Hi blcskate. With that healthy audio budget I'm surprised you haven't been overrun with suggestions yet!
OK, I'll begin with a few recommendations for a high performance 7.1.4 system for movie dominant use, since that's ultimately what you want. Then I'll jot down a few random musings about Atmos in general, that you can ignore if you want to.
- Bonecrushing performance | $10K:
Subs: 2 X
JTR Captivator S1 = $4560
LCR: 3 X
JTR Noesis 228HT = $3705
Surrounds, rears & Atmos: 4 pair X
JBL 8320 Compact Cinema = $1980
TOTAL (with
5% JTR discount)
= $10245 + shipping
- New kid on the block | $7.5K:
Subs: 4 X
Reaction Audio PS-15X = $2850
LCR: 3 X
Reaction Audio CX-10 = $1710
Surrounds & rears: 4 X
Reaction Audio CX-8 = $1900
Atmos: Contact Reaction Audio for options in the pipeline or suggestions.
For now, allow for 2 pair X
JBL 8320 Compact Cinema = $990
TOTAL (with
5% R/A discount)
= $7450 + JBL shipping
Subs: 2 X
Rythmik Audio F15 Direct Servo = $1940
LCR: 3 X
Emotiva Pro Stealth 8 = $2020
Surrounds & rears: 4 X
Emotiva Pro Stealth 6 = $1440
Atmos: 2 pair X
Emotiva Pro Airmotiv 5s = $630
TOTAL (with
10% E-Club discount)
= $6030 shipped
* Plus electrician.
Out of those options, quite honestly for your size room my pick would be the last one. If it were me I'd add another two F15's (one for each corner or mid-wall) bringing the total to about $8K. You would also need to pull through XLR terminated cable in lieu of the speaker wire already in place.
In terms of ceiling speakers for the new "3D" sound formats, my main takeaway would be not to overspend on them... I just don't think the amount or type of content directed to them will be worth spending a lot on them. (I'm not entirely comfortable that the recommendations above aren't overspending to an extent.) Having said that, you should aim for roughly the same type of tweeter to ensure at least a respectable timbre match to other speakers. For example, you could substitute something from
Martin Logan with their folded diaphragm for the Airmotivs, if the idea of powered ceiling speakers doesn't appeal. Looking forward to the 3D sound formats, it would be smart to at least identify that a line of speakers under consideration for the "bottom" seven has reasonable options for the "tops" later on. Aim-able tweeters would also be an advantage.
I actually believe that the next couple of years will be great for buying a
Not-an-Atmos AVR/processor.
For a few reasons:
- There's no native content yet (AFAIK). (To be fair though, the new "Dolby Surround" mode will up-mix content to all available speakers.)
- The Auro-3D and DTS-UHD formats are still a way off for consumer level processors. It's possible that two or three formats will be readily available on AVR's in a few short years.
- There's no unified speaker layout that encompasses the three formats yet.
- There will be bargains around on lightly used upper-end AVR's and processors as early adopters trade them in for Atmos enabled units. Or alternately, recently superseded new units remaining on the shelf. This is evidenced by the recent sale of new Denon AVR-4520CI's for $1000.
Anyway, that's about all I've got for now. Hope it helped.
Edit: See point 2. above. Seems Auro-3D and DTS-UHD will be available on higher end Denons next year. -> http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/general-av-discussions/91969-cedia-2014-dolby-atmos-auro-3d-demo-experiences-3.html#post1052295.
Happy to be corrected on point 3. above as well.