Hi there!
Given your room size, your budget and your tastes, I'm gonna cut right to the chase and simply detail the system that I would put together myself if it were my money
I'll start with the subwoofer because you have a large room size (around 4000 cubic feet), and that's a challenge, especially when you want to listen to some bass heavy music!
Never ever skimp on the subwoofer. The subwoofer is what makes it FEEL like you're "at the movies" or experiencing a live concert.
You're a little bit limited on budget. That's ok. Taking everything into consideration, I would opt for the
SVSound PB12-NSD or
PC12-NSD cylinder version. These are very accurate, very good, high output subwoofers. Just
check the reviews . You'll see that we're not messing around here
And the PB or PC12-NSD has the necessary output capabilities to handle your large room size. What is perhaps the most important feature, and my reason for selecting the PB/PC12-NSD specifically in this case, is that it is truly "unbreakable". You can literally turn the volume on the subwoofer up as high as it goes with zero worries. The PB/PC12-NSD will simply play as loud as it possibly can, and then politely refuse to play any louder. That's what you want, because if you like to listen really loud, in your large room size, you might very well run up against the limits of your subwoofer's output. But the PB or PC12-NSD will never "bottom out", never be in any danger of blowing out the driver or amp, and never even so much as make a bad, high distortion sound. It's really well protected and just performs flawlessly.
One note: the PC12-NSD cylinder version is a great way to save floor space (and $20
). But you can also lay the cylinder on its side with no problems. That makes it really easy to tuck behind a couch or along the edge of the wall. So don't overlook the cylinder as an option.
For speakers, I'm going to point you to Ascend Acoustics. I love accurate sound reproduction. I love clear, transparent, uncolored sound. In the lower price ranges, nobody delivers that better than Ascend with their SE series of speakers, IMO.
You liked the Martin Logans. I've zero problem with that! But they are more difficult to power, more difficult to place optimally, and more expensive. If you really responded to and liked that sound, what you probably liked was the clarity and detail, the way you could separate notes, and the realism of voices and instruments. The Ascend SE speakers can give you that in speakers that cost less, are easier to drive, easier to place, and can play louder. The SEAS brand tweeter in the Ascend SE series speakers is something really special. It performs WAY better than you'll find at this price point. It's a real treat. And don't just take my word for it. Again,
check out some reviews or just read what a fellow forum member who just put together a great home theater with Ascend speakers
has to say about them
You're going to want the largest CMT-340SE speakers up front. There's no question about that. The
CMT-340SE Main speakers have a
matching stand if you want that makes them look like towers. The matching
CMT-340SE Center is a real treat for crystal clear dialogue in movies.
I'd go with the
HTM-200SE for surrounds.
Try to follow the
THX Guidelines for proper speaker placement . You'll notice that the "Surround" speakers actually go directly to either SIDE of your seats. If you have AT LEAST 4 feet of space from the back of your seat to the back wall behind you, then consider going to a 7 speaker setup, where the "Surround Back" 6th & 7th speakers are the ones that go behind you. If you have less than 6 feet of space from the back of your seat to the back wall though, I recommend you stick with 5 speakers. You'll actually get better sound with just 5 if the rear wall is that close to the back of your head.
You'll also notice in the THX descriptions that the Surround and Surround Back speakers are meant to be up high - about 2-3 feet above your head when you're sitting. This allows them to replicate the sound that you'd hear in a movie theater. When you go out to the movies, you'll notice that the side and rear walls are lined with surround speakers, but they're way up high. That's because surround effects are meant to envelop and "blanket" you with sound, not draw your attention away from the screen by firing straight into your ears at ear height! So the HTM-200SE are a great choice for surround speakers because they are smaller and you can easily mount them on the wall
They're still not super small or super light though, so be sure to get wall mounts that can handle their size and weight!
You can use
Ascend's System Selector to put a 5 or 7 speaker package together and get a discount. You're looking at $1375 if you go with a full 7 speaker set of CMT-340SE Mains, CMT-340SE Center, and two pairs of HTM-200SE surrounds. Add another $100 if you want the "tower look" stands for the CMT-340SE Mains.
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