New living room/home theater build...

[avi]

I'm moving to a new apartment and I want to build a home theater system in the living room, the size of the room is 27'X16', the TV is on the 16' wall and the couch is between 12-20' from the TV, the input source will be a media center PC and a medium quality receiver such as the pioneer 1022 or something parallel to it from another manufecturer. I need to hide the speakers in the ceiling and the front and center ones in the walls. I did read that I need ceiling speakers that can be pointed to the correct direction so I need ceiling speakers recommendations when my budget is pretty low, $100-150 per driver, may be with black Friday/cyber Monday coming I can get good quality speakers...

As for subs, I thought of using car audio subs such as Rockford Fosgate Power T2 driver in a custom built cab and a pro audio amp such as Yamaha P5000 to power it.

I have allot of experience with car audio and pro audio but I never did home audio at such a level.

So, in general, what do you guys think about this setup? Any other recommendations?

 

[Nestor]

Why not use a home audio sub?

 

[jcl]

Generally on/in wall or ceiling speakers don't give the same performance at the same price level compared to 'regular' speakers. Your budget is also somewhat limiting so I'm not sure what you can do for it.

I'm surprised, usually people in apartments cannot make modifications like you are describing. I know I couldn't do more than paint the walls, and even then I'd have to paint over with the original color before moving out.

For the size of the room I think you would want to go with regular towers up front like the Andrew Jones Pioneer towers or the Infinity Primus 363.

If you really can't have speakers on the floor the next best thing would be wall mounting some bookshelf speakers. Once again Andrew Jones Pioneer and Infinity Primus offer great value.

My last idea if you're dead set on installing in the walls & ceilings I know the boston acoustics refurb center always has lots of in ceiling speakers.
Actually the Audioholics store has a good sale on in walls http://store.audioholics.com/speakers/in-wall-speakers.html?order=price&dir=asc
And Accessories4Less has some mordaunt short in walls that are in your price range - http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/brand/mordaunt short/results/1.html


For the subs DIY is the way to go if you have the know how and tools. There are plenty on this board who can help you with that, but unfortunately I'm not one of them. You might get better response if you post a separate thread on that forum.

 

[zieglj01]

I'm moving to a new apartment and I want to build a home theater system in the living room, the size of the room is 27'X16', the TV is on the 16' wall and the couch is between 12-20' from the TV, the input source will be a media center PC and a medium quality receiver such as the pioneer 1022 or something parallel to it from another manufecturer. I need to hide the speakers in the ceiling and the front and center ones in the walls.

Since you are in an apartment - do you have good neighbors?
Will the in-walls and in-ceiling speakers be a challange, or is
this something that is not a big deal?
Big powerfull subs, can also be somewhat of a challange.

 

[avi]

Firs a few replies to you guys...

@Nestor:
I have very limited and unusual space, 10" deep, 20" wide and about 30" of hight so the best usage of that space would be to put as big a driver as I can in a sealed box and hope I can drive it to the levels I need.

@jcl:
This time around I'm not renting the apartment, I'm buying so I'm not limited to any owner is allowing me to do, but I just don't have enough $$$ left for the speakers I want. Down the line, in 4-5 years I plan to upgrade but at the moment that's all I can afford
About in wall/in ceiling Vs regular speakers, if it were up to the Mrs, there would be no home theater in this house so it's either in ceiling/in wall/in cabinet/in something or nothing so this will have to do.
Got it about the subs and DIY, I'll post on the correct forum.

@zieglj01:
No challenge at all, the contractor made a double ceiling with 6" mounting depth available and pre installed wires in the walls and ceiling.
Just one neighbor and I don't know him yet, hope it will be OK. Going to do it anyway...

About speaker choices, some options I found:
1. JBL-L228C, they are on sale now for $108 on amazon.
2. Emotiva UAC 8.2 on sale now for $140. with pivoting tweeters.
3. Martin Logan Helos 10 on sale from audioholics also with pivoting tweeters on sale for $149.

 

[Nestor]

Firs a few replies to you guys...

@Nestor:
I have very limited and unusual space, 10" deep, 20" wide and about 30" of hight so the best usage of that space would be to put as big a driver as I can in a sealed box and hope I can drive it to the levels I need.

@jcl:
This time around I'm not renting the apartment, I'm buying so I'm not limited to any owner is allowing me to do, but I just don't have enough $$$ left for the speakers I want. Down the line, in 4-5 years I plan to upgrade but at the moment that's all I can afford
About in wall/in ceiling Vs regular speakers, if it were up to the Mrs, there would be no home theater in this house so it's either in ceiling/in wall/in cabinet/in something or nothing so this will have to do.
Got it about the subs and DIY, I'll post on the correct forum.

@zieglj01:
No challenge at all, the contractor made a double ceiling with 6" mounting depth available and pre installed wires in the walls and ceiling.
Just one neighbor and I don't know him yet, hope it will be OK. Going to do it anyway...

About speaker choices, some options I found:
1. JBL-L228C, they are on sale now for $108 on amazon.
2. Emotiva UAC 8.2 on sale now for $140. with pivoting tweeters.
3. Martin Logan Helos 10 on sale from audioholics also with pivoting tweeters on sale for $149.

You can get some pretty big drivers from retailers like Parts Express. Car audio speakers tend to be designed for hostile environments and cabin loading of a typical vehicle. Unless there are some specific TS parameters or you already have the drivers, it's worth a look.

 

[jcl]

Firs a few replies to you guys...
@jcl:
This time around I'm not renting the apartment, I'm buying so I'm not limited to any owner is allowing me to do, but I just don't have enough $$$ left for the speakers I want. Down the line, in 4-5 years I plan to upgrade but at the moment that's all I can afford

About in wall/in ceiling Vs regular speakers, if it were up to the Mrs, there would be no home theater in this house so it's either in ceiling/in wall/in cabinet/in something or nothing so this will have to do.
Got it about the subs and DIY, I'll post on the correct forum.
.

Ah, I understand now. Yes, my wife believes in the same type of compromise In wall is still better than nothing at all. I'm afraid I can't really help as I don't have any experience with them. I've been lucky enough to avoid them as my family room is too full of windows and stonework to accommodate in or on walls.