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Topic: Crazy Idea: Build a frankenstein 7.1speaker system (Read 3057 times) previous topic - next topic
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Crazy Idea: Build a frankenstein 7.1speaker system

I got this crazy idea

I have (well I can get 5) identical monsoon planar PM9 systems for practically free.

I would like to build like a 7.1 system out of them.

The satellites are only good for 200 MHz and up.

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I am not sure how to approach the problem.

The subs have amplifiers in them and the correct crossovers, I should salvage those parts. But then, what do I do with them?

If I have a 7.1 soundcard, do I just use those outputs and connect them to the amps and them to the satellites?

Anyone with experience (or references) give me a shout
 

Crazy Idea: Build a frankenstein 7.1speaker system

Reply #1 –
... obviously nobody told you that subwoofers, i.e. to concentrate all the bass in one speaker, has a reason. If you try to use more than one subwoofer, and each of them standing opposite to each other, you will get a perfect cancelation of the infrasonic sound .....

Crazy Idea: Build a frankenstein 7.1speaker system

Reply #2 –
Quote
. . . you will get a perfect cancelation of the infrasonic sound .....

Depending on how they are placed and your possition in the room, in some spots the bass likely would be twice as loud.
gentoo ~amd64 + layman | ncmpcpp/mpd | wavpack + vorbis + lame

Crazy Idea: Build a frankenstein 7.1speaker system

Reply #3 –
Quote
The satellites are only good for 200 MHz and up.

You must have very good hearing 

Crazy Idea: Build a frankenstein 7.1speaker system

Reply #4 –
When the subwoofers are properly placed, they will increase the size of the sweetspot. Placement guidelines should be similar to regular floor-standing speakers. If you have two subs, place them like you would floor-standing speakers. If you have four, stack two on top of each other.

Crazy Idea: Build a frankenstein 7.1speaker system

Reply #5 –
I say go for it, and see where you get to. Why not if they're practically free?

Realistically I expect it to sound terrible. What kind of connections do the speakers have to a soundcard - and what kind of soundcard will you be using? If you're thinking of giving each 2.1 system a stereo port, you're gonna have trouble when you come to the centre/bass jack on most sound cards.

This just has potential to get really messy. But by all means try it and tell us where you get up to!
No signature.

Crazy Idea: Build a frankenstein 7.1speaker system

Reply #6 –
The Planar Media systems sound quite good for computer speakers, but their crossover frequency is quite high, as you noted.

  The bass cancellation and amplification effects resulting from a 5 subwoofer setup could be severe, and potentially even more noticable because the Monsoon "subwoofer" has to produce everything below 200Hz.
  Frequencies this high are directional, and stacking subwoofers could cause very strange location defects with lower frequency voices, etc.

  Also note that it will never be a "true" 7.1 system because there is no dedicated subwoofer being driven directly from the the LFE signal.
  Instead the "subwoofers" play the bass from the 7 full-range channels, and without a dedicated sub the ".1" is going to be nonexistant.

  In order to get the LFE channel to be played at all you would almost certainly need a sound card with an elaborate bass management scheme to mix the LFE into the full range channels - the M-Audio Revolution might fit the bill.
edited for clarity and spelling