Need suggestions on how to turn my room into an Atmos-enabled home theater

[William Lemmerhirt]

I like it a lot. I have it in large room right now. Planning on moving it upstairs to the main room for TV / movies and games on a 65" for every day stuff. Wanting to go 7.4.4 with a new receiver, running 5.4.2 right now, just waiting on some sales.

The 810 has more than enough power and no issues at all. Does not run hot and does what it needs to do. Running KEF Q900 mains, Q600 center, Q100 surrounds and RSL C34E's for front atmos. Have a MiniDSP 2X4HD to a Chane 3600 and 4 SBE118'S.

Really nice system. Those kefs made it on to my list too. Not super compelled to replace all my bed channels yet. Avr first. Which BTW, I dropped in this thread to say, I found an RZ830 for a good price. I already have a minidsp 2x4hd as well so as much as I was looking forward to a shiny new Denon, and subeq ht, I might just take a run at it. I spent a few years eq’ing my subs with a behringer feedback destroyer, and a couple years with minidsp and REW/umik-1 so...
I might just be good!

 

[Danzilla31]

Really nice system. Those kefs made it on to my list too. Not super compelled to replace all my bed channels yet. Avr first. Which BTW, I dropped in this thread to say, I found an RZ830 for a good price. I already have a minidsp 2x4hd as well so as much as I was looking forward to a shiny new Denon, and subeq ht, I might just take a run at it. I spent a few years eq’ing my subs with a behringer feedback destroyer, and a couple years with minidsp and REW/umik-1 so...
I might just be good!

Well I'd like to tell you how the Denon sounds but I may have run into an issue setting it up. I actually set up a thread in the ave amp section to get some feedback on it cuz I'm stumped. If you go with the RZ good luck. Hope it rocks for you!

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Well I'd like to tell you how the Denon sounds but I may have run into an issue setting it up. I actually set up a thread in the ave amp section to get some feedback on it cuz I'm stumped. If you go with the RZ good luck. Hope it rocks for you!

Thanks homes. I think it will be great. I’ve always found Onkyo to represent good bang for the buck in the past. I was pretty focused on subeqht, and drinking the D&M koolaid so. Gonna sleep on it anyways.
I’ll check your other thread. Maybe I can add something. Maybe not...lol

 

[Steelers252006]

I've enclosed a picture. I've been researching for months. Now, I'm a layman and don't understand half this stuff mind you, but from what I'm seeing and hearing I can't get speakers to bounce off the ceiling the way I have my TV and couch situated, and I don't plan on moving them. If I wanted to go the AV receiver route then, what would be a good choice as we sit here currently in October of 2018? Can they all do 3.1.2, for example? Would that be the way to go and just wire two speakers into the ceiling for Atmos? Is there a more efficient way that will be just as good?

As far as soundbars go, should I consider maybe the LGSK10Y to simply heighten the sound or maybe even the new Samsung N950? I know my ceilings are funky.

What would be a smart setup that would wok for me (sports, movies) for a fair price? I know we could spent uber amounts and make any room sing, but what do y'all think? I swear I think I'm changing my mind every other day on the best way to approach this. As of now, I have no idea what I should do.

Thank you much!!

So I "pitched" my idea last night after a few beers to my wife about getting a blackout curtain, moving the room around, et cetera, and her response? But then we won't have any natural light in the room, and are you sure you want to spend all that money. I'm like really? Geez, why do you think we work all these hard hours anyway? To have our toys!!

In any case, we've talked a lot about switching the room and the possibilities there. If I did leave it EXACTLY as is and wanted to get the best sound possible, I assume the Denon 4400 AV receiver would still be the best bang for the buck receiver to purchase, and then I'd just need to get a couple high quality front speakers, center channel, and sub or two? And if I want heights, I can figure out a way to put just two speakers that would go on the angled part of my ceiling right over the TV itself and point towards the couch? Would that about sum it up?

I've read some receivers offer "phantom surrounds", which they say isn't even close to the real thing but at least gives you somewhat a feeling of immersion. Is there any merit to this? If that's the case, should I consider that 7 channel Sony D1080 (I know I'm missing a few letters in there) for a receiver as I'm sure it will push those front speakers quite well on top of it supposedly offers this feature?

Thanks!!

 

[shadyJ]

So I "pitched" my idea last night after a few beers to my wife about getting a blackout curtain, moving the room around, et cetera, and her response? But then we won't have any natural light in the room, and are you sure you want to spend all that money. I'm like really? Geez, why do you think we work all these hard hours anyway? To have our toys!!

In any case, we've talked a lot about switching the room and the possibilities there. If I did leave it EXACTLY as is and wanted to get the best sound possible, I assume the Denon 4400 AV receiver would still be the best bang for the buck receiver to purchase, and then I'd just need to get a couple high quality front speakers, center channel, and sub or two? And if I want heights, I can figure out a way to put just two speakers that would go on the angled part of my ceiling right over the TV itself and point towards the couch? Would that about sum it up?

I've read some receivers offer "phantom surrounds", which they say isn't even close to the real thing but at least gives you somewhat a feeling of immersion. Is there any merit to this? If that's the case, should I consider that 7 channel Sony D1080 (I know I'm missing a few letters in there) for a receiver as I'm sure it will push those front speakers quite well on top of it supposedly offers this feature?

Thanks!!

Regarding the Sony receiver, anything with the word 'phantom' in it is not likely to be as good as the real thing. If you are interested in Atmos, I would skip the Sony.

For what its worth, I agree with your wife, don't block the window view. I would get a double layer curtain, so a thick one that can block light facing the room and a thin one that diffuses light facing the window. That way you can easily darken the room when you watch a movie but brighten it up with natural light at other times.

I think you can get a good sound with some minor adjustments to the present setup. Like I said, you will want to pull the sofa up away from the wall. This will reduce acoustic reflections from the backwall which are going to be substantial when you are seated so close to the wall like that. It also gets you closer to the TV and speakers. That means a larger image for you and also more powerful direct sound from the speakers since their direct sound doesn't have to travel as far. It increases the ratio of direct sound to reflected sound so they will sound more natural.

Also, remember to move that glass coffee table out of the path between your listening position and the speakers. One reason is that is a hard reflection point for sound from the speakers to your ears. It is very much an acoustic detriment. Another reason is that if you pull your sofa up, it makes for a more narrow walking path around that thing. That room will feel a lot more spacious if that coffee table is gone from the center of it. That also gives you more room to pull the speakers out from the wall. Try to give the speakers some stand off distances from nearby surfaces like walls. The more breathing room you can give them, the better they can sound.

 

[Steelers252006]

Regarding the Sony receiver, anything with the word 'phantom' in it is not likely to be as good as the real thing. If you are interested in Atmos, I would skip the Sony.

For what its worth, I agree with your wife, don't block the window view. I would get a double layer curtain, so a thick one that can block light facing the room and a thin one that diffuses light facing the window. That way you can easily darken the room when you watch a movie but brighten it up with natural light at other times.

I think you can get a good sound with some minor adjustments to the present setup. Like I said, you will want to pull the sofa up away from the wall. This will reduce acoustic reflections from the backwall which are going to be substantial when you are seated so close to the wall like that. It also gets you closer to the TV and speakers. That means a larger image for you and also more powerful direct sound from the speakers since their direct sound doesn't have to travel as far. It increases the ratio of direct sound to reflected sound so they will sound more natural.

Also, remember to move that glass coffee table out of the path between your listening position and the speakers. One reason is that is a hard reflection point for sound from the speakers to your ears. It is very much an acoustic detriment. Another reason is that if you pull your sofa up, it makes for a more narrow walking path around that thing. That room will feel a lot more spacious if that coffee table is gone from the center of it. That also gives you more room to pull the speakers out from the wall. Try to give the speakers some stand off distances from nearby surfaces like walls. The more breathing room you can give them, the better they can sound.

Why would a 3.1.2 not be a decent option for my particular setup in the room again? It’s an honest question as I really don’t know much about this type stuff, am learning A LOT through these posts. Thanks!!

 

[shadyJ]

Why would a 3.1.2 not be a decent option for my particular setup in the room again? It’s an honest question as I really don’t know much about this type stuff, am learning A LOT through these posts. Thanks!!

I think if you pull the sofa up a bit you could do 5.1.2 reasonably well. Just don't place the side surrounds too close to the listening positions.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

I think if you pull the sofa up a bit you could do 5.1.2 reasonably well. Just don't place the side surrounds too close to the listening positions.

Totally agree.
I think I may have gone there earlier but can’t remember off hand. I’d still personally rotate the room, as long as there other rooms in the house to do things, but I see no reason to not do at least 5.1.