Home Theatre Speaker/Setup Recs

[dnice555]

Hi All,

I have a 19 foot long, 11 foot wide room with an LG CX 65 inch mounted above the fireplace. The TV pulls down to ideal viewing height with two cabinets to the left and right (pictured below). Right now the rest of the room is wide open. I have some furniture coming in that I can put anywhere. I already have a parasound A51 5 channel amp (overkill for any of the speakers I'm looking at) and an emotiva MC-700 7 channel processor.

I feel like the cabinets are limiting me to bookshelf fronts even though I'd prefer floorstanding. The cabinets are exactly 3 feet high which is ideal height wise (ear level seated). I'm wondering if I can put them right on the shelf or if some bookshelfs require a tiny stand (found a 3 inch stand online).

Which bookshelfs should I get? I see the RSL CG25 5.2 setup on sale for $2,823.00 down from $3,148.00 right now. The 2nd sub would be wireless but the 2 surrounds aren't. I'd prefer to avoid the wires on the 2 surrounds as well. The second more expensive option I'm entertaining is the Kef R3 Fronts ($2k), R2c center ($1,200), Q350s for surround ($700 on sale for $500 right now, also not wireless), and a pair of SVS subs (TBD).

I'm sure that I'm missing some great options that I should also be considering. My two current options are 3k vs ~6k. Any advice?

Thanks so much,

Dave

 

[mazersteven]

Those Cabinets are killing what could be a nice front stage

SVS is another great option

Speakers for Home Theater and Stereo Systems | SVS

Shop SVS home audio speaker solutions for crystal clear sound at any volume.

www.svsound.com

 

[lovinthehd]

Are the cabinets not removeable? You can easily put a bookshelf speaker on the cabinet (altho I'd put something like a thin foam pad between the speaker/cabinet more to protect finishes than any particular need otherwise), but I'd be concerned about the corner-like speaker placement that creates, I'd prefer my speakers out in front a few feet. 11 feet width on the other hand is a bit narrow....how far away is your seating?

Is the fireplace a working fireplace? Where/how do you plan on placing a center?

 

[mazersteven]

Is the fireplace a working fireplace?

Looks like a wood burning fireplace to me

 

[ryanosaur]

My room is 11x15... front wall is the 11' side. Speakers need to be a minimum of 6' apart for any success. 7-8' is better, but will be dictated more by your room acoustics than anything.
Lose the cabinets. I wouldn't keep them if paid. But it is your home, not mine.
Do you plan on using the fireplace, or is this a true repurposing of the room?

 

[mazersteven]

Lose the cabinets.

 

[lovinthehd]

Looks like a wood burning fireplace to me

Doesn't mean it's used....

 

[shadyJ]

I don't think the cabinets are that bad for placement. Just place the bookshelf speakers flush with the edge of the cabinet. RSL and KEF are both good brands. They both have good sales going on at the moment. For RSL, get the CG5, it's their best speaker.

 

[mazersteven]

I like the White finish of the RSL's and SVS's

 

[Mark E. Long]

Cabinets could work if good bookshelf’s are used but I’d loose them put good towers there and a couple subs . Where’s the equipment going ? If in the cabinets limits the use of towers my thought .

 

[ryanosaur]

cabinets are bad for components; makes proper ventilation and cooling a challenge.

 

[mazersteven]

cabinets are bad for components; makes proper ventilation and cooling a challenge.

Challenge Nothing!!!

 

[dnice555]

Those Cabinets are killing what could be a nice front stage

SVS is another great option

Speakers for Home Theater and Stereo Systems | SVS

Shop SVS home audio speaker solutions for crystal clear sound at any volume.

www.svsound.com

Solid additional option. Thanks man! I want to get rid of the cabinets but the wife didn't seem too keen on that. I may be able to work on her. At first she didn't want that TV mounted up there but then she came around.

 

[dnice555]

Are the cabinets not removeable? You can easily put a bookshelf speaker on the cabinet (altho I'd put something like a thin foam pad between the speaker/cabinet more to protect finishes than any particular need otherwise), but I'd be concerned about the corner-like speaker placement that creates, I'd prefer my speakers out in front a few feet. 11 feet width on the other hand is a bit narrow....how far away is your seating?

Is the fireplace a working fireplace? Where/how do you plan on placing a center?

I may be able to convince the wife on the cabinets. Good call on the foam pad... much cheaper than a stand. I can put the seating anywhere so any advice would be helpful. I will not be using that fireplace. I found a stand that would put the center under the TV and angle it up. I'm open to ideas for sure though.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Solid additional option. Thanks man! I want to get rid of the cabinets but the wife didn't seem too keen on that. I may be able to work on her. At first she didn't want that TV mounted up there but then she came around.

Well it’s definitely easier to ask for forgiveness than permission!!! Lol
Lots of times, you get used to things fairly quick. Then it’s just the way it is!

 

[dnice555]

I don't think the cabinets are that bad for placement. Just place the bookshelf speakers flush with the edge of the cabinet. RSL and KEF are both good brands. They both have good sales going on at the moment. For RSL, get the CG5, it's their best speaker.

I appreciate the vote of confidence and advice just incase I'm not allowed to removed the cabinets haha. Would you get four CG5s instead of two CG25s and two CG5s?

 

[mazersteven]

Do a search on Google for these

Studio Monitor Isolation | Auralex Acoustics

Isolate your studio monitors from their environment with Auralex monitor isolation products. They provide sonic isolation between your monitors and the surface they are resting on, to give an accurate translation of your recordings and mixes.

auralex.com

 

[shadyJ]

I appreciate the vote of confidence and advice just incase I'm not allowed to removed the cabinets haha. Would you get four CG5s instead of two CG25s and two CG5s?

I would get four CG5s. I have listened to both extensively and I like the CG5s better, they are more tonally balanced.

 

[shadyJ]

Do a search on Google for these

Studio Monitor Isolation | Auralex Acoustics

Isolate your studio monitors from their environment with Auralex monitor isolation products. They provide sonic isolation between your monitors and the surface they are resting on, to give an accurate translation of your recordings and mixes.

auralex.com

Those are pricey for what they are. You could save some money by just making some pads of out some polyurethane foam, which is basically what those risers are anyway. You can buy pieces of that foam for a lot less than those risers. But I would say it is not needed. You could just get some cheap rubber adhesive feet like this and that would be enough to isolate the speakers from the cabinet. Or just cut out some of this and put it under the speaker. The idea that speakers transmit mechanical energy to resting surfaces that could then ruin the sound is hugely overblown.

 

[VMPS-TIII]

Hi All,

I have a 19 foot long, 11 foot wide room with an LG CX 65 inch mounted above the fireplace. The TV pulls down to ideal viewing height with two cabinets to the left and right (pictured below). Right now the rest of the room is wide open. I have some furniture coming in that I can put anywhere. I already have a parasound A51 5 channel amp (overkill for any of the speakers I'm looking at) and an emotiva MC-700 7 channel processor.

I feel like the cabinets are limiting me to bookshelf fronts even though I'd prefer floorstanding. The cabinets are exactly 3 feet high which is ideal height wise (ear level seated). I'm wondering if I can put them right on the shelf or if some bookshelfs require a tiny stand (found a 3 inch stand online).

Which bookshelfs should I get? I see the RSL CG25 5.2 setup on sale for $2,823.00 down from $3,148.00 right now. The 2nd sub would be wireless but the 2 surrounds aren't. I'd prefer to avoid the wires on the 2 surrounds as well. The second more expensive option I'm entertaining is the Kef R3 Fronts ($2k), R2c center ($1,200), Q350s for surround ($700 on sale for $500 right now, also not wireless), and a pair of SVS subs (TBD).

I'm sure that I'm missing some great options that I should also be considering. My two current options are 3k vs ~6k. Any advice?

Thanks so much,

Dave

View attachment 42755

I would leave the cabinets where they are and place BMR's right up to the front edge.

Philharmonic Audio

philharmonicaudio.com

For the center I would use a BMR on it's side with the tweeter rotated or no center at all. For the surrounds I would add two BMR's on these 28" monolith stands.

Monolith by Monoprice 28in Speaker Stand (Each) - Monoprice.com

The Monolith™ Speaker Stand is an ideal pedestal for the home theater speakers in your entertainment system. Sturdy steel columns provide incredible strength and rigidity to support up to 100 lb

www.monoprice.com

This system would sound amazing for music or movies.
To top it off I would add HSU subs in the rear.

Bundles

The best value for price home theater systems and subwoofers on the market guaranteed

www.hsuresearch.com