critical listening but also rocking for movies and 7.2.4 atmos.
Receiver = Denon AVR X4400H
Speakers:
Front L & R (phantom center) = DIYSG HTM 12 v2
Surrounds and rear = Energy e-XL speakers
Atmos top rear = crappy, small Sony satellite speakers
Atmos top front pre out (as the Denon can't power all these channels) -> Fosi Audio TPA3116 Mini -> crappy Sony satellite speakers
Sub pre out - Behringer iNUKE 3000 with dsp - Two Mach Audio 18" subs in two Marty Cubes.
Future upgrade = sub output split also to a Behringer NX6000D → Two 18" subs for hoverEZ system (should be fun!)
Questions: Would there be any benefit in getting an amp (or separates like the Fosi audio v3 mono) for the front two speakers and then that would free up the small fosi amp somewhere else? Would a dedicated amp for the L+R be beneficial, or just help with measured numbers but not be notable? Also where would that smaller fosi amp go? Or should I just keep it as is.
Livingroom - want good sound, want it to be able to play a little louder, but won't focus on soundstage at all as it's too dynamic of a location. Want a subwoofer out here.
Streamer +/- DAC = WiiM Pro
+/- DAC / AMP = Sony receiver (Sony STR-DE497/S I think…. I suspect it is not too great) as DAC and amp
Speakers = Energy Connoisseur C-2
Sub output = DIY sub with plate amp.
Questions: Should I use my Douk Audio A5 here or in the sunroom? Or should I get another Douk Audio A5 here or would you recommend it somwhere else?
Sunroom - want good sound and soundstage, but this is the one area that needs good WAF and limited treatments and size). Want a subwoofer out here.
Streamer +/- DAC = WiiM pro
Amp = Suggestions welcome!
Speakers = Mechano23 Open-source DIY Speakers - I think this is the best place for them eh? As would have great fidelity, but not enough output for the theater. And these would be wasted on the living room setup as soundstage not important there.
Sub - for sure will get one in here, yet to be purchased or use an extra old one that I have
Questions: Is this the best place for the Mechano23 Open-source DIY Speakers?
Should I use the Douk Audio A5 here or in the livingroom? Or should I get another Douk Audio A5 here or would you recommend something else? I would want something with a subwoofer out.... unless you could just do a Y splitter off the WiiM output before the amp and steal the signal that way. Don't know if having a HPF on the Mechano23 is a good idea as well.
Kitchen/dining room: Ceiling speakers that can join in with the living room when the whole house needs to party. Could be mono output to these 4 speakers or have stereo L+R if just as economical.
Streamer / DAC = WiiM mini vs Sonos
Amp = Suggestions welcome.
Speakers = x4 Crestron - Saros CE6T-W-T (88.5 dB sensitivity)
Sub - none
Questions: Should I steal that small fosi amp from the basement for here? But I suspect it would be able to drive them loud enough.
Should I wire the 4 speakers in Series-Parallel configuration so they have the same end resistance? Then would need a mono amp eh? Or could I wire the L and R in parallel, but then I would have 4ohm resistance and then need am amp that could handle this right? Sorry this is not my fortae. Happy to receive recommendations for the amp and how to wire it.
Bedroom and Ensuite - Just want minimal music here, nothing fancy.
Streamer = WiiM mini vs Sonos
Amp = Suggestions welcome.
Speakers = Polk Audio SC 80-IPR x2 (90db sensitivity) (one speaker in the bathroom, one in bedroom)
Questions: I think I will have this converted to a mono signal (as I know the WiiM can do that) and then change level of L vs R fading for the level of bathroom vs bedroom volume control. Seem reasonable? Maybe the small fosi amp would work here? If not, what would you recommend?
Any specific thoughts or suggestions?
Any global thoughts or suggestions?
We are moving to a new house, and listening to music and having background music is a large part of our (my) life, and so I have everything all wired up for several zones of music and a theater, but I have yet to nail down a few aspects (mostly amplifiers) so I am looking for feedback.
I know that I could have had one large streamer and a multi-channel amp. But I had a lot of this gear beforehand and got a lot of significant sales and used. So I am trying to piece together a system with the gear I already have. So it is a question of what is best to mix and match and what should go where. And then what amps to put with them?
The main way that I listen to music is via Spotify and controlled by Alexa voice commands (as our kids don't and won't be having cellphones anytime soon).
Proposed plan and questions:
Basement theater - The main area that I care about. I can do anything I want with this space as it truly is a 'man cave'. Want it good for critical listening but also rocking for movies and 7.2.4 atmos.
Receiver = Denon AVR X4400H
Speakers:
Front L & R (phantom center) = DIYSG HTM 12 v2
Surrounds and rear = Energy e-XL speakers
Atmos top rear = crappy, small Sony satellite speakers
Atmos top front pre out (as the Denon can't power all these channels) -> Fosi Audio TPA3116 Mini -> crappy Sony satellite speakers
Sub pre out - Behringer iNUKE 3000 with dsp - Two Mach Audio 18" subs in two Marty Cubes.
Future upgrade = sub output split also to a Behringer NX6000D → Two 18" subs for hoverEZ system (should be fun!)
Questions: Would there be any benefit in getting an amp (or separates like the Fosi audio v3 mono) for the front two speakers and then that would free up the small fosi amp somewhere else? Would a dedicated amp for the L+R be beneficial, or just help with measured numbers but not be notable? Also where would that smaller fosi amp go? Or should I just keep it as is.
Livingroom - want good sound, want it to be able to play a little louder, but won't focus on soundstage at all as it's too dynamic of a location. Want a subwoofer out here.
Streamer +/- DAC = WiiM Pro
+/- DAC / AMP = Sony receiver (Sony STR-DE497/S I think…. I suspect it is not too great) as DAC and amp
Speakers = Energy Connoisseur C-2
Sub output = DIY sub with plate amp.
Questions: Should I use my Douk Audio A5 here or in the sunroom? Or should I get another Douk Audio A5 here or would you recommend it somwhere else?
Sunroom - want good sound and soundstage, but this is the one area that needs good WAF and limited treatments and size). Want a subwoofer out here.
Streamer +/- DAC = WiiM pro
Amp = Suggestions welcome!
Speakers = Mechano23 Open-source DIY Speakers - I think this is the best place for them eh? As would have great fidelity, but not enough output for the theater. And these would be wasted on the living room setup as soundstage not important there.
Sub - for sure will get one in here, yet to be purchased or use an extra old one that I have
Questions: Is this the best place for the Mechano23 Open-source DIY Speakers?
Should I use the Douk Audio A5 here or in the livingroom? Or should I get another Douk Audio A5 here or would you recommend something else? I would want something with a subwoofer out.... unless you could just do a Y splitter off the WiiM output before the amp and steal the signal that way. Don't know if having a HPF on the Mechano23 is a good idea as well.
Kitchen/dining room: Ceiling speakers that can join in with the living room when the whole house needs to party. Could be mono output to these 4 speakers or have stereo L+R if just as economical.
Streamer / DAC = WiiM mini vs Sonos
Amp = Suggestions welcome.
Speakers = x4 Crestron - Saros CE6T-W-T (88.5 dB sensitivity)
Sub - none
Questions: Should I steal that small fosi amp from the basement for here? But I suspect it would be able to drive them loud enough.
Should I wire the 4 speakers in Series-Parallel configuration so they have the same end resistance? Then would need a mono amp eh? Or could I wire the L and R in parallel, but then I would have 4ohm resistance and then need am amp that could handle this right? Sorry this is not my fortae. Happy to receive recommendations for the amp and how to wire it.
Bedroom and Ensuite - Just want minimal music here, nothing fancy.
Streamer = WiiM mini vs Sonos
Amp = Suggestions welcome.
Speakers = Polk Audio SC 80-IPR x2 (90db sensitivity) (one speaker in the bathroom, one in bedroom)
Questions: I think I will have this converted to a mono signal (as I know the WiiM can do that) and then change level of L vs R fading for the level of bathroom vs bedroom volume control. Seem reasonable? Maybe the small fosi amp would work here? If not, what would you recommend?
Any specific thoughts or suggestions?
Any global thoughts or suggestions?
Last edited:
