Need help selecting a surround sound system

[rojo]

Oh, that's not too bad. You'll be having your contractor do wall fishes / wire runs for speakers, right?

You don't necessarily have to have all three speakers mounted on the same wall. What I've got in mind are mounts that swivel left and right as well as tilt up and down. You'll need that flexibility for toeing in your mains toward the seating area anyway.

Hopefully, unless there's a stud in the way, your contractor would be able to fish some in-wall speaker wire and add a binding post wall plate* wherever you want. Just use a pair of these mounts for your left and right speakers if you plan to mount high, or these clamping mounts if you can mount them low enough that the tweeter is close to ear level while sitting; then one of these lower profile mounts for your center since vertical space is at a premium. Your right speaker can go on the side wall near the front corner and swivel to face the couch. The left, just put it where you currently have a picture hanging to the left of the doorway.

* If you'd like to pad your Monoprice order to $50 for free shipping, that's also a great place to get a subwoofer cable and HDMI cables if you need them.

 

[skeeter997tt]

Oh, that's not too bad. You'll be having your contractor do wall fishes / wire runs for speakers, right?

You don't necessarily have to have all three speakers mounted on the same wall. What I've got in mind are mounts that swivel left and right as well as tilt up and down. You'll need that flexibility for toeing in your mains toward the seating area anyway.

Hopefully, unless there's a stud in the way, your contractor would be able to fish some in-wall speaker wire and add a binding post wall plate* wherever you want. Just use a pair of these mounts for your left and right speakers if you plan to mount high, or these clamping mounts if you can mount them low enough that the tweeter is close to ear level while sitting; then one of these lower profile mounts for your center since vertical space is at a premium. Your right speaker can go on the side wall near the front corner and swivel to face the couch. The left, just put it where you currently have a picture hanging to the left of the doorway.

* If you'd like to pad your Monoprice order to $50 for free shipping, that's also a great place to get a subwoofer cable and HDMI cables if you need them.

Awesome. I think those will work fine. Now the question is what brand of speakers/sub should I buy and what receiver? I was thinking of the denon avr-s900w for a receiver, unless you guys think there is better bang for the buck.

 

[rojo]

Budget of $2500, right? That's a pretty healthy budget. We probably ought to start with the sub first. Can you tell us roughly how many cubic feet your living room + kitchen are?

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

 

[skeeter997tt]

33ft long 18ft wide and 9ft ceilings with the kitchen

 

[zieglj01]

33ft long 18ft wide and 9ft ceilings with the kitchen

If you can spread out and do something - then I am all for that.

On option if you can not work some things out - is to mount a pair of 3-way center
channels above the alcove and the window - and put a third above the TV.
Look at NHT Classic Two center - sold each
http://www.nhthifi.com/Two-C?sc=12&category=3774

http://www.nhthifi.com/Two-C?sc=12&category=3774#image-2

However, the least that I would do is mount some Monitor Audio R250hd speakers
to the left and right of your TV, if you have 5" to the left and right after mounting
your TV.
On sale and sold each - and they are nice and not a wimp - scroll down the page
http://www.saturdayaudio.com/monitor_specials.htm

http://www.monitoraudiousa.com/support/past-products/radius-hd/r250hd/

 

[zieglj01]

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.

Agree with that - it can be irritating and a pain.

 

[skeeter997tt]

I think I'll put the center under the tv. As far as the r and l I can either do bookshelf speakers mounted on the wall like some have said or I guess I could also get away with tower speakers. One in the corner next to the window and one outside of the alcove.

 

[zieglj01]

I think I'll put the center under the tv. As far as the r and l I can either do bookshelf speakers mounted on the wall like some have said or I guess I could also get away with tower speakers. One in the corner next to the window and one outside of the alcove.

In your case - I think I would try the towers or bookshelf on stands.

 

[skeeter997tt]

The rears I can do in ceiling or should I do bookshelf for those? Also what's a good sub?

 

[rojo]

With your having roughly 5300 cubic feet to pressurize, I think you should look in the $800-$1200 range for a sub -- Power Sound Audio, Reaction Audio, or Hsu Research. For your front stage I still say wall mounted bookshelfs would be best, as the area where your left main would be may have some foot traffic, and the window corner would probably be a great spot for the sub. When I get a chance, I'll see what options I can suggest. The Ascend Sierra 1's would be ideal given your budget, except the center channel might need a little more separation from the wall for its rear port to breathe than the mount I found last night would provide. Front ported would probably be better -- maybe the WaveCrests.

As for whether you should do bookshelfs or in-ceiling speakers for surrounds, why not both? With Dolby Atmos here and DTS-X shortly to follow, both of which will take advantage of height channels, now is a good time to prepare.

With that in mind, a basic receiver now that you can plan to replace later when DTS-X gains adoption would be a worthwhile plan. You'll still benefit from something with good room correction though. My recommendation for AVR depends on what you choose to do with surrounds, how many channels you decide upon.

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

 

[skeeter997tt]

With your having roughly 5300 cubic feet to pressurize, I think you should look in the $800-$1200 range for a sub -- Power Sound Audio, Reaction Audio, or Hsu Research. For your front stage I still say wall mounted bookshelfs would be best, as the area where your left main would be may have some foot traffic, and the window corner would probably be a great spot for the sub. When I get a chance, I'll see what options I can suggest. The Ascend Sierra 1's would be ideal given your budget, except the center channel might need a little more separation from the wall for its rear port to breathe than the mount I found last night would provide. Front ported would probably be better -- maybe the WaveCrests.

As for whether you should do bookshelfs or in-ceiling speakers for surrounds, why not both? With Dolby Atmos here and DTS-X shortly to follow, both of which will take advantage of height channels, now is a good time to prepare.

With that in mind, a basic receiver now that you can plan to replace later when DTS-X gains adoption would be a worthwhile plan. You'll still benefit from something with good room correction though. My recommendation for AVR depends on what you choose to do with surrounds, how many channels you decide upon.

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

I think I'll buy the sierra 1 speakers. Question though, the website has "b stock". What exactly does that mean? There is $100 price difference. I was thinking of getting the sierra 1's for the L C R and I guess Rythmik LV12R Servo Sub for the sub and the denon avr-s900w for a receiver and then 4 of the boston aucoustics vsi 570 6.5in in ceiling speakers. How does this sound? Feel free to change it up if you feel there is something that has better bang for the buck. I really do appreciate all the input from everyone that has been helping out!

 

[zieglj01]

I think I'll buy the sierra 1 speakers. Question though, the website has "b stock". What exactly does that mean? There is $100 price difference. I was thinking of getting the sierra 1's for the L C R and I guess Rythmik LV12R Servo Sub for the sub and the denon avr-s900w for a receiver and then 4 of the boston aucoustics vsi 570 6.5in in ceiling speakers. How does this sound?

Your list looks good.

However, I would still think about the Reaction Audio sub
http://reaction-audio.myshopify.com/collections/subwoofers/products/gamma-15?variant=1107629493

Or HSU VTF-3mk5
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3mk5HP.html

However, the Rythmik will not be bad

B-stock - means they work as new - however they may have very minor cosmetic flaws.
They could be returns, or failed the overall cosmetic inspection.

 

[zieglj01]

and then 4 of the boston aucoustics vsi 570 6.5in in ceiling speakers.

You can save $30 each on the Boston 560 speakers, which would equal $120
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/bosvsi560a/boston-acoustics-vsi-560-6-in-ceiling-lcr-speaker-each/1.html

 

[skeeter997tt]

Would you get the Onkyo tx nr636 receiver or the denon avr-s900w

 

[zieglj01]

Would you get the Onkyo tx nr636 receiver or the denon avr-s900w

I would lean towards the Denon

 

[skeeter997tt]

I would lean towards the Denon

Ok. I was just wondering since the onkyo has the dolby atoms. Thank you again. I'll call and order my stuff tomorrow.

 

[zieglj01]

Ok. I was just wondering since the onkyo has the dolby atoms. Thank you again. I'll call and order my stuff tomorrow.

If Atmos is a big deal to you - then buy the Onkyo - it is all about you.

 

[rojo]

Would you get the Onkyo tx nr636 receiver or the denon avr-s900w

Sorry I didn't get much time to pay attention to this thread over the weekend, but I was actually thinking cheaper. If it's not too late, I would recommend holding off on adopting Atmos until you can get a receiver that supports both Atmos and DTS:X (or at least DTS:X only). Indications are that there will be more DTS:X content than Atmos content available in a year or two. What I would suggest is, for the AVR, get something cheap for now -- the Denon AVR-X2000 for example. Then in a year or two, upgrade to a new flagship-model receiver if you wish and hand-me-down your old one to your kids or sell it on Craigslist. I think you'll have less depreciation in the long run from something that's already cheap. Plus, the X2000 has better room correction than the AVR-S900W anyway.

Also, if it's not too late, the Verus Grand bookshelfs and center might be worth considering, as the center is not rear-ported. It's sealed. They're also less boxy, possibly offering higher wife-acceptance factor. Or the NHT Classic Two bookshelfs + TwoC Center, which are all sealed. Still shopping.

 

[skeeter997tt]

Sorry I didn't get much time to pay attention to this thread over the weekend, but I was actually thinking cheaper. If it's not too late, I would recommend holding off on adopting Atmos until you can get a receiver that supports both Atmos and DTS:X (or at least DTS:X only). Indications are that there will be more DTS:X content than Atmos content available in a year or two. What I would suggest is, for the AVR, get something cheap for now -- the Denon AVR-X2000 for example. Then in a year or two, upgrade to a new flagship-model receiver if you wish and hand-me-down your old one to your kids or sell it on Craigslist. I think you'll have less depreciation in the long run from something that's already cheap. Plus, the X2000 has better room correction than the AVR-S900W anyway.

Also, if it's not too late, the Verus Grand bookshelfs and center might be worth considering, as the center is not rear-ported. It's sealed. They're also less boxy, possibly offering higher wife-acceptance factor. Or the NHT Classic Two bookshelfs + TwoC Center, which are all sealed. Still shopping.

I haven't ordered yet. I was going to do so today. If you feel this receiver is a good choice, I can get that and it will leave me with a little extra money to buy one of those higher end subs, which is nice. I think I'm going to stick with the sierra 1's for my LCR. The mids and rears I guess I will go with the in ceiling speakers boston acoustics , plus they are only $130 a piece. This should put me over the $2500 budget, but it won't be to much over.

 

[rojo]

I think you'll be happy with the Sierras, but you might need to cross your center over at 100Hz or so. Just play around with it and see what sounds best. In any case, I'm sure you'll have a hard time leaving the room once you start playing movies or music.

I have one last suggestion, that if it's possible to do rear surrounds as well as in-ceiling for height effects, you'd probably be more satisfied in the long run. If you'd like some inexpensive wall surrounds to consider, the NHT SuperZero satellites would work well, or the Fluance XLBP if you'd prefer the more nebulous sound of bipolar speakers. The SuperZeros could even be hung from the ceiling if you prefer.

But no matter what you choose, I think you're going to end up with a sound system that's the envy of everyone in the neighborhood.