Setting up home theatre in living room advice/guidance

[Nutmax]

Hello!

Just moved into a new house and looking to set up a surround system for an open space living room to have a 5.2.4 system. Have been trying my best to research different products but have gotten to a point where I'm just overwhelmed (Timber matching, placement etc).

I emailed Q Acoustics and asked about the construction of their speakers (one of the AV people requested I ask) and this is what they said:
"The drivers use paper pulp cone for the LF and the HF uses Tetoron fabric dome."

I have gotten some quotes Quote 1 but I definitely feel that I'm being overcharged for things in this list. It seems that the local people here stick to one brand they trust and do not want to deviate from it. So when I ask about alternatives to their choices they just keep going on about how the speaker they chose will sound best. Just looking for advice from an unbiased party who isn't trying to sell me something.

Currently own:
Receiver: DENON AVR-S540BT (want to upgrade)
LCR: Q Acoustics Concept 50 for L/R and Q Acoustics 90 for Center
Sub: Dayton Audio Sub-1200 (want to upgrade)

Looking for 2 side surround speakers and 4 in ceiling speakers for Atmos in addition to upgrading the receiver and subwoofer. I have heard I don't need super high end in-ceiling speakers especially if they are just used for Atmos but please advise

These are the products that I've seen reviews for and looked interesting to me or have been suggested through quotes:

Receivers:
Denon 3800H
Integra 5.4
Onkyo TX-RZ50
Marantz Cinema 50

Subwoofers:
SVS Micro 3000 (leaning towards this mainly because of the small form factor)
Dynaudio Sub3
Episode Evolution Series 10 sealed Sub

Side Speakers:
Triad In Room Mini LCR
Triad OnWall Mini LCR 1.0
Polk Audio 65 RT

In-Ceiling Speakers:
Polk Audio RC80i
RSL MK C34E MKII (saw it mentioned in another thread here)
Triad PDX Series 4 In-Ceiling Speaker
Dynaudio P4C65

Not married to any of these options, so open to any and all suggestions/ideas!

I am attaching some pictures to give a clearer idea of my living room and planned speaker placement. For side speakers, the right side speaker would have to be on wall or in-wall and my left side speaker would have to sit on the little side counter or built into it's wall. Please let me know if I can clarify anything. Hoping to spend less than $8k on this project. TV is a LG C2.

I will appreciate any help I can get! Thank you for your time.

Video of Living Room if it helps

 

[TLS Guy]

Hello!

Just moved into a new house and looking to set up a surround system for an open space living room to have a 5.2.4 system. Have been trying my best to research different products but have gotten to a point where I'm just overwhelmed (Timber matching, placement etc).

I emailed Q Acoustics and asked about the construction of their speakers (one of the AV people requested I ask) and this is what they said:
"The drivers use paper pulp cone for the LF and the HF uses Tetoron fabric dome."

I have gotten some quotes Quote 1 but I definitely feel that I'm being overcharged for things in this list. It seems that the local people here stick to one brand they trust and do not want to deviate from it. So when I ask about alternatives to their choices they just keep going on about how the speaker they chose will sound best. Just looking for advice from an unbiased party who isn't trying to sell me something.

Currently own:
Receiver: DENON AVR-S540BT (want to upgrade)
LCR: Q Acoustics Concept 50 for L/R and Q Acoustics 90 for Center
Sub: Dayton Audio Sub-1200 (want to upgrade)

Looking for 2 side surround speakers and 4 in ceiling speakers for Atmos in addition to upgrading the receiver and subwoofer. I have heard I don't need super high end in-ceiling speakers especially if they are just used for Atmos but please advise

These are the products that I've seen reviews for and looked interesting to me or have been suggested through quotes:

Receivers:
Denon 3800H
Integra 5.4
Onkyo TX-RZ50
Marantz Cinema 50

Subwoofers:
SVS Micro 3000 (leaning towards this mainly because of the small form factor)
Dynaudio Sub3
Episode Evolution Series 10 sealed Sub

Side Speakers:
Triad In Room Mini LCR
Triad OnWall Mini LCR 1.0
Polk Audio 65 RT

In-Ceiling Speakers:
Polk Audio RC80i
RSL MK C34E MKII (saw it mentioned in another thread here)
Triad PDX Series 4 In-Ceiling Speaker
Dynaudio P4C65

Not married to any of these options, so open to any and all suggestions/ideas!

I am attaching some pictures to give a clearer idea of my living room and planned speaker placement. For side speakers, the right side speaker would have to be on wall or in-wall and my left side speaker would have to sit on the little side counter or built into it's wall. Please let me know if I can clarify anything. Hoping to spend less than $8k on this project. TV is a LG C2.

I will appreciate any help I can get! Thank you for your time.

Video of Living Room if it helps

View attachment 58554View attachment 58555View attachment 58556

That is just not a sensible space to do 5.2.4. That would be a complete waste of money. Put your money into a really good 3.2, or 3.1 system and be done and happy with it. This is a common mistake to try and put a complex system is an unsuitable room, and it is a very bad mistake.

 

[TLS Guy]

Just as long as the speakers are placed in the right angles should be fine.

And eliminate that micro subwoofer.
Choose the one that delivers the right performance for the room. You easily want a ported sub. Perhaps even one of the big ones for this large open room.

Big open spaces like that are just not conducive to multichannel surround audio systems. These systems require spaces with definite boundaries. The other issue is that they take a lot of power to fill the space. The sound leakage from that space will be enormous.

The best bang for the buck in a space like that, is a potent system with three really good high spl. speakers and enough power to drive them. Subs of course, at least two big ones for that space, as bass leakage will be enormous. That approach will give the best sound quality over the space. That space will be ambient and that also speaks to the need for a good frontal sound. That approach is the way to go in a room like that.

The more I do this, the more I feel that multichannel audio really does require a dedicated space, and surround audio is put in too many places it should not be, and leads to a reduction in sound quality. Home architecture is the biggest limitation to reaping the benefits of surround audio systems.

 

[Wardog555]

I actually agree that having a enclosed room has a significant benifit. You're completely right that people with open plan rooms have no planing whatsoever when it comes to home theater purposes. And is commonly not really suitable for Dolby atmos. That's why I have atmos in my tiny bedroom over the living room.

 

[TLS Guy]

I actually agree that having a enclosed room has a significant benifit. You're completely right that people with open plan rooms have no planing whatsoever when it comes to home theater purposes. And is commonly not really suitable for Dolby atmos. That's why I have atmos in my tiny bedroom over the living room.

At this point I should emphasize, that it is still possible to get good sound in a space like that, but you absolutely must build for the space and not to preconceived ideas.

If you place a bunch of speakers around a room like that, you have have acoustic chaos, with speakers setting off reflections from multiple positions. What is required is a coherent sound field from a prime location, not only acoustically, but architecturally and being synergistic with the use and comfort of the space. You certainly can get good sound from a space like that, but you have to be smart about it. I have a space very much like that. It sounds very good, but the sound system is in the gathering area.

That system produces good sound throughout the space and sounds fine while cooking in the kitchen. A surround system would be a mess. In the OPs space he needs to do something along those lines, and also keep his wife happy. Devoting the resources appropriately allows for enough power, in this case 1000 watts to fill the space. So there you have a potent 3.1 system that takes zero floor space, but is optimized in the gathering space.

We don't talk enough about form and function here, and we should.

Then I put my 7.2.4 system in an appropriate dedicated space. Even so that 3.1 system gives you 80 to 90% or so of the loaf, so to speak.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Hello!

Just moved into a new house and looking to set up a surround system for an open space living room to have a 5.2.4 system. Have been trying my best to research different products but have gotten to a point where I'm just overwhelmed (Timber matching, placement etc).

I emailed Q Acoustics and asked about the construction of their speakers (one of the AV people requested I ask) and this is what they said:
"The drivers use paper pulp cone for the LF and the HF uses Tetoron fabric dome."

I have gotten some quotes Quote 1 but I definitely feel that I'm being overcharged for things in this list. It seems that the local people here stick to one brand they trust and do not want to deviate from it. So when I ask about alternatives to their choices they just keep going on about how the speaker they chose will sound best. Just looking for advice from an unbiased party who isn't trying to sell me something.

Currently own:
Receiver: DENON AVR-S540BT (want to upgrade)
LCR: Q Acoustics Concept 50 for L/R and Q Acoustics 90 for Center
Sub: Dayton Audio Sub-1200 (want to upgrade)

Looking for 2 side surround speakers and 4 in ceiling speakers for Atmos in addition to upgrading the receiver and subwoofer. I have heard I don't need super high end in-ceiling speakers especially if they are just used for Atmos but please advise

These are the products that I've seen reviews for and looked interesting to me or have been suggested through quotes:

Receivers:
Denon 3800H
Integra 5.4
Onkyo TX-RZ50
Marantz Cinema 50

Subwoofers:
SVS Micro 3000 (leaning towards this mainly because of the small form factor)
Dynaudio Sub3
Episode Evolution Series 10 sealed Sub

Side Speakers:
Triad In Room Mini LCR
Triad OnWall Mini LCR 1.0
Polk Audio 65 RT

In-Ceiling Speakers:
Polk Audio RC80i
RSL MK C34E MKII (saw it mentioned in another thread here)
Triad PDX Series 4 In-Ceiling Speaker
Dynaudio P4C65

Not married to any of these options, so open to any and all suggestions/ideas!

I am attaching some pictures to give a clearer idea of my living room and planned speaker placement. For side speakers, the right side speaker would have to be on wall or in-wall and my left side speaker would have to sit on the little side counter or built into it's wall. Please let me know if I can clarify anything. Hoping to spend less than $8k on this project. TV is a LG C2.

I will appreciate any help I can get! Thank you for your time.

Video of Living Room if it helps

View attachment 58554View attachment 58555View attachment 58556

Personally I think there’s some potential here. Let’s not let perfect be the enemy of good, or even great. While not ideal, I doubt you have another space to do this in. So, to start, you might want to match the surrounds(not side surrounds) to the mains/center. Then, absolutely upgrade the sub. But definitely get something bigger/better than anything on the list. Tiny/sealed subs won’t do the job in that space. Ideally you’d want at least two, but placement might be difficult so I would get the most potent one you can afford and go from there. PC models from svs are excellent while saving floor space, but imo there are better value options for the money. Rythmik, HSU, monolith are three for starters. The 3k micro need not apply. For a small form factor, the rsl speedwoofer will work as a pair, but for sheer output the sub1200 might already be on par. The speedwoofer will be more linear and smooth imo though. And speaking of RSL, I used their c32e in my slightly open room and they are excellent. Highly recommended.
Every room is a challenge so we do what we can. FWIW, our friendly doctor aka TLS guy custom built his home with a different budget than most of us mere mortals have. I also built my home twenty years ago and at the time, planned out for and built my LR around 5.x. Since then, I added rear surrounds, and four IC speakers and am at 7.3.4. My surrounds due to my architectural build remain at about 110° and my ceiling is angled. Still sounds amazing. Do what you can do, FTW.

 

[TLS Guy]

Personally I think there’s some potential here. Let’s not let perfect be the enemy of good, or even great. While not ideal, I doubt you have another space to do this in. So, to start, you might want to match the surrounds(not side surrounds) to the mains/center. Then, absolutely upgrade the sub. But definitely get something bigger/better than anything on the list. Tiny/sealed subs won’t do the job in that space. Ideally you’d want at least two, but placement might be difficult so I would get the most potent one you can afford and go from there. PC models from svs are excellent while saving floor space, but imo there are better value options for the money. Rythmik, HSU, monolith are three for starters. The 3k micro need not apply. For a small form factor, the rsl speedwoofer will work as a pair, but for sheer output the sub1200 might already be on par. The speedwoofer will be more linear and smooth imo though. And speaking of RSL, I used their c32e in my slightly open room and they are excellent. Highly recommended.
Every room is a challenge so we do what we can. FWIW, our friendly doctor aka TLS guy custom built his home with a different budget than most of us mere mortals have. I also built my home twenty years ago and at the time, planned out for and built my LR around 5.x. Since then, I added rear surrounds, and four IC speakers and am at 7.3.4. My surrounds due to my architectural build remain at about 110° and my ceiling is angled. Still sounds amazing. Do what you can do, FTW.

That is a beautiful space. That means you have to pay attention to the architecture and lay out of the space. I think the OP is absolutely correct to be considering an in wall solution to that space. Subs are a big problem, as they tend to be big ugly boxes. I realize I managed to build a potent in wall sub, and I know there is no commercial product anything like it, but a sub with an excellent build and finish quality will be required.

It is problems like this that limit the widespread acceptance of AV, and that the industry has not done nearly enough to address. In ends up with the AV budget going to the divorce lawyers and then some!

 

[-Jim-]

The reality is few people will be able to have a dedicated Home Theater Room, and we should try to assist those keen enough to do the best they can in the space they've got. Of course it's all subject to the WAF. (Wife Acceptance Factor)

Some seats will not be close to optimal, but that's the reality of it. I too would suggest in-wall surrounds like @TLS Guy. Then think about using Wireless Subs as end tables if there's a match after doing the Subwoofer Crawl.

Atmos in ceiling speakers would be my last add. Some folks drool when they have them, but for me there's a slight improvement when the movie fits. I don't think you need to break the bank for these "effects" speakers.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

That is a beautiful space. That means you have to pay attention to the architecture and lay out of the space. I think the OP is absolutely correct to be considering an in wall solution to that space. Subs are a big problem, as they tend to be big ugly boxes. I realize I managed to build a potent in wall sub, and I know there is no commercial product anything like it, but a sub with an excellent build and finish quality will be required.

It is problems like this that limit the widespread acceptance of AV, and that the industry has not done nearly enough to address. In ends up with the AV budget going to the divorce lawyers and then some!

I agree it’s a very nice room, and IW surrounds make sense here. The front of the room is open to interpretation and seem that he’s already populated with standard fare. The subs will be an issue as we’ve all agreed on. Personally I’d like to see him install the .4 tops. IMO/IME some Atmos is better than no Atmos and as you and I both agree, upmixing can be damn near as good, and sometimes better. I also agree that the industry isn’t very helpful with good solutions. For subs, physics are physics and you can only do so much. Seems that according to industry, the soundbar is the way to cover WAF AND get a good experience. I’m not buying…

 

[Nutmax]

Thank you SO much for all of the advice! I really appreciate each and every one of your inputs so far.

This would be my only chance at having some sort of home theatre setup for a VERY long time (house prices are insane right now) and while I do understand this space is not optimal in the slightest, I love this area because this is where my whole family can be together. So I'd like to enhance it as best we can.

At this point I should emphasize, that it is still possible to get good sound in a space like that, but you absolutely must build for the space and not to preconceived ideas.

If you place a bunch of speakers around a room like that, you have have acoustic chaos, with speakers setting off reflections from multiple positions. What is required is a coherent sound field from a prime location, not only acoustically, but architecturally and being synergistic with the use and comfort of the space. You certainly can get good sound from a space like that, but you have to be smart about it. I have a space very much like that. It sounds very good, but the sound system is in the gathering area.

That system produces good sound throughout the space and sounds fine while cooking in the kitchen. A surround system would be a mess. In the OPs space he needs to do something along those lines, and also keep his wife happy. Devoting the resources appropriately allows for enough power, in this case 1000 watts to fill the space. So there you have a potent 3.1 system that takes zero floor space, but is optimized in the gathering space.

We don't talk enough about form and function here, and we should.

Then I put my 7.2.4 system in an appropriate dedicated space. Even so that 3.1 system gives you 80 to 90% or so of the loaf, so to speak.

Your living area is absolutely beautiful and you are right. The subs are a massive hurdle because of imo how unsightly they are in certain instances.

Personally I think there’s some potential here. Let’s not let perfect be the enemy of good, or even great. While not ideal, I doubt you have another space to do this in. So, to start, you might want to match the surrounds(not side surrounds) to the mains/center. Then, absolutely upgrade the sub. But definitely get something bigger/better than anything on the list. Tiny/sealed subs won’t do the job in that space. Ideally you’d want at least two, but placement might be difficult so I would get the most potent one you can afford and go from there. PC models from svs are excellent while saving floor space, but imo there are better value options for the money. Rythmik, HSU, monolith are three for starters. The 3k micro need not apply. For a small form factor, the rsl speedwoofer will work as a pair, but for sheer output the sub1200 might already be on par. The speedwoofer will be more linear and smooth imo though. And speaking of RSL, I used their c32e in my slightly open room and they are excellent. Highly recommended.
Every room is a challenge so we do what we can. FWIW, our friendly doctor aka TLS guy custom built his home with a different budget than most of us mere mortals have. I also built my home twenty years ago and at the time, planned out for and built my LR around 5.x. Since then, I added rear surrounds, and four IC speakers and am at 7.3.4. My surrounds due to my architectural build remain at about 110° and my ceiling is angled. Still sounds amazing. Do what you can do, FTW.

Thank you for the recommendation for the RSL In-ceiling speakers. I will go with those since they seem really great for the price. Could you go into a little more detail about matching the surrounds? For Sub choice, would 2x Rythmik FVX12 be a good choice or would 1x FV15HP2 be better?

The reality is few people will be able to have a dedicated Home Theater Room, and we should try to assist those keen enough to do the best they can in the space they've got. Of course it's all subject to the WAF. (Wife Acceptance Factor)

Some seats will not be close to optimal, but that's the reality of it. I too would suggest in-wall surrounds like @TLS Guy. Then think about using Wireless Subs as end tables if there's a match after doing the Subwoofer Crawl.

Atmos in ceiling speakers would be my last add. Some folks drool when they have them, but for me there's a slight improvement when the movie fits. I don't think you need to break the bank for these "effects" speakers.

I hope this is helpful.

The term WAF really made me chuckle and is actually dictating a lot of my choices atm haha. Using Wireless Subs as an end table would be a fantastic idea because looks like I could get some of these larger subs in white which would fit her aesthetic.

What In-wall speakers would you guys recommend to compliment this setup?

Thank you

 

[TLS Guy]

Thank you SO much for all of the advice! I really appreciate each and every one of your inputs so far.

This would be my only chance at having some sort of home theatre setup for a VERY long time (house prices are insane right now) and while I do understand this space is not optimal in the slightest, I love this area because this is where my whole family can be together. So I'd like to enhance it as best we can.




Your living area is absolutely beautiful and you are right. The subs are a massive hurdle because of imo how unsightly they are in certain instances.



Thank you for the recommendation for the RSL In-ceiling speakers. I will go with those since they seem really great for the price. Could you go into a little more detail about matching the surrounds? For Sub choice, would 2x Rythmik FVX12 be a good choice?



The term WAF really made me chuckle and is actually dictating a lot of my choices atm haha. Using Wireless Subs as an end table would be a fantastic idea because looks like I could get some of these larger subs in white which would fit her aesthetic.

What In-wall speakers would you guys recommend to compliment this setup?

Thank you

Well, certainly no speakers that are not enclosed. However the first question has to be what is behind and in that wall behind the TV? The problem with in walls is that they are designed to fit between standard wall stud spacing, which is 16" on center and only leaves 14.5" between the studs. That is a big problem for a high powered system required for a large space like yours. I raise this as framing and dry walling is relatively cheap. So rebuilding that wall the TV is on to accommodate the system, needs to at least be on the table.

Mine was new construction, so I had a free hand. However it looks as if the wall, unless it houses vital infrastructure, could be rebuilt to design a potent neat system.
I raise this issue as in the whole scheme of things, framing and dry wall are relatively cheap.

The take home point is that if you can open up a wall, it gives you a lot more scope.

That system was built at the request of my wife, who insisted on a good system in that room, but that it must not use any floor space. I was resistant at first, mainly as I felt I had enough on my plate with that house build. However, as is not uncommon, I came to welcome the challenge.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

For sure! The mention of matching surrounds was in matching them to your mains. Imo that can help with a cohesive front and back. Some people treat the front of the room and back of the room like they’re not part of the same system lol. So if you can, it makes sense to have speakers that are the same, or from the same line. I’ve used all kinds in he past, and matching(or close) has been best for me.
When I went to Atmos, my compromise(WAF…cough)was IW sides. Due to an architectural choice early in my home build, they’re at 110° which was the spec for 5.1 when I did it. I chose a nice pair of JBL’s that match my mains, and also fit inside of the column I built to hold the original right surround speaker(and light switches). Not sure at what stage this is but you get an idea.

It used to hold a 40lb JBL monitor!

For subs, I think the the fx12 is great. I haven’t actually used them, but am familiar with their larger siblings and Rythmik just makes great subwoofers. Again, there are tons of choices. What are the room dims? Recommending large subs is tricky, and knowing the room size can help.

 

[Nutmax]

Well, certainly no speakers that are not enclosed. However the first question has to be what is behind and in that wall behind the TV? The problem with in walls is that they are designed to fit between standard wall stud spacing, which is 16" on center and only leaves 14.5" between the studs. That is a big problem for a high powered system required for a large space like yours. I raise this as framing and dry walling is relatively cheap. So rebuilding that wall the TV is on to accommodate the system, needs to at least be on the table.

Mine was new construction, so I had a free hand. However it looks as if the wall, unless it houses vital infrastructure, could be rebuilt to design a potent neat system.
I raise this issue as in the whole scheme of things, framing and dry wall are relatively cheap.

The take home point is that if you can open up a wall, it gives you a lot more scope.

That system was built at the request of my wife, who insisted on a good system in that room, but that it must not use any floor space. I was resistant at first, mainly as I felt I had enough on my plate with that house build. However, as is not uncommon, I came to welcome the challenge.

You really built it from the ground up! I would not have the skillset to do such thing but might be able to reach out to a local handyman about it. Love the really clean look of that!

For sure! The mention of matching surrounds was in matching them to your mains. Imo that can help with a cohesive front and back. Some people treat the front of the room and back of the room like they’re not part of the same system lol. So if you can, it makes sense to have speakers that are the same, or from the same line. I’ve used all kinds in he past, and matching(or close) has been best for me.
When I went to Atmos, my compromise(WAF…cough)was IW sides. Due to an architectural choice early in my home build, they’re at 110° which was the spec for 5.1 when I did it. I chose a nice pair of JBL’s that match my mains, and also fit inside of the column I built to hold the original right surround speaker(and light switches). Not sure at what stage this is but you get an idea.

It used to hold a 40lb JBL monitor!

For subs, I think the the fx12 is great. I haven’t actually used them, but am familiar with their larger siblings and Rythmik just makes great subwoofers. Again, there are tons of choices. What are the room dims? Recommending large subs is tricky, and knowing the room size can help.

The speaker inside the column is a great idea! I'll have to check if that is possible with my column. Otherwise I'll see about installing an in-wall in the kitchen backsplash area.

The dimensions are a little tricky since its an open concept but I hope this picture helps. Ceilings are 10 ft tall.

Here is the POV as if I was the TV. Distance from Tv wall to the opposite wall would be ~35 ft

http://imgur.com/0rUpgbm

Here is my POV if im sitting on the couch and looking left.

http://imgur.com/xfHnJEU

 

[}Fear_Inoculum{]

Looked at that quote. Wow. Why are they trying to sell you a 7k 16 channel processor? Seems excessive given your 5.2.4 setup.

As @William Lemmerhirt said, go with the RSL C34E MKII for your in-ceiling speakers. At 150$/ each plus tax, they're amazing (I've got 4 myself).

For subwoofers, SVS, HSU, Monolith, Rhythmic, Paradigm etc.

And don't spend a ton on your surrounds. @shadyJ will tell you the same. Since ~90% of the sound in TV/movies comes from the LCR, that's where you want to spend the money. As long as they are a good tonal match, the surrounds don't need to be the same brand as your LCR (which 100% should be the same make).

And then there is the snake oil interconnects, cables etc they are trying to sell you. I'd steer well clear of whatever company you got that quote from. You can do alot better than what they're trying to sell you for 14k.

 

[Nutmax]

So if you can, it makes sense to have speakers that are the same, or from the same line. I’ve used all kinds in he past, and matching(or close) has been best for me.

Looked at that quote. Wow. Why are they trying to sell you a 7k 16 channel processor? Seems excessive given your 5.2.4 setup.

As @William Lemmerhirt said, go with the RSL C34E MKII for your in-ceiling speakers. At 150$/ each plus tax, they're amazing (I've got 4 myself).

For subwoofers, SVS, HSU, Monolith, Rhythmic, Paradigm etc.

And don't spend a ton on your surrounds. @shadyJ will tell you the same. Since ~90% of the sound in TV/movies comes from the LCR, that's where you want to spend the money. As long as they are a good tonal match, the surrounds don't need to be the same brand as your LCR (which 100% should be the same make).

And then there is the snake oil interconnects, cables etc they are trying to sell you. I'd steer well clear of whatever company you got that quote from. You can do alot better than what they're trying to sell you for 14k.

Super friendly guy who kept mentioning the award winning home theatre setups he's done. I don't doubt his knowledge and expertise but it just felt like he was trying to sell me something the entire convo vs someone who had my best interests in mind to improve my space.

Anyways, I will get the RSL C34E MKII for my in-ceilings and funnily enough, it looks like RSL JUST released their in-wall speakers yesterday RSL w25e In-Wall Speaker. Obviously, no one has tried these yet but I could be the guinea pig.

Rythmik Audio FVX12 for 2x subs (nice that they come in white!) *** hopefully if my application for approval goes through ***

I actually don't know how to match the tonal sound of my Q Acoustics Concept 50 and 90 but I have been told they are comparatively neutral vs others. Any idea on which in-walls would fit this description? Or is there a number value/range I should be looking for when looking at specs?

Thank you so much for helping this newbie

 

[TLS Guy]

You really built it from the ground up! I would not have the skillset to do such thing but might be able to reach out to a local handyman about it. Love the really clean look of that!



The speaker inside the column is a great idea! I'll have to check if that is possible with my column. Otherwise I'll see about installing an in-wall in the kitchen backsplash area.

The dimensions are a little tricky since its an open concept but I hope this picture helps. Ceilings are 10 ft tall.

View attachment 58573

Here is the POV as if I was the TV. Distance from Tv wall to the opposite wall would be ~35 ft

http://imgur.com/0rUpgbm

Here is my POV if im sitting on the couch and looking left.

http://imgur.com/xfHnJEU

The floor plan and those pictures are very helpful.

This is certainly a challenging problem. It is a huge open space, and the floors are hardwood. I don't see any place on the left to place a surround speaker. The right has a possible.

The wall the TV is on, is a shared wall with the master bedroom. You won't be able to design in wall speakers for that space, without taking some space from the master bedroom.

Seeing those pictures and the plans, it reinforces my view that doing a surround system in your situation is a very bad idea.

So it comes back to free standing speakers and subs. That would certainly clutter that space between the fireplace ad the wall which is not a huge width.

If you are prepared to encroach on the master bedroom space a neat in wall system could be designed and built, giving a good clean look.

Does that house have a basement or an upstairs, it is it on footings one level home?

 

[PENG]

Super friendly guy who kept mentioning the award winning home theatre setups he's done. I don't doubt his knowledge and expertise but it just felt like he was trying to sell me something the entire convo vs someone who had my best interests in mind to improve my space.

Anyways, I will get the RSL C34E MKII for my in-ceilings and funnily enough, it looks like RSL JUST released their in-wall speakers yesterday RSL w25e In-Wall Speaker. Obviously, no one has tried these yet but I could be the guinea pig.

Rythmik Audio FVX12 for 2x subs (nice that they come in white!) *** hopefully if my application for approval goes through ***

I actually don't know how to match the tonal sound of my Q Acoustics Concept 50 and 90 but I have been told they are comparatively neutral vs others. Any idea on which in-walls would fit this description? Or is there a number value/range I should be looking for when looking at specs?

Thank you so much for helping this newbie

Whatever you decided, including keeping your beautiful Q Acoustics LCRs if you are fine with just a few sweet spot closed to the main listening position you should be able to have decent sound quality by getting an AVR that has decent room correction system such as Audyssey XT32 or Dirac Live with DLBC. That means the minimum would be the Denon AVR-X3800H or the Onkyo RZ50 (not sure if it has DLBC ready, it may be a FW upgradable option, and an external power amplifier for at least the LCR channels.

Without room correction, in that room the bass sound is not going to be good. Some people, such as TLSGuy don't seem to believe in room correction but many do, and if you look at the available data, they do work very well except in those near perfect rooms where RC are not required in the first place.

 

[-Jim-]

@Nutmax , I just thought of a little ammunition to get a positive WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor). With most receivers these days (including your DENON AVR-S540BT for example) there's a Multichannel Stereo mode (which drives some audiophiles wild) that your wife may like playing through the overhead Atmos speakers when working in the kitchen on the island.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

@Nutmax , I just thought of a little ammunition to get a positive WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor). With most receivers these days (including your DENON AVR-S540BT for example) there's a Multichannel Stereo mode (which drives some audiophiles wild) that your wife may like playing through the overhead Atmos speakers when working in the kitchen on the island.

Lol. Yep. Drives me nuts! But I do know it works for many users. Personally I think a zone 2 option would be less intrusive. But good thinking on the kitchen use.