Trials and tribulations of my 7.1surround sound system.  Thanks to Jim and Derek at Nuts About Hi-Fi my sound system is coming to life.       Their easy laid back style, non-pressure sales, and knowledge has granted me a system that I am proud of.  Fortunately for all of us Nuts        About Hi-Fi has a system for every budget.  Even if you have to save a tad-bit longer it’s worth the wait.  Please read on if you have the time; and if not, rest assured you are in good hands.

James

My 7.1 Surround System

I built my new home just last year, 07.  I love movies and music and with that in mind I set out to pre-wire my home.  With very little knowledge of where to begin, I started at “Nuts About Hi-Fi” where I got the basics.  I also surfed the net extensively, using Crutchfield.com for my basic system layout.

Once the house was framed up and a lengthy discussion with my electrician, I got started.  The only request that I had for my electrician was a  need for power in the entertainment wall, thusly I ended up with two dedicated 20 amp circuits with 4-110 volt outlets.  Next was a Low Voltage Permit and the wiring.

Now I had to figure out the layout of the room and speaker positioning.  This took absolutely the most time.  I used a five gallon bucket as a  seat, and began just sitting in different areas of the room.  How peculiar this must have looked to my neighbors.  I started with my center   channel position and moved out from there.  In the end I ran almost 500 feet of wire.  My home is pre-wired for a 7.1 surround system, Zone 2,  and 3.

  Now I’m moved in, and the real fun has started.  I originally owned the Sony HTD-DW 830, one of those out of the box 5.1 systems.  While it worked, it just wasn’t the sound and depth of stage I wanted.  I started by upgrading my receiver to a Sony 7.1 DE-698.  It helped. 

Truly the next progression of sound started for me at “Nuts About Hi-Fi” with Derek.  I don’t want to say that I’m “Economical”, but I am.  I will spend months researching an item before I make the purchase.  That did not happen recently though.  I dropped in on Derek a couple of months ago, and got to listen to the Focal Sibs.  Derek hooked up two of them, and I was blown away.  Those “two” speakers gave me just what I wanted crisp clean sound, depth of stage and imaging.  I left half an hour later with the Focal Sib and Cub 5.1 speaker system.

Jittery with anticipation, I restrained myself and did a proper installation. Taking my time, I figured out my mounting options.  I found the studs and properly secured these babies to the walls and ceiling. 

Firing up the system for the first time just blew me away.  I selected Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”, and I got what I wanted, tight lows and crisp highs.  Still not satisfied though, I mean it played movies, and music but it lacked something crucial, POWER. 

I purchase an Onkyo TX-SR 805 receiver from Crutchfield.  I thought I was getting a good deal at $800 bucks.  I had that for 3 days. 

During some point in my transition I melted a voice coil in one of my Sibs, and needed a replacement.  That was a no hassle deal with Jim Lee from Nuts About Hi-Fi.  Just like a problem-matic car on the way to the repair man, my Sib did the same thing, sounded great.  After warming up for a few it finally crashed, and Jim explained to me what had occurred.  My loudspeakers were suffering from a power deficit.  Jim asked me what I was running, and I told him about the two Sony’s, and my brand new Onkyo.  Jim just grinned.  Once again, half an hour later I was leaving with the Integra 6.8.

I barely got the Onkyo back in the box, and got started hooking up my 6.8.  In my rush I failed to hook up one line.  Disgusted, I called Jim and told him, “I really don’t like this, it sounds like crap”, Jim replied in amazement “What?”  Jim asked me I had hooked everything up correctly, and of course I said “Yes”.  I thanked him for his time and we hung up.  Seconds later I noticed one line hanging there, embarrassed of this discovery, I plugged it in, and the seven Sibs and Cub came alive.  With my tail between my legs, I called Jim back, and changed my toon.  Jim and laughed about it, and once again I thanked him for his patience.

For the next while I played music of all types, Rock, Hard Rock, Classics Vinyl, R&B, 80’s hits, so forth and so on.  I was in heaven; I finally got the sound that I wanted.  The only problem, the 6.8 supports only 2 zones.  I decided that this was going to be unacceptable, I didn’t do all of that work for that.  Calling Jim back once again, I told him of my predicament.  Jim, being the professional that he is worked something out with me.  The next morning, I got the Integra 7.8.  My extra zone was covered, and I got even more power.  My system rocks!!!

Thank you Jim and Derek

James A.

Bremerton, WA