Looking to buy a HiFi system for an open living room for music and TV.

[lawatson123]

I'm looking to move outside my HT for a HiFi 2 or 2.1 channel set-up for music, but will also need to have HDMI for TV use. It will be in an open floorplan living room that opens up to the kitchen, eat-in and sunroom (Mungo Homes The Webster to be exact). The house should be built by June, so planning ahead! I was thinking about the Arcam SA35 when it comes out and maybe Arendal 1723 THX Towers. Would that be a solid jump off point or are there other combos I should look into.

 

[everettT]

I'm looking to move outside my HT for a HiFi 2 or 2.1 channel set-up for music, but will also need to have HDMI for TV use. It will be in an open floorplan living room that opens up to the kitchen, eat-in and sunroom (Mungo Homes The Webster to be exact). The house should be built by June, so planning ahead! I was thinking about the Arcam SA35 when it comes out and maybe Arendal 1723 THX Towers. Would that be a solid jump off point or are there other combos I should look into.

If the space is large, bass management would be a top consideration for me and would make sure my electronics are capable of performing that. If it's 2.1 look at the Lyngdorf streaming amps.

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm looking to move outside my HT for a HiFi 2 or 2.1 channel set-up for music, but will also need to have HDMI for TV use. It will be in an open floorplan living room that opens up to the kitchen, eat-in and sunroom (Mungo Homes The Webster to be exact). The house should be built by June, so planning ahead! I was thinking about the Arcam SA35 when it comes out and maybe Arendal 1723 THX Towers. Would that be a solid jump off point or are there other combos I should look into.

In a situation like that, if it is a new build do an in wall installation. That is what I designed for our great room in a new build five years ago.

That is a big space and that system fills it easily. We use that system a lot, especially my wife who is its biggest fan.

If this is a new build remember that builders on the whole are idiots and need watching like hawks.

One thing they pretty much always neglect is a proper Internet infrastructure. In the modern home this is as important as plumbing and the electrical service.

Choose a place to put an internet patchtay, close to your router and cable modem if you need one. Then connect with wired cat6 to local patch bays. Put all cable in conduit so they can be easily and cheaply undated.

Cheap flexible conduit.

Ethernet patch bay.

Ethernet hub

Stay constantly alert to the stupidity and obstructions of Interior designers.

 

[lawatson123]

Thanks for the tips. It is unfortunately a set design from a large development group with minimal ability to change any thing remotely structural. We did run Cat6 to all foreseeable needed areas and dedicated 20A circuits and outlets, but no go with getting to do anything like in walls.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks for the tips. It is unfortunately a set design from a large development group with minimal ability to change any thing remotely structural. We did run Cat6 to all foreseeable needed areas and dedicated 20A circuits and outlets, but no go with getting to do anything like in walls.

Condolences to you on that. Those sort of builders are generally the worst of the lot. Make sure the building inspectors go over it with a fine tooth comb.

Seriously though I would check on things like the roof truss specs and everything you can think of. I mention that as I had to totally re-speck the trusses. I have just done a solar project and even with the added weight I still have 100% unused load factor. The solar people showed me photographs of other homes and some could not take the load of the panels. What is saw was a bunch of roofs ready to blow off in the first really high wind.

Remember you are the best inspector. If it looks dodgy it will be, so make them do it properly.

If you can go in wall, then at least pre-wire speaker and equipment locations with conduit.

If you want in walls, I'm sure they would leave a wall, or part of a wall unfinished. In addition there are commercial in walls that can be placed in finished walls, and you can pre-wire for such.

The problem is great rooms are large spaces that take significant power, and speakers to do the job can certainly detract from the space. The other option is to create a dedicated AV space. I have the luxury of being able to do that as well.