Share Your Setup - Chris

In this week's installment of AVRev's new series, Share Your Setup, we have professional sound guy (and High-Def Digest reader) Chris Martin sharing his garage turned dedicated home theatre space.  Chris is hugely passionate, and geektastic, home audio and cinema enthusiast, who is running 9.1 channels of surround sound and displaying his wares on a 12-foot projector screen.

Personally, what I love about Chris' space is how it combines high end gear with the type of regular joe setup many of us have.  Also, I love his toys, key art, and prominently displayed Blu-ray collections.  This guy loves HD!  Here's Chris in his own words:

AUDIOPHILE, VIDEO/CINEPHILE, OR BOTH?

I would say both.  

Audiophile:  I love live music.  I am a professional sound guy for small shows of up to 16 inputs.  I use a Mackie Onyx mixer that has a nice firewire output on the back that allows me to record shows that I run sound for.  Those recording sound very good coming out at 24-bit, 96Khz.  Plus, the energy that you get in a live performance gives the music that additional special feel.

Video/Cinephile: In addition to the sound, I also have a camera.  I've been shooting short instructional and recruiting videos for several years now.  But I like to take the HD camera and make video slide shows of events and trips.  This is fun to show family and friends.  So I really like to examine movies for cinematography and technical complexities of shots.  I have maintained a home theater in or form or another since about 1995.  HD source material has moved this into a whole new realm of home cinema enjoyment.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CURRENT SETUP!

Let's start off with the receiver, an Integra DTR-80.1.  It is capable of 9.2, but I am only running 9.1 currently.  I don't have the resources to get that second subwoofer yet.  And speaking of subs, my point-one is the JL Audio Fathom f113.  This piece is my favorite of the system.  If you need to know why, then you have no idea what this unit does.  Simply put, it's a 130 lbs. earthquake machine.  While we are on the subject of sound, the front speakers are Vandersteen Model 1's , the surrounds are Vandersteen Model 3's (both circa 1980's), rears are Monitor Audio Silver RS 8's, front wide or high are Bose AM-5's, and finally the center is Monitor Audio Silver RS Center channel.

Buying the Correct Subwoofer Box | |HOME| Independence Party

Buying the Correct Subwoofer Box

July 5th, 2011

Through the years, a lot of car audio fans would come to my retail store and talk about how unsatisfied they were by their new audio system. The problem is that many who are attempting to update their car audio system actually are not knowledgable about the important role that your subwoofer box takes on in the outcome. A lot more often then not, the sub box is simply an afterthought and another of the last things considered. Most will blow their spending budget for an expensive subwoofer and never put any effort in finding the correct sub box for their specific speaker and car or truck.

The subwoofer box offers a significant effect on the quality of music you are going to obtain from your speaker. Yet sadly frequently the buyer will try to skimp by either building his own box or buying the least expensive thing available without considering the unique specifications of the subwoofer. The basic lesson is when you truly desire to profit from the expensive subwoofer, you need to select a good factory made subwoofer enclosure matched up to the sub’s technical specs.

The initial step in upgrading a vehicle’s sound system ought to be to decide the amount of room you’ll be able to dedicate to your subwoofer. While other car speakers are usually installed inside pre-existing door locations or kick panels, the subwoofer demands room to set aside for the proper box. I have always recommended a custom-fit subwoofer box if one is available for your automobile. The benefit is that they make the most of unused space like under seating or hatchback sidewalls. You can find these in molded fiberglass or composite materials or in heavy MDF construction. They will be a little more expensive then common boxes however the fact that they use useless space as well as generate very good sound quality ensures they are a good solution for many. The extra advantage of the molded model sub boxes are that they appear to be a factory installation in many instances. You will find these custom made boxes made specifically for cars and trucks such as the Chevy Silverado crew cab, Ford F150 extended cab, Dodge Ram quad cab or even a Ford Mustang . There are actually numerous completely different special fit subwoofer boxes to choose from. You might find these provided by manufacturers like Q-Logic, MTX Thunderforms and JL Audio Stealtboxes. The MDF versions come from companies like R/T, Obcon, and Atrend which will be more affordable but bear in mind you will need to find the subs separately while Thunderforms and Stealthboxes include top end MTX and JL Audio subs installed in their individual boxes.

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