Putting together a budget (as in frugally cheap) 2 channel system, help!

[poppachubby]

But it sounds like the back wall needs to be addressed first. .

Right, focus on one thing at a time. This way we can "measure" the effect or usefullness of an addition, and decide whether or not it helps. Too many things at once can create alot of uncertainty about what is actually helping, hurting or even just altering the environment. If we don't like something, we simply undo it.

Another thought, aside from the wall which we know we want to damp, it's best to approach each step with a "test" before committing to it. Obviously, we are doing this on a budget in the first place. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if at all possible, we would want to put up a cheap or already avaialble material to test it. If the desired results appear, consider a permanent solution which may also take into account things like size, appearance and sometimes, odor (old, mildew piece of foam, y'know?).

Once the foam is acquired, make sure to keep a piece or two so that you can do this.

[IRG]

You know the foam they sell at places like Wal-Mart? It's sold as a sleeping product. Buy enough to cover the entire wall. Next, you would find either a sheet or covering to cover the more than ugly foam. You may try to find the foam at a used store

Got a link to this foam product you're thinking about? I'm not sure what this might be, been searching walmart, homedepot for something similar, haven't found it yet.

[poppachubby]

I'll upload a photo of one that I have. It will also play a key role in damping your ductwork, and making some DIY bass traps.

[blackraven]

Hey IRG, I just ordered that Yammy DVD S1800 for myself. Its too good a deal to pass up ($79 for a player that sold for about $450) for an SACD/DVD-A player that has gotten good reviews. It will be used in one of my secondary systems or I may give it to one of my Kids.

[IRG]

Hey IRG, I just ordered that Yammy DVD S1800 for myself. Its too good a deal to pass up ($79 for a player that sold for about $450) for an SACD/DVD-A player that has gotten good reviews. It will be used in one of my secondary systems or I may give it to one of my Kids.

Cool! I thought so too, just too good of a player to pass up. As a good dvd player, I'm sure it's better than what I have now, so if I don't use it in my audio system, I'll put it to good use in the av system - which is very un state of the art, lol.

Could this also be used soley as a transport, with a optical cable to a DAC, and then the DAC to your receiver/preamp? Might not be bad fot that either.

[blackraven]

You could definitely use it as a transport. It may end up in my main system as transport for standard Cd playback and also with analog connection to use as an SACD player till I buy the Oppo BD-83se which will be used for Blu-Ray and SACD. Currently I'm using my modified Music Hall 25.2 cdp as a transport, but I would like to use it in my secondary system.

I should get the yammy in about a week and I'll post a review. I think it will end up being a nice budget Cd player as a decent SACD player. It also plays DVD audio which is a bonus.

[IRG]

You could definitely use it as a transport. It may end up in my main system as transport for standard Cd playback and also with analog connection to use as an SACD player till I buy the Oppo BD-83se which will be used for Blu-Ray and SACD. Currently I'm using my modified Music Hall 25.2 cdp as a transport, but I would like to use it in my secondary system.

I should get the yammy in about a week and I'll post a review. I think it will end up being a nice budget Cd player ad a decent SACD player. It also plays DVD audio which is a bonus.

Sounds good to me. I got mine yesterday, but don't have the amp yet to hook it up. It's like taunting me, sitting in the box, while I can't do anything with it

[Mr Peabody]

How would carpet look on the wall? There's this type of foam we just call "egg crate", it's smooth on one side and the other....., well, looks like an egg crate. It's used for like matress pads and should be available in most stores like Wally World.

Does that Yammie have HDMI output for SACD?

[blackraven]

[QUOTE=
Does that Yammie have HDMI output for SACD?[/QUOTE]

Nope, its only SACD through analog. But hey, for $79 it will beat my son's Sony Cd changer if I decide to give it to him.

[IRG]

How would carpet look on the wall? There's this type of foam we just call "egg crate", it's smooth on one side and the other....., well, looks like an egg crate. It's used for like matress pads and should be available in most stores like Wally World.

Does that Yammie have HDMI output for SACD?

Not sure what Wally Word is, but I don't have one here. I looked for some stuff today at Home Depot, didn't find anything. Some kind of carpet may go on the wall. How about the stuff that goes under carpets, kind of that thick padding, doesn't weigh much either. If I can find something that doesn't look too hideous, maybe. I'll keep looking for stuff. Joann fabrics maybe, and just make som drapes or something. I'll probably end up spending more on this than the stereo

[poppachubby]

Not sure what Wally Word is, but I don't have one here. I looked for some stuff today at Home Depot, didn't find anything. Some kind of carpet may go on the wall. How about the stuff that goes under carpets, kind of that thick padding, doesn't weigh much either. If I can find something that doesn't look too hideous, maybe. I'll keep looking for stuff. Joann fabrics maybe, and just make som drapes or something. I'll probably end up spending more on this than the stereo

No carpet underlay. Not enough absorbtion. Peabody described what I've been trying to tell you. That's what you need...

It may cost a bit in the end, but in a room like yours it's a must.




I built a wack of paneling a while back, covered it with a gray fabric. I'm actually going out tommorrow to find some nice colourful stuff to cover several panels with. My H/T room has a Kandinsky on the wall. I will find a colour to match one from the painting. This will meet the WAF requirements. The room has pretty bad slap echo. Here's a pic with some panels in it. I can show you how to make them. Easy and cheap Mr. Frugal...

[blackraven]

Pops, you the man when it comes to home made gear! I love the panels that you made. How bout hopping down here to Minnesota and building me a pair for some heavy beer drinking, fine food and music

[Mr Peabody]

Wally World=Wal-Mart. Redneck slang

Carpet padding would not be good if the smooth or plastic side faced outward. What about cork board? That could work and maybe not expensive. Check thrift stores for ideas. You just need something soft facing the stereo to absorb the sound to keep it from reflecting. Go retro, remember Fun Fur

[Mr Peabody]

BR, I was wondering about the HDMI because my AV8003 has built in DSD. The Yamaha could have been a cheap way to play. I don't have an empty shelf any way but if it had HDMI it would have been tempting. Easier to swap in and out, i could have just used my BDP same connection.

[blackraven]

How about some nice wall tapestries or wall rugs-

http://www.rugs-direct.com/rugsdirec...369+4294723086

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden...i_sku=12146374

http://www.thefinetapestry.com/?affi...FQHxDAodJUBbyw

[poppachubby]

Cool! I thought so too, just too good of a player to pass up. As a good dvd player, I'm sure it's better than what I have now, so if I don't use it in my audio system, I'll put it to good use in the av system - which is very un state of the art, lol.

Could this also be used soley as a transport, with a optical cable to a DAC, and then the DAC to your receiver/preamp? Might not be bad fot that either.

Whgat kind of DAC do you have IRG? If the Toshiba can process SACD I'm thinking it probably has a respectable converter built in.

I was thinking REALLY hard about buying a used Oppo DVD player. Since videophiles are jumping ship to Blu-Ray, these machines can now be had for a song. I've seen some go for under $100 on Ebay, mint condition. Decided to bide my time and buy a Blu-Ray instead.

I'm not much for CD's but the DVD aspect of the Oppo is really appealing to me. TOTL is something I've never had in regards to H/T...

[poppachubby]

Pops, you the man when it comes to home made gear! I love the panels that you made. How bout hopping down here to Minnesota and building me a pair for some heavy beer drinking, fine food and music

Hey thanks alot Raven, means alot! I still have about 12 extra panels that aren't in use. I will probably use 4 for the H/T room. I will check at my work how much it would be to ship you the balance using our corporate freight account.

[IRG]

No carpet underlay. Not enough absorbtion. Peabody described what I've been trying to tell you. That's what you need...

It may cost a bit in the end, but in a room like yours it's a must.




I built a wack of paneling a while back, covered it with a gray fabric. I'm actually going out tommorrow to find some nice colourful stuff to cover several panels with. My H/T room has a Kandinsky on the wall. I will find a colour to match one from the painting. This will meet the WAF requirements. The room has pretty bad slap echo. Here's a pic with some panels in it. I can show you how to make them. Easy and cheap Mr. Frugal...

Yeah that first pic is what I'd like to find. I'll have to search around for some. The carpet pad wouldn't be too bad, the stuff I saw was quite porous, but would probably fall apart to easily.

[IRG]

Whgat kind of DAC do you have IRG? If the Toshiba can process SACD I'm thinking it probably has a respectable converter built in.

I was thinking REALLY hard about buying a used Oppo DVD player. Since videophiles are jumping ship to Blu-Ray, these machines can now be had for a song. I've seen some go for under $100 on Ebay, mint condition. Decided to bide my time and buy a Blu-Ray instead.

I'm not much for CD's but the DVD aspect of the Oppo is really appealing to me. TOTL is something I've never had in regards to H/T...

Well the DAC I have, is what will be in the Yamaha player (the dvd S1800) I think it has Burr Brown DACS, from their site:
DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD playback
Four two-channel Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit audio DACs
Audio Direct mode

So that's what I'll be using. I'm a relative noob when it comes to outboard DACs and then benefits of using them. We'll see if I need to go that route, probably not, at least for now.

[IRG]

I got everything hooked up tonight. Still need speaker stands to arrive, and the t table cartridge.

Off topic question, I have an old pair of JBL HLS-610's that I'm trying to sell. One speaker has a tear in it. Is it possible to fix it with some nail polish or some other sort of fix? The replacement speaker is apparently hard to find, and the one place that has it charges $170 for it. I'm trying to sell the pair for $45, and a potential buyer offered me $25, (plus I was throwing in a pair of Monster banana plugs and about 20 feet of 12 ga wire. So I said no, but if I can fix the speaker, he'd be interested at $45. So if there is a cheap way to fix this, I'd be interested to know how.

I'll post a pic of my setup soon. Been working on it all day.

[frenchmon]

No carpet underlay. Not enough absorbtion.

Where did you get that idea that carpet has not enough absorbtion?

frenchmon

[IRG]

Where did you get that idea that carpet has not enough absorbtion?

frenchmon

I think he was referring to my idea of the carpet padding. Depends on the kind of padding I think. Carpeting, especially a shag type carpeting would seem to work well. I think my temporary solution isn't bad, I had some shelves on that concrete wall, and I place a big blanket on the top shelf, and had it fit behind the sofa, so it's absorbing some of the sound waves. Better than nothing, but pretty, it's not.

[frenchmon]

I think he was referring to my idea of the carpet padding. Depends on the kind of padding I think. Carpeting, especially a shag type carpeting would seem to work well. I think my temporary solution isn't bad, I had some shelves on that concrete wall, and I place a big blanket on the top shelf, and had it fit behind the sofa, so it's absorbing some of the sound waves. Better than nothing, but pretty, it's not.

Oh I see. Why don't you just use carpet?

frenchmon

[IRG]

Oh I see. Why don't you just use carpet?

frenchmon

I have carpet on the floor. The concern was the rear wall, behind where I am listening. There isn't much distance between my seating position and this rear wall - there just isn't much room. The concern is that this rear wall is conrete, hence some sort of foam panels, etc. on the wall. Putting a carpet on the wall seems somewhat challenging. Maybe there's a good way to do it?

[blackraven]

If the rear wall is concrete there are a few easy ways to hang things to it. You can by a masonry drill bit and drill into the wall for one.