Brand New to Home Theater

[franke]

I'm brand new to the world of home theater systems. Just bought a new home with a family room that comes with a ceiling pre-wired for surround sound. It is about 15' x 14' and I'm looking for a good audio system to fill that space. My wife's only request is that the speakers can't be big (be able to be hung from ceiling) and we have a reciever we can plug an Ipod into.

Would anyone have any suggestions for good speakers/reciever that would top out at around $700?

 

[mazersteven]

I'm brand new to the world of home theater systems. Just bought a new home with a family room that comes with a ceiling pre-wired for surround sound. It is about 15' x 14' and I'm looking for a good audio system to fill that space. My wife's only request is that the speakers can't be big (be able to be hung from ceiling) and we have a reciever we can plug an Ipod into.

Would anyone have any suggestions for good speakers/reciever that would top out at around $700?

How about starting out with a receiver, and 2 speakers for now. The receiver alone is going to eat up most of that budget.

And when you say small speakers. What is small to you? And do you have to use the pre-wire?

 

[franke]

I don't have to use the pre-wire. But since it's there I thought I might as well.

I guess small would bee no larger than 6"x5", if that's even a logical dimension....My wife would like something small, just to keep it out of view as much as possible

 

[mazersteven]

It's hard to get good sound quality from a small enclosure speaker.

Another issue is small and budget. Unless you want to go with a satellite speaker system, but then you sacrifice sound quality over size. Compromises have to be made one way or another.

 

[mazersteven]

My wife would like something small, just to keep it out of view as much as possible

How about speakers with a nice finish on them to blend in with the decor? Yes you will see them, but with the finishes you'll want people to see them.

 

[franke]

If I were to go the route of building up a system, starting up with the reciever and then just two speakers, what should I go with and then what would the next steps be?

Thanks

 

[mazersteven]

If I were to go the route of building up a system, starting up with the reciever and then just two speakers, what should I go with and then what would the next steps be?

Thanks

Speakers are an individual thing. With each speaker having it's own sound signature. What I like you might not, and vise versa. So I recommend that you take your time and have fun with this new venture of yours into the world of audio. Audition as many speakers as you can, and take notes. Use material (CD's, and DVD's) your familiar with. Try the specialty A/V stores. Most of their rooms, and set-ups are better for auditioning then the big box stores. There is also internet direct companies that let you audition speakers at home.

Yamaha RX-V663
http://store.audioholics.com/product/1759/69/yamaha-rx-v663

AV123 x-ls encore Monitor Loudspeaker
http://av123.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,172/category_id,21/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,37/

 

[mfabien]

You talk about setting up a brand new home theater but no mention of your plans for a display. I therefore assume you have no display device presently.

Therefore, you may consider purchasing an audio/video receiver which will incorporate:

• HDMI switching (inputs1/output) because that is the typical input for new displays, and it is required should you wish eventually to connect a Blu-Ray player or a universal DVD player

• The ability to decode lossless audio such as Dolby Digital TruHD and DTS-HD MA

The alternative to the above is to purchased a used receiver with either HDMI switching or with 5.1 multichannel analog inputs. This will permit the connection of either a universal DVD player (to play SACD and DVD-A) or a Blu-Ray player with 5.1 multichannel analog outputs, provided the player is able to decode these lossless audio codecs. You can the connect the player's HDMI cable direct to the TV for Video.

If you plan to use your audio for music listening, speaker quality is of importance. Speakers can be attractive. Starting your planning with the notion that speakers should not be noticeable is not conducive to getting proper results. And you don't put front speakers up the ceiling... would you like to be sitting 8 feet below the stage at a concert?

Bring your wife to the speaker store so that she may develop a sense of the proper things to do.

 

[KASR]

Bring your wife to the speaker store so that she may develop a sense of the proper things to do.

Yea...let us know how that goes! LOL!

 

[Djizasse]

Yea...let us know how that goes! LOL!

That worked fine for me.
In one hour she jumped from "those small speakers sound nice" to being able to tell the different sound signatures between speakers and being able to tell what type of sound she prefers. She no longer prefers those cute little cubes

 

[mtrycrafts]

...She no longer prefers those cute little cubes

That's called progress, one step at a time. Great

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker options

If traditional bookshelf speakers are too big, check out on-wall or in-wall speakers for a compromise of asthetics and perfromance.
These EMPs are one options in your budget.
http://store.audioholics.com/section/66209/1/on-wall-speakers

If you must have small satellite speakers, I have read some good things about the Orb audio speakers.

I agree that a nice receiver ($3-400) and starting with a 2.0 or 2.1 system is a good option in your budget. Otherwise you will be limited to a HTIB type system.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

If his ceiling is pre-wired and his wife wants small, why not just go with all in-ceilings?

 

[Phil Taylor]

If I were to go the route of building up a system, starting up with the reciever and then just two speakers, what should I go with and then what would the next steps be?

Thanks

I think the next logical steps would be to add a sub (unless you are momentarily content with the bass from the fronts you get), then rear surrounds and then a center channel speaker... (alternate - then the sub to add real depth if you opt to bypass the sub earlier).