Need help selecting a surround sound system

[skeeter997tt]

I have a contractor coming out today to pre wire my living room. I'm honestly lost on what to buy. I was leaning towards a onkyo receiver but after reading several threads, I heard the quality has gone down. As far as speakers go, I'm lost! I know I need to have in ceiling speakers as I don't have the room for in wall or tower speakers. I'm having him pre wire for 7.1. My budget is around $2500. I'm just looking for a nice sounding system that me and my wife will be happy with for movies and occasional music. I don't have the dimensions over our room since I'm at work, but it does run into our kitchen. If I had to guess, I'd say my rooms height is 9ft width is 12ft by 16ft long not including the kitchen. Any help would be appreciated as I'm a total rookie in this department for home stereo.

 

[rojo]

You should at least do bookshelfs for your front stage. For your rears, in-ceiling might be OK. You might also consider on-wall for the rears, something like the Fluance XLBP. Here's a pic of the smaller AVBP2's in my HT:

But please, don't rely on in-wall speakers for your main LCR speakers. You can still get a polished look with wall-mounted bookshelfs, and the resulting sound will be much more pleasing. (Example shamelessly stolen from Google Images -- source page)

I apologize if this isn't helpful. IMHO architectural speakers are best left to Muzak played in department stores. It's a bit of a pet peeve of mine when people place more importance on hiding their speakers than on enjoying their sound.

Anyway, 7.1 implies rear and side surrounds. You probably won't get much benefit by putting your rear surrounds and your side surrounds all in the ceiling.

 

[skeeter997tt]

Thanks! My only dilemma is my setup for the front speakers which is horrible. My tv is mounted above the fire place since it's the only place I could mount the tv. I have a window to the right of the tv which ends the wall. To the left of the tv is a alcove where I have a small entertainment stand to house my stb, receiver and various other things. So my problem would be finding a spot to mount the speakers in the wall rather than the ceiling. I could put them behind the tv but I'm sure that would detour from the sound.

 

[rojo]

Would you consider attaching wall mounts to the ceiling near your TV? Some bookshelf speakers are made with threaded inserts intended to be used with threaded wall mounts, like the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 and the HTD Level 3's.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

in wall > inceiling

 

[zieglj01]

I would seriously consider doing bookshelf and regular center channel for the front 3

Now in ceiling for surrounds and rear can be OK - however, do not spend full price for
them - the Boston VSI 570 is on close-out pricing - sold each and a good deal.
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/bosvsi570a/boston-acoustics-vsi-570-6.5in-in-ceiling-lcr-speaker-each/1.html

 

[skeeter997tt]

Let me see if I have some pictures on my phone of my living room. That would help. If not I can post them in a couple of hrs.

 

[zieglj01]

I have a small entertainment stand to house my stb, receiver and various other things. So my problem would be finding a spot to mount the speakers in the wall rather than the ceiling. I could put them behind the tv but I'm sure that would detour from the sound.

Then I would think about a couple of good 3-way center channel speakers to angle down
from above the TV - how big is your TV?

 

[skeeter997tt]

Here's a picture of my living room in Christmas.

 

[skeeter997tt]

Planning on putting up a 65". I have a 46" right now.

 

[shadyJ]

That will be a tough room to deal with. A 65" TV will leave no room for speakers, not that there is much room now. I think a center channel is out of the question. Can you put tower speakers on the sides of the fireplace hearth? If the furniture is still arranged like that, that will be a problem as well.

 

[rojo]

I think a center channel speaker can be hung from the ceiling over the tv. Or if the new tv is raised a bit, I bet the center would fit between tv and fireplace. I have a 67" tv, and the screen not including the bezel is only 33" tall. Assuming a 2"bezel all around, I'm guessing you'll still have a foot and a half of space left above or below.

Regarding the main LR, how much space is between the doorway and the wall on the left? How about the window and the wall on the right?

Sent from my LG-VS980 using Forum Fiend v1.3.1.

 

[zieglj01]

Here's a picture of my living room in Christmas.

Need to know how much space after the measurment of the 65" TV -
you will have left on that wall space, to the right and left of the TV.

There is an option and it will not be sour, or the end of the audio world.

Looking for at least 5" of wall space, on both the left and right side of
the TV. If you have the space, then I have a recommendation for you.

 

[afterlife2]

If everything fails...You can do this: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-HT-CT370-Wireless-Subwoofer-Bluetooth/dp/B00IWQREE4/ref=zg_bs_3237803011_18
or
http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Theater-Soundbar-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B0092QGSHM/ref=zg_bs_3237803011_47
or if you have enough space above:

 

[skeeter997tt]

Ok I'm home now and can actually give measurements. The wall with the tv is 6ft long and the from the top of the fireplace/mantel is about 4ft 4in. How much space would be needed for the lcr spearkers? I can move the tv up no problem and leave myself with some space underneath.

 

[shadyJ]

Ok I'm home now and can actually give measurements. The wall with the tv is 6ft long and the from the top of the fireplace/mantel is about 4ft 4in. How much space would be needed for the lcr spearkers? I can move the tv up no problem and leave myself with some space underneath.

Moving the TV up is also a problem since that looks to be above the best viewing angle in that room. You would have to crane your neck a bit to watch anything. With a TV that large, you will not be able to put any speakers on the mantle or to the sides.

 

[skeeter997tt]

With a 65 in TV that would leave me about 1ft above the tv.

 

[rojo]

Ok I'm home now and can actually give measurements. The wall with the tv is 6ft long and the from the top of the fireplace/mantel is about 4ft 4in. How much space would be needed for the lcr spearkers? I can move the tv up no problem and leave myself with some space underneath.

How much space for LCR? It depends on the speakers you choose. For example, if you go with the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 Monitors and Center (usually available as a package deal through the system advisor), you'd need about 8 inches on either side + 8 inches either above or below the TV. (Those speakers are 7.5" wide.) Looks like zieg has another idea that would use even less space. For what it's worth, Ascend also has an excellent deal on the Rythmik LV12R subwoofer, if you choose to go with them for your mains.

Judging from the picture you attached in your earlier post, it appears that the primary listening position would be about 15 feet away? If so, then six feet of separation is probably acceptable, but you'll get a better sound stage if you can locate the LR mains on the opposite sides of the door and window. Is that at all possible?

 

[skeeter997tt]

How much space for LCR? It depends on the speakers you choose. For example, if you go with the Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 Monitors and Center (usually available as a package deal through the system advisor), you'd need about 8 inches on either side + 8 inches either above or below the TV. (Those speakers are 7.5" wide.) Looks like zieg has another idea that would use even less space. For what it's worth, Ascend also has an excellent deal on the Rythmik LV12R subwoofer, if you choose to go with them for your mains.

Judging from the picture you attached in your earlier post, it appears that the primary listening position would be about 15 feet away? If so, then six feet of separation is probably acceptable, but you'll get a better sound stage if you can locate the LR mains on the opposite sides of the door and window. Is that at all possible?

The couch is approximately 13ft from the tv. I have a large sectional so the tv is not exactly in the center depending on where you sit. The window is the pita for me I believe. I'll take a few more pics.

 

[skeeter997tt]