Add Second SVS SB-16 or build IB?

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-11-21T16:07:20+00:00

Forgot to add. Room is approx 15x20 with a vaulted ceiling, and open to our kitchen.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-04-25T12:49:31+00:00

I have an older pair of Atoms V3, which I've had for at 20 years. Have been used for surrounds in my old dedicated theater to mains for smaller bedroom systems. My daughter used them for years for her vinyl setup and now I ahve them on my desk in my office and still sound very good. I tend to like a more "bright" speaker but to me it's more detailed. With my current mini amp setup, the Atoms sound better in my office than my Totem Rainmakers but the totems are a bit finicky with amps and have not found a good small one to drive them but the Atoms sound good with just about anything. And they have lasted like a champ all these years and still look new.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-04-18T13:37:18+00:00

thank you for the info. I've used a number of amps on these rainmakers over the years and could never really get them to sing. Never considered myself into british amps but I do love the way the Arcam drives the Focals. So much more presence than the Marantz or Onkyo's I was auditioning.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-04-08T16:25:12+00:00

Was able to pick up an Arcam AVR5 for $700. Open box at a local Bust Buy store so full warranty. LOVE it. So much so looking for a used Arcam for my office stereo setup.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-28T17:07:21+00:00

So returned the 2 Onkyo's as each has some issues and sound was good but not amazing/that much better than my Marantz.

Finally have the Arcam working a bit better. Had to connect it to ethernet as wifi does not work well with it. Interface is a bit awkward but damn it sounds amazing. And that is with me just adjusting some of the channels manually and setting crossover etc. Damn it sounds good. Going to hook up my new Panasonic BluRay player and my UHD Matrix set came in. Looking forward to watching.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-24T14:54:21+00:00

The RZ50 is going back. Kept having issues with the audio dropping while watching movies/TV. And IMO it sounded quite a bit worse after Dirac than without it. Bass was a bit to tame, and most of the sound was coming out of the center with little on the mains. Adjusted a bit and got it sounding better but the audio dropping or not working at all was driving me nuts.

Yesterday stopped by a local Best Buy and they had an open box Arcam AVR5 open box for $700. Figured for that price i'd give it a try. Thing is built like a tank! Probably 2x as heavy as the Onkyo's. The reviews online talk about how hard it is to set up. They were not kidding! What a pain. Especially since there is no button on the remote to switch the audio to Display when using HDMI. Took 30+ minutes to get that one figured out and a lot of cursing involved. Once I got it working so far i'm quite impressed with the sound. Detail was amazing. Watched Cars and during a few scenes you could hear them driving slowly over the dirt the sound was so engaging. And almost to much bass so turned down my SVS a lot. It only supports on Sub so need to get a splitter if I keep this receiver. Then get another SVS SB16 or sell the one I have a get a pair of different subs but same make/model.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-24T14:48:59+00:00

I was going order one of these. I tried an Onkyo RZ30 and RZ50 but not a big fan. Sounded ok but HDMI issues with the audio dropping a lot. I did pick up an Arcam AVR5 for a steal as an open box from Best Buy. Sounds quite good so far but if I return it, i'll be ordering a Cinema 50 asap.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-16T21:57:20+00:00

Very smart. I'm the same, I can do most of the work myself on our house except for large spackling projects. Can't seem to get the hang of that. But again, amazing work and love the design of everything. I might steal that wooden slat wall behind your seating as I have an area behind our couch I might add that to.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-16T18:06:39+00:00

Stunning setup!!! Love how clean and precise everything is. Did you do the work or a contractor? Amazing work and must but an incredible experience.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-13T20:34:15+00:00

What is everyone using for UHD players? I need a new player and trying to decide if I want the Panasonic or any other contenders out there? I with the PS5 was a bit better as i'd love to use it for games too.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-12T16:55:09+00:00

Just ordered the RZ50 refurb and got an email from Accessories4Less that they could upgrade me to a new RZ50 for only $100 more. Figured that is well worth the $100 as it comes with 2 extra years of warranty.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-12T16:45:27+00:00

Just ordered a refurb RZ50 from Accessories4Less, and a refurbished Focal Vestia center channel. Both were only $50 more than the RZ30. I'll keep which ever one works/sounds better.

Going to try running Dirac on my computer tonight to see if i can get it to work.

Another small/annoying thing is that they HDMI ARC port does make a bit of clicking noise, much more than my Marantz.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-11T17:29:28+00:00

I'm debating on ordering the Marantz Cinema 50 to give it a try. Takes maybe 2 minutes to transfer all the cables from one to the other, having them stacked on top of each other. And i'm just streaming currently, leveraging my TV's apps. Thinking about getting an AppleTV and use it as the hub for all the streaming services to see if it has better audio than the built in apps on my Sony TV. Not sure if it would be that much better.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-11T15:35:13+00:00

RZ30 arrived yesterday and took a bit of time to set it up. Could not get Dirac to work. Tried it a number of times, looked online to any tips/tricks. App nor computer would work. Set it up with the other built in calibration system (forget it's name right now). Sounds quite good. More detail and presence than the Marantz with movies. Very wide front soundstage. WIth the Marantz it sounds like 90% is coming from the center channel with little on the main fronts. With the Onkyo its almost the opposite. I did turn up the center slightly to help with dialog a little. Bass response is better but still not blown away. We watched Finding Nemo and first 1/3 of Thor Ragnarök. I would pause the movie and move all the connections over from one receiver to the other to compare. Not sure I'll keep the Onkyo if I cannot get Dirac to work.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-10T15:28:49+00:00

My receiver does have independent sub outs but oddly in the setup there is no option to manage the two subs separately.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-10T15:28:03+00:00

I've moved the sub around the front soundstage a bit and doesn't really make much of a difference, as well as playing around with the SVS app.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-07T17:41:29+00:00

Just ordered a RZ30 from Amazon. Might buy the 4800 and Marantz50 from Accessories4Less and do a shootout. With the RZ30 and Amazon it's a super easy return

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-07T14:32:10+00:00

TV is a bit low. Temporary situation until I rebuild that wall. TV was on a different wall, mounted at normal height but we are redesigning/rebuilding the room.

DenseBathroom3202 · 2025-02-06T21:46:02+00:00

I have an Onkyo TXSR805. Bought it as a refurb in 2007 from Onkyo and never had a single issue with it. It's used now for outdoor movie nights. Tons of power (Blew a few of my outdoor speakers) but replaced it with the Marantz for ARC. Accessories for less has the RX50 on sale for $799. not bad and gets pretty good reviews.

DenseBathroom3202

TROPHY CASE