Can you lend a Noob a hand?

[charger-68]

So I am setting up my very forst media room the dimentions of the room are 16 X 17. I have a Samsung LED UN55C7000 mounted on a full motion wall mount. I have spent a few days running all my cables (HDMI, Coaxial, and 14awg) threw the walls and ceiling. What I want to do is get a sound system that will make this room amazing. I was wanting to spend around $1000 - $1500 for a full sound system (A/V, center, FL, FR, RR, and RL and powered sub). I have been looking at the Denon AVR 3112CI receiver for my A/V, because I like alot of the specs on it, but don't know if that is the best receiver for that amount of money. I also would like the receiver to have a 2nd zone so I can wire it into my out-door speakers. The surround speakers I would prefer if they were in-ceiling, but the center channel unfortunatly cannot go in-wall or in-ceiling because of the wall design (TV is mounted on and exterior wall that the roof line runs down the back of) so would prefer a on-wall center channel speaker but it doesn't have to be. I know some of the best systems are 7.1 or 7.2, I have not yet run the wires for the wide speakes and will buy them down the line.

The usage for this setup would be 50% TV / movies and 50% PS3.

Any help designing a system would be great.

Thanks
Ben

 

[ACsGreens]

There is nothing unfortunate about not being able to place the center in/on wall. Freestanding towers or bookshelves will almost always sound better, unless you get into very expensive back boxes, etc. Also, for your first media room I would really not recommend 7.1, I would stick with a 5.1 as you probably won't notice much of a difference at all. If anything I would recommend using heighth speakers for the front, much more effect than 2 rears. I will let others comment on speaker selection.

 

[charger-68]

Thanks for the advice on the 5.1 vs the 7.1! I didn't think that the my soon to be media room would be big enough to notice the difference. Would it effect the sound if i set a 7.1 up just for 5.1, because I was thinking though for the future, if and when I do move, that I might get a bigger room to handle a 7.1 system.

Ben

 

[afterlife2]

AVR:
Onkyo TX-NR818 7.2-Ch THX Certified Network A/V Receiver | Accessories4less
or
DENON AVR-3312CI 7.2 Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver | Accessories4less
These are not ceiling, but are great speakers and an awesome deal. You can start with a 3.1 than add later(That's what's recommended) or go 5.1.
Front speakers:
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Andrew-SP-FS52-Flr-Stand-Loudspeaker/dp/B008NCD2S4/ref=sr_1_67?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1349217323&sr=1-67&keywords=pioneer+speakers
Rear/Surround speakers:
Amazon.com: Pioneer Andrew Jones Design Bookshelf Loudspeaker: Electronics
Center:
Amazon.com: Pioneer Andrew Jones SP-C22 Center Channel Speaker: Electronics
Article on the Pioneers:
Mission impossible: Design great-sounding, affordable speakers | The Audiophiliac - CNET News

I'll let others recommend the sub. There was a great deal on a Jamo sub650 for $299, but the sale is over.

 

[ImcLoud]

check out accessories4less for good deals on AVR's...

For the speakers I would go with Ascend acoustics...
I went with 340se for the front sound stage and 200se's for the surrounds... I believe I spent around $1100 on them, but I auditioned so many sets of speakers and they were leaps and bounds ahead of all others in the price range...

You can go with any setup though, I just setup my brother in law with 200se's all around front and rear with an HSU STF2 sub, and ONKYO 525 avr it sounded great...

For your budget I would do this...
STF2 sub $320
Ascend cbm170 fronts, 340 center, and 200 surrounds $850 {when you buy all at once}
and
marantz sr5002 receiver --has preouts, looks interesting for $250 orig price $800, has second zone too... but there are tons of avrs in your price range...
the preouts will leave you the freedom to upgrade to a separate amp to power your front three in the future...

I have heard the vtf2, very nice sub especially for the money, and own the 170s, 340 and 200's they are also so far ahead of anything 3 times there price its like stealing... The only thing I never heard was the avr, but Ive heard marantz and they are usually nice...

Then for future upgrades add an XPA3 Emotiva amp for your fronts, and a second vtf2 sub...

 

[charger-68]

Wow great information on all the equipment. Thanks afterlife2 for the A/V suggestions, I hope the wife can be talked in to dropping a grand on the A/V and then buying the speakes, but I bet I can do it. I was looking for in-ceiling speakers since I have already ran the wires in the attic.

But I do have a question: By going with in-ceiling speakes am I giving up audio quality?

 

[afterlife2]

Wow great information on all the equipment. Thanks afterlife2 for the A/V suggestions, I hope the wife can be talked in to dropping a grand on the A/V and then buying the speakes, but I bet I can do it. I was looking for in-ceiling speakers since I have already ran the wires in the attic.

But I do have a question: By going with in-ceiling speakes am I giving up audio quality?

From what I've read it's good to have speakers by the ear area. I've never heard them from the ceilings, but I'm sure someone will chime in. Maybe you can post pictures of your setup that may help.

 

[zieglj01]

But I do have a question: By going with in-ceiling speakes am I giving up audio quality?

Go inside a movie theater, and see if you can find some
in-ceiling speakers - I do not know of any.
If you like to be distracted by sound coming from above,
then go for it - it does annoy me.
Try at least, to do ear level up front, with something like
on-wall or in-wall speakers >> However, in-ceiling for the
surrounds can work, if needed.
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/SNELLOHT7/SNELL-OH-T7-Full-range-6.5-inch-coax-Direct-Power-waveguide-Each/1.html

 

[ImcLoud]

My wires are ran through the ceiling too, but to have the speakers in the ceiling even if you buy high end in wall speaker cabinets isnt going to sound as good because the surrounds should only be a few feet above your head and firing towards each other...

I ran the wires through the ceiling and into a wire plate, then mounted the speakers on an omni mount , the omni mounts can have the wires ran rite through them too...

As far as the AVR's go, I wouldnt spend 75% of your budget on it... Get something that has the media ins and outs you will need, has preouts, and maybe a good setup program... In my experience they get out dated very fast...
If You are going to spend $1000 on a preamp I would get a
UMC1 $499 with an upgrade card you can sell for $200 {there are a couple on ebay rite now} so that costs you say $350 after you sell the card...

XPA5 Can get this for $799 bstock

So that will total 1150 but you will have 1000 watts and a decent processor... I have the exact setup, and there isnt an AVR for double the price I would trade it for...

Try to spend your budget on a good sub and speakers, I wouldnt spend more than $300 on an avr...