Need help setting up first HT (living room)

[slickguy]

I am very new/confused setting up my first HT.

Room Dimensions:
17 L X 18 W X 10 H
Open to Kitchen/Dining

Prewired Home (outlets on ceiling) - 5.1
Listening: movies/music
Budget: < 1000 for speakers, sub and receiver (already have a bluray)

There seem to be tooooo many options and need help/advise from you all here. The other day I went to best buy and saw Bose Acoustimass, of course do not want to be spending so much for bose, when I can find better quality speakers for less. What I liked about bose was the size of the speakers (making them easy/less weight) to hang them from the ceiling and wont look awkward as well. An alternative I found was boston acoustics soundware 5.1, but that did not have good reviews.

Another I saw was Infinity TSS 1200, but reviews said "they have substantial weight and stress the adjustable wall mounting brackets".

If you think cube speakers are not good, I can use bookshelf for the fronts and may be in ceiling for the surrounds, I hate to do this mix and match, just want to buy as a package (being a beginner ).

Can someone suggest good speakers of better quality, form factor that would suit my situation.

Thanks for the help.

 

[96cobra10101]

Buy a nice 5.1 or 7.1 receiver and 2 nice mains. Then just save up till you can buy a matching center and then eventually a couple decent rears. You'll be happier in the long run because you'll have a great sounding system, instead of a mediocre one. Also, don't forget to get a sub. You may want to do that BEFORE the center, but again, save up for a good one, or you'll hate it.

 

[96cobra10101]

This Yamaha is $300 and free shipping. RX-V471

 

[96cobra10101]

These Infinity are $329 each Primus

These Emotiva's are on sale at $629 for the pair XRT 5.2 Or you can get the 6.2 but they will put you out of your budget.

I have a set of these and if you bought 3 you would have a perfect matching center ERM-6.3 you would also probably want to get speaker stands.

 

[agarwalro]

Prewired Home (outlets on ceiling) - 5.1

Ceiling mounted front and center speakers will not give you the best sound. Do you have the option to fish the wires to create outlets in more conventional locations, say, along the baseboards on the wall that has your TV?

Alternately, are you considering in-wall speakers? (similar to in-ceiling, just in the vertical walls instead)

 

[slickguy]

These Infinity are $329 each Primus

These Emotiva's are on sale at $629 for the pair XRT 5.2 Or you can get the 6.2 but they will put you out of your budget.

I have a set of these and if you bought 3 you would have a perfect matching center ERM-6.3 you would also probably want to get speaker stands.

Thanks for the inputs. Would you recommend not getting cube like speakers? The ones you suggested are more bulky and have to be kept on the floor, correct? Any reasons not getting cube speakers?

 

[slickguy]

Ceiling mounted front and center speakers will not give you the best sound. Do you have the option to fish the wires to create outlets in more conventional locations, say, along the baseboards on the wall that has your TV?

Alternately, are you considering in-wall speakers? (similar to in-ceiling, just in the vertical walls instead)

Thanks agarwalro. I agree with you, no in ceiling. Fishing out the wires would be good but too much work for me, and this being the living area, dont want the wires to show out (aesthetics). Do you think speakers hanging down the ceiling would be a bad choice? Can you suggest good ones of that kind, all I am finding are heavy ones that are not ceiling hanging friendly.

 

[96cobra10101]

Any reasons not getting cube speakers?

Yes, they sound horrible IMHO. You have one small speaker trying reproduce sounds that decent speakers produce with 2 or 3 different size drivers.

You should go to a home audio store with a decent demo room and listen to a cube type system vs a full range speaker speaker setup. If you like the cubes, then by all means get them. I have heard a couple setups in homes, and they sound terrible. The dialog suffers the most and is sometimes almost inaudible, and they sound very "hollow". If you just want some background noise and don't care about sound quality, then yes, maybe the cubes are for you. If you want to enjoy watching movies and listen to music that sounds good, and have the option of getting some volume, get some speakers with decent drivers. If floor standing speakers seem to be to much for you, maybe look at some bookshelf type speakers or in wall/ on wall. There are some very nice ones out there.

 

[timoteo]

Surround channels only handle effects & ambiance. Many people mix speakers (in-ceiling rears & enclosured fronts) the important thing is to gave the front 3 speakers the same brand & from the same series so that they are voice matched. Going with in-ceiling surrounds will sound just fine. If you can fit towers up front as mains with a matching center you will get a more dynamic experience.

Actually it is easier for an entry level receiver to power towers than it is to power little speakers. It takes more juice to try & get a little driver to fill a room than it takes for multiple larger drivers to fill a room with good volume. (look at the rating of the speakers, "sensativity", thats how loud 1watt makes them) the higher the sensativity the louder they get. That doesnt say how "good" they sound just how easy they are to drive.

For a smaller budget like yours, look into the Infinity Primus series for up front. Look into Dayton Audio HomeTheater series for surrounds (in-wall or in-ceiling) then look at the Premiere Acoustics 120 or 150 subwoofers. The Yamaha RX-V571 was just bought by my good friend for $249 on sale. (sale is over) but keep your eyes out for those sales they happen a lot. The Yamaha 371 & 471 are good but are 5.1 not 7.1 FYI. A combo of this list will make a great entry level home theater that will sound good!!

 

[agarwalro]

Thanks agarwalro. I agree with you, no in ceiling. Fishing out the wires would be good but too much work for me, and this being the living area, dont want the wires to show out (aesthetics). Do you think speakers hanging down the ceiling would be a bad choice? Can you suggest good ones of that kind, all I am finding are heavy ones that are not ceiling hanging friendly.

Just to be 100% clear, I'm not saying you cannot use in-ceiling speakers for L/C/R, just that you should not, if you want a half decent placement of sounds as reflected in the video. Don't want you to pick something that does not mesh with your lifestyle/room. Since In-wall speaks allow proper placement while still being unobtrusive, IMO they are a good compromise.

This article has more details on correct placement.

 

[Crackerballer]

Infinity Primus™ Theater 5-pack II Home theater speaker package at Crutchfield.com

I'd try that pack plus some mounts if you think you can get to a wall as opposed to the ceiling. They make some decent mounts and that would sound good if you can swing it.

 

[slickguy]

Thanks for all the inputs. I cannot believe that this big speakers can be wall mounted without any distress on the walls. But this is a good start. Thanks for the suggestions, I will come up with a list (from the suggestions) and will ping for advise. From what I have gleaned so far:

Infinity Primus (have to decide the model) for the fronts & center.
Rears (not decided yet)
Receiver - Pioneer VSX-1021-K or Yamaha RX-V671 (not sure which one) - Dunno if Onkyo or Denon's are better

 

[Crackerballer]

Not sure if these will work directly with the Infinity, but this style is what I had in mind:
Stands & Brackets : Full Metal Bracket - Axiom Audio

 

[agarwalro]

Based on the pictures, that Infinity Primus set can be directly hung with screws on the wall.