Building a home theater?

[Andy6868]

Hello,
I have made a rec. room / theater in our basement. The entire space 25'x25'. The viewing area is 12'w x25'deep. I will have a 75" tv. Probably 4K model. My local car audio store recommends this. Only one tx-nr545/7.2 channel-$550
Jamo-C95 floor standing speakers- $500
Jamo-C93 bookshelf speakers-$350
For a total of $1476.
We watch DVD , would stream music poor reception in the county, and watch sports and regular tv. Is this too much? Would I be better with 2 channel?
Thanks, andy

 

[Klipschhead302]

Hello,
I have made a rec. room / theater in our basement. The entire space 25'x25'. The viewing area is 12'w x25'deep. I will have a 75" tv. Probably 4K model. My local car audio store recommends this. Only one tx-nr545/7.2 channel-$550
Jamo-C95 floor standing speakers- $500
Jamo-C93 bookshelf speakers-$350
For a total of $1476.
We watch DVD , would stream music poor reception in the county, and watch sports and regular tv. Is this too much? Would I be better with 2 channel?
Thanks, andy

I would stay clear of Onkyo right now personally. This really depends on what you want to do, what center channel would you use, are you going for 5.1... etc...

 

[Andy6868]

I would stay clear of Onkyo right now personally. This really depends on what you want to do, what center channel would you use, are you going for 5.1... etc...

Do I really need 5:1? They told me with what they wanted me to buy I wouldn't need a center channel. That seemed odd. I just want nice sound watching tv or music. Can I do that with a good 2 channel and nice floor speakers? I can spend upto $1500 for speakers and receiver or amp and speakers

 

[Klipschhead302]

Do I really need 5:1? They told me with what they wanted me to buy I wouldn't need a center channel. That seemed odd. I just want nice sound watching tv or music. Can I do that with a good 2 channel and nice floor speakers? I can spend upto $1500 for speakers and receiver or amp and speakers

What reason did they give for not needing a center channel? If you only have a couch and no side chairs I suppose a phantom center channel could work. If you have guests over they'll be getting the voice from the front speaker they are closer to which will sound strange and put the voices closer and disjointed from the screen.

It's not like those Jamo's they chose don't need a center, I'd love to hear the reasons they give.

 

[AaM Jay]

I have been reading this forum for about two weeks now. I am trying to build a home theater of my own. I'll appreciate any suggestions

What I have is
Yamaha RXV-479
Front Speakers - Bose 201 V Series - got a good deal so just bought them.
For Rear I have already tried these
1. Onkyo - SKH 410 - and then returned because my receiver is not Atmos, so the sound was weird.
2. Purchased Polk R150 - for about $100 tried to make it front speakers but was not happy with overall quality.
3. Now purchased bose 161 for Rear.

The issues is that there is no bass and crispiness in the music while movies sounds ok or full. I am not a audiophile so don't know the technicalities. but overall the sound is still just average.


1. First, the thump is missing so planning a Dayton Sub 1200. what do you guys think given I live in an apartment, is it ok ?
2. I can't return Bose 201, so If I can get a better set in front, I will move 201 to rear.
3. I still can return 161 and in replacement for these I want to have a new pair. Please help me which one to buy.
4. Do I even need a center speaker. I read somewhere that it is really not needed and I would want to skip because of the budget.
My overall budget for sub and front speaker is $250, but I can push a bit more to $300 If I can get something which can make a real difference.

Thanks !

 

[Klipschhead302]

I have been reading this forum for about two weeks now. I am trying to build a home theater of my own. I'll appreciate any suggestions

Welcome to the forum!

What I have is
Yamaha RXV-479
Front Speakers - Bose 201 V Series - got a good deal so just bought them.
For Rear I have already tried these

The Yamaha RXV-479 does 5.1 and should suffice for now until you can afford to get to the next level.

1. Onkyo - SKH 410 - and then returned because my receiver is not Atmos, so the sound was weird.

The sound wasn't weird because it lacked Atmos, it was weird due to speaker choice.

2. Purchased Polk R150 - for about $100 tried to make it front speakers but was not happy with overall quality.
3. Now purchased bose 161 for Rear.


The issues is that there is no bass and crispiness in the music while movies sounds ok or full. I am not a audiophile so don't know the technicalities. but overall the sound is still just average.

You need to solve the front and work your way back, the Polk's for the money aren't bad but the Bose 201's will never give you low end or the clarity you're looking for.

1. First, the thump is missing so planning a Dayton Sub 1200. what do you guys think given I live in an apartment, is it ok ?

In my own humble opinion no, it's never ok to put in a powerful subwoofer in an apartment and yet people do it and for some reason believe it's ok and people living around them above below and to the side should deal with it.

I think full range speakers for an apartment are fine but I don't make the rules. Anyway, another reason for full range up front is the budget you state you have.

2. I can't return Bose 201, so If I can get a better set in front, I will move 201 to rear.

This is a good idea for now until you are ready for upgrades.

3. I still can return 161 and in replacement for these I want to have a new pair. Please help me which one to buy.

Return the 161's and put the 201's in the back for now.

4. Do I even need a center speaker. I read somewhere that it is really not needed and I would want to skip because of the budget.

If your listening position isn't off to the side or you won't have people sitting to the sides of the TV going phantom will work until you can afford to upgrade.

My overall budget for sub and front speaker is $250, but I can push a bit more to $300 If I can get something which can make a real difference.

You've been spending money in search of good sound instead of researching and then buying. Have patients and research first, buy after. $300.00 isn't enough for a decent set of main speakers and a sub, I would go with mains that can provide a little bit of grunt and work your way up from there, this way you're not selling off mistakes.

 

[AaM Jay]

Bose 201 V series, this alone in my view is a great reason why the sound is lacking. Bose 161's for the rear, I guess is ok considering, but so many better options.

Keep the Yamaha AVR, you can't support Atmos anyway with the budget you have. How does a receiver lacking Atmos sound weird especially if you didn't have the speaker configuration to support it anyway??

You're in an apartment, how much "thump" is allowable? I don't understand people who purchase subwoofers and live in an apartment. People are supposed to deal with a certain amount of noise during the day but a subwoofer with any decent output is going to drive people nuts.

There is literally no such thing as a decent set of front mains and a subwoofer in the $250.00 budget range, same with the $300.00 range.

If you only have a listening position in the back of the room and not on the sides of the room you can get away with a phantom center considering the budget.

If I were you I would sell all of the Bose speakers, I haven't heard a decent set of Bose speakers since the 901's back in 1978 and those required an EQ to sound right.

Since you live in an apartment why not go for good sound quality instead of "thump" which your budget won't allow for? You don't need Atmos since you don't have the speakers to allow for it and this way you get there as the budget allows.

Thanks for your reply Klipschhead302, I can try selling bose 201, given they are just 2 months old, Let me see If I can sell it at $150, but this will take some time. I have uploaded a drawing of my road and my seating.

Right now the sound is so plain, that I thought I need a sub, but if there is just decent sound from front speakers, I can skip it.

 

[Klipschhead302]

Thanks for your reply Klipschhead302, I can try selling bose 201, given they are just 2 months old, Let me see If I can sell it at $150, but this will take some time. I have uploaded a drawing of my road and my seating.

Right now the sound is so plain, that I thought I need a sub, but if there is just decent sound from front speakers, I can skip it.

It would seem part of the problem is distance to the listening position. You have 12ft going the other way, is it possible to change the layout? The room is twice as wide as it is deep the way it's configured right now, people who know more hopefully will chime in.

The good part is you can sell the Bose 201 speakers and upgrade just the mains, you can keep the cheaper 161's for the rear this way for now you're just buying mains. If you sell the 201's does this increase the budget to $450?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Good advice from klipschhead! And yes you do need a subwoofer, but like he said, apartment life and subwoofers are toxic. Unless of course they're all bass heads too lol.

 

[AaM Jay]

It would seem part of the problem is distance to the listening position. You have 12ft going the other way, is it possible to change the layout? The room is twice as wide as it is deep the way it's configured right now, people who know more hopefully will chime in.

The good part is you can sell the Bose 201 speakers and upgrade just the mains, you can keep the cheaper 161's for the rear this way for now you're just buying mains. If you sell the 201's does this increase the budget to $450?

Left side is Patio slider, so I can't change the position. what if for now

Good advice from klipschhead! And yes you do need a subwoofer, but like he said, apartment life and subwoofers are toxic. Unless of course they're all bass heads too lol.

They knocked my door once already to tone down, I'd no idea then that sound can hit up top floor, I though its only the guys below who can have problem with it, I was playing loud although. Even If I get a sub, I will have to keep the level low.

I can't change the position either because left side is patio slider. Can hit $450 if I sell bose 201 and return 161.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

One thing about a quality sub is you can get better sound without having to crank it up. However, once it's sounding good, that's what we want to do.

 

[Pogre]

I vote smaller towers. maybe 5 1/2 or 6 1/2" woofers. I would never want to go without my subs, but apartments and subs don't really mix.

 

[AaM Jay]

Any suggestions on model\brand Pogre ?

 

[Klipschhead302]

Left side is Patio slider, so I can't change the position. what if for now


They knocked my door once already to tone down, I'd no idea then that sound can hit up top floor, I though its only the guys below who can have problem with it, I was playing loud although. Even If I get a sub, I will have to keep the level low.

Low frequency travels every direction, to the side, to the people upstairs and the people downstairs making it possible to piss off a lot of people at one time.

I can't change the position either because left side is patio slider. Can hit $450 if I sell bose 201 and return 161.

The big issue with an apartment is the rules and neighbor tolerance or the lack thereof. What I did way back in the day when full range speakers hit pretty low was to schedule things with the neighbors so they knew when I was going to have it turned up a little. Sadly, with a good sub that digs deep, even in a night time mode the neighbors will hear it. I don't care what the AVR manufacturers say if my wife can hear the system upstairs at low volume in night time mode, so will your neighbors. Also, this mode isn't worth using anyway.

Something to think of for the future is if you buy mains that can dig into the 30's then when you do buy a subwoofer you can cross the mains off at 60 and still get decent sound with the sub(s) off and only use them when you let the neighbors know you're going to watch a movie and want a bit more ooompphhh hopefully they're good neighbors.

If people are complaining now with literally no real bass (the 201's aren't known for digging deep) plus Bose is also not known for giving all the specs for their speakers which is yet another reason to avoid them.

Save for decent mains, of which there are many for a low budget and work your way up, trust me, a good pair of mains will change everything about how your system sounds.

Also, stop looking at new, you can save a lot buying used.

 

[Pogre]

I don't have a lot of experience with towers, but I believe there are some decent ones close to budget. Some others will pop in with some suggestions. There are some bookshelf speakers that can dig pretty deep, but they're costly and it looks like you'll want a little more.

 

[Klipschhead302]

Any suggestions on model\brand Pogre ?

These have decent bass believe it or not and are within your budget. I own a pair and was surprised at how good they sounded and when you can afford even better mains then these can go to the back.

Link - Elac B6's

 

[Pogre]

then you do buy a subwoofer you can cross the mains off at 60 and still get decent sound with the sub(s) off

lol

I think he's gonna need a little direction or somewhere to start 'head. I'm not that up to snuff or haven't listened to a lot of towers.

*Edit: I see you got it.

 

[Klipschhead302]

I put that out there knowing it won't mean much to him now.. my brain goes 1000mph so I can be all over the place but figure he can look back as he builds the system up.

 

[Pogre]

These have decent bass believe it or not and are within your budget. I own a pair and was surprised at how good they sounded and when you can afford even better mains then these can go to the back.

Link - Elac B6's

Those Andrew Jones speakers are legit. If we're going with a bookshelf, everyone here who has heard them rave about the AA Philharmonics. They have some legit bass and are made by a master of the trade.

 

[Klipschhead302]

Those Andrew Jones speakers are legit. If we're going with a bookshelf, everyone here who has heard them rave about the AA Philharmonics. They have some legit bass and are made by a master of the trade.

Excellent point, the AA Philharmonics were definitely on my short list for the 2ch system and would probably do very well in his system plus they save him even more money over the B6's.