2.1 Setup

[MKader17 332]

I figured it would be fun to make a little HT Setup for the dorm room. I have a MAW-10 to use (can run at 8 or 2 ohms) and thought about getting some MLI-65 and a tweeter to match for up front. Not looking for anything spectacular just something really to play with. I'm more concerned about with amplifiers and reciever to use as I don't know much about them. Also I guess I would prefer to run active as I don't want to make my own crossover and would like experience with active anyways.

[///M5 2,833]

Two questions.

1) what crossover are you planning on using?

2) what is your budget for the tweeters?

A side note. I would worry more about the pre-amplifier than the amplifier. Again if you need recommendations a budget would be helpful.

[JimJ 11]

Since you want to go active, I'd stay away from receivers...a pair of Adcom or similar amps should be pretty cheap to find, and the market is flooded with good quality preamps.

If this is for home theater, why not five channels?

[///M5 2,833]

Jim I can think of a couple reasons for not going 5 chn. It will change the need from 5chn to 11chn of amplification, create an active crossover issue as it is also a lot of channels, and since it is a dorm room it is small and quite frankly with any sort of budget I'd rather apply it to the mains and ignore the other 3 chn anytime.

[MKader17 332]

Can't do 5 channel as the only rear you could get out of the speakers would be directly left and directly right. Also, it would help to make the wiring a nightmare as I can't run through the walls.

I'm really not sure on the budget as I don't know whats all involved in home audio equipment and I don't even know the difference between a pre amp and amp.

I really just assumed active because I'm not to sure of my capabilities of building a crossover, I'm sure I could buy one but that would just be more money but I guess another amp would be more money as well.

'm really just looking for bang for the buck (like the Mach 5 products). This is a small room and just for reference I had a Best Buy system in my bedroom and it could rock the damn place with 3 inch midbass and the living room is only 1/3 larger.

[///M5 2,833]

The active crossover alone is going to cost you some dough. The Behringer DCX2496 is a great option, but around $250. Then for the tweets, mids, and sub you will need amplifier channels. Buying something like 3 Adcom GFA-535's for around $300 total will give you 60wx6 for the setup. On top of that you will still need a pre-amplifier (an analogy would be the headunit in your truck, but with no built in amplifiers) in your case basically a volume knob and input selector. A reasonable pre might start at a $100 but the sky is the limit above that.

If your goal is cost efficiency passive will be way cheaper; however, do realize that good passive crossover designs regularly cost more than the speakers that are connected to them. I don't mean in design either but in raw electronic components. If you do go passive I would highly recommend just following a design that someone has posted on the web and not trying to do your own first. You can always make measurements based on the design and improve it which is much easier to grasp than starting from scratch.