$1650-2500 3.1 system

[SummerIceCream]

Hello there! I'm looking for some input since there are so many speakers in the world! I live in Taiwan and here many speakers aren't available for preview because stores typically don't have an extensive collection

I want to build a 3.1 system, AV receiver must support:
- 4K
- a second subwoofer (to buy later)
- Atmos (but don't need Atmos speakers now)

I'll play all my media through my laptop (HDMI). I plan to use the set for the next 10 years. I'm new to this and I've been doing research for 3 months now.

What I'll do with it: 80% music, 20% movies. I love to FEEL bass in movies, I prefer to have flat music. Music: pop music, k-pop, city pop, edm, vapor wave, anime soundtracks, funky music, jazz, instrumental.

I have a small/medium size room (4.5m x 4.5m x ceiling 2.5 meters = 15' x 15' x 8'4" ceiling). Ceiling is not solid but styrofoam (?) - what I mean is it's made of individual 50 cm x 50 cm squares that you can lift up, like in an office.

Budget is ~$2500 USD but I'm looking for value vs. competing speakers rather than using all my money. Also I live in Taiwan, so I often will have to pay +33% extra (shipping + import tax) from the amazon price so budget may actually be ~ $1650 And many speakers won't ship to here so I also need as many alternatives as I can get.

I have some ideas but since I'm new I'll just ask you: What would you get?

 

[shadyJ]

I would look at bookshelf speakers and a couple subwoofers. I don't know what brands are available in Taiwan. Maybe SVS is in Taiwan?

 

[SummerIceCream]

SVS isn't here In fact almost none of the companies seem to be here.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

AVR: Yamaha, Sony, Denon, Marantz.

Yamaha probably is #1 in reliability. Sony ES might be #2. Sony ES gives you 5YR warranty, whereas Yamaha, Denon, Marantz give you 3YR.

Denon/Marantz probably has the best room correction EQ - if you believe in that stuff (some people don't use any kind of EQ).

What kind of Atmos configuration do you want? 5.2.2, 5.2.4? For example, the Yamaha RX-A1080 can do Atmos 5.2.2, but if you want 5.2.4, then you would need the RX-A2080.

 

[SummerIceCream]

What kind of Atmos configuration do you want? 5.2.2, 5.2.4? For example, the Yamaha RX-A1080 can do Atmos 5.2.2, but if you want 5.2.4, then you would need the RX-A2080.

Good question. That depends on my budget a few years from now. So I can't tell, but I guess I can sell my AV receiver if I want a better one.

 

[PENG]

Being in Taiwan, you should probably stick with Sony, Denon, Marantz AVRs. For speakers, take a look of the KEF Q series. They are made in China, so their prices in Taiwan shouldn't be too bad.

 

[TechHDS]

SummerIceCream, cool name! “PENG” post is a good recommendation.


Mike

 

[TechHDS]

SVS isn't here In fact almost none of the companies seem to be here.

You know, I live in the States, I would bet most of us here take for granted the multiple choices we have here in the states. Oh Welcome to AH!! You’ve come to the right forum AH has some of the very Best on here most of the ole timers have Tons of experience and have been in this hobby for decades!

Mike

 

[SummerIceCream]

Being in Taiwan, you should probably stick with Sony, Denon, Marantz AVRs. For speakers, take a look of the KEF Q series. They are made in China, so their prices in Taiwan shouldn't be too bad.

Are there any specific 3.1 setups with KEF you can recommend? I'm not familiar with them yet.

 

[KenM10759]

I see you have a fairly reasonable room and nice normal ceiling heights. You could do well with Q350/Q650c to start. KEF doesn't make a house-wrecking ported sub, but the new Kube 12b is nice and works very well for music. What other subwoofer are available there?

 

[PENG]

Are there any specific 3.1 setups with KEF you can recommend? I'm not familiar with them yet.

As KenM10759 mentioned:

Q350 (Pair)
Q650C (One)
Kube 12B

Above 3.1 speakers plus the AVR-X3500H should fit your US$2500 budget based on Hong Kong price. I couldn't get pricing info for Taiwan, but I assume it would be similar as Taiwan is not far from Hong Kong and is closer to Japan.

 

[SummerIceCream]

I see you have a fairly reasonable room and nice normal ceiling heights. You could do well with Q350/Q650c to start. KEF doesn't make a house-wrecking ported sub, but the new Kube 12b is nice and works very well for music. What other subwoofer are available there?

The Q650c belongs to the same series as Q350? Because they are the same price

Most brands are available, the difficulty is if you want a specific model nr. They tend to have relatively older ones for the price of the newer models. Haven't seen SVS though.

As KenM10759 mentioned:

Q350 (Pair)
Q650C (One)
Kube 12B

Above 3.1 speakers plus the AVR-X3500H should fit your US$2500 budget based on Hong Kong price. I couldn't get pricing info for Taiwan, but I assume it would be similar as Taiwan is not far from Hong Kong and is closer to Japan.

Haha no! Whatever the price outside of Taiwan, it'll be +30%-60% here These things are not mass imported since fewer people here will buy them.

The AVR-X3500H is $1000! Is that really necessary, or would the Sony STRDN1080 or Denon AVRX3400H be able to drive it ($500)?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The AVR-X3500H is $1000! Is that really necessary, or would the Sony STRDN1080 or Denon AVRX3400H be able to drive it ($500)?

The Denon 3400 is basically the same as the 3500. So I would save the money and get the 3400 or Sony1080.

 

[PENG]

The Q650c belongs to the same series as Q350? Because they are the same price

Most brands are available, the difficulty is if you want a specific model nr. They tend to have relatively older ones for the price of the newer models. Haven't seen SVS though.


Haha no! Whatever the price outside of Taiwan, it'll be +30%-60% here These things are not mass imported since fewer people here will buy them.

The AVR-X3500H is $1000! Is that really necessary, or would the Sony STRDN1080 or Denon AVRX3400H be able to drive it ($500)?

Yes, the Sony and the X3400H are just as good. Q650C is the center channel for the Q series speakers. If you can get the Q200C, that is a little smaller, and cheaper. I think you probably should stick with the KEF sub. Unless SVS has a distributor in Taiwan, the shipping cost for a heavy SVS sub will likely be quite high.

 

[KenM10759]

specific

The Q650c belongs to the same series as Q350? Because they are the same price

Most brands are available, the difficulty is if you want a specific model nr. They tend to have relatively older ones for the price of the newer models. Haven't seen SVS though.


Haha no! Whatever the price outside of Taiwan, it'll be +30%-60% here These things are not mass imported since fewer people here will buy them.

The AVR-X3500H is $1000! Is that really necessary, or would the Sony STRDN1080 or Denon AVRX3400H be able to drive it ($500)?

What speakers have you heard that you like? There are probably some brands available there which we don't often see here. There are also dozens of other brands we see here and/or in the EU which this community may know about and could give you good guidance. The most important thing you can do is get out to see and hear speakers to determine what sounds best to your ears. Hopefully your be offered to take some home for an in-home audition.

I happen to own KEF and obviously like them for the somewhat unique characteristics their Uni-Q driver offers. Having the midrange and high frequency drivers coincident to each other can lead to a more coherent response, even off-axis quite a bit. Because of that Uni-Q driver, the Q650 is a really good center speaker because those two drivers cover the range of male and female voices so well.

Good luck whatever you choose to do.

 

[SummerIceCream]

I liked focal, but it's too expensive. Still want to hear KEF though

Thx for the advice everyone! I'll be trying more and more speakers these weeks