Equipment suggestions for small open room

[dealmaker]

Hello Everyone,

I have a few questions, so I'm posting this in a couple different forums and threads.

I have a really small "family room" area, 13.5 ft. long X 8 ft. wide X 9 ft high. It has an opening on one side 5 ft. wide by 7 ft. high, and is completely open to a larger room on the other side.

I plan to put a flat screen on one side and a couch on the other side (against a sort of cove-shaped wall).

I'm thinking of Polk's Surround Speakerbar for front and center, and Polk RC60i in-ceiling speakers for rear (5.1). I can also use the Polk Surround Speakerbar for all 5 speakers and run my overhead in-ceiling speakers as the rear for 7.1. In-ceiling speakers are my only option for rears, and they'll have to be positioned almost on the same plane as the seating position and maybe just a bit outboard of the two outside seats on the couch.

For sub, Polk PSW303, and for receiver, Onkyo 605 or 705.

That's as far as I've gotten. I would prefer minimal equipment. The Polk Surround Bar is not a necessity, I just like it because its more minimal. I'd also go satellite speakers but nothing bigger as I don't think I need bigger since the space is so small, and since its so small I want to keep the audio "clutter" to a minimum. The TV will be used for home theater a few nights a week, and the rest of the time for my kids watching Soponge Bob, Hostory CHannel, Wii, etc. (Will it be easy for the kids to just use the TV's regular audio for their stuff?)

So...if I haven't lost everyone yet, any recommendations for me as per equipment? Price isn't really an option but that said, since its such a small place and not the hardcore theater situation I'd like to keep the audio portion under a couple g's.

Thanks in advance for any advice offered!

 

[mazersteven]

For sub, Polk PSW303, and for receiver, Onkyo 605 or 705.

I'd kick the Polk sub. Total waste of money IMO.

www.svsound.com
www.av123.com
www.hsuresearch.com

Also not a big fan of the Soundbar. How about something like these speakers?

EMP EW On-wall Speaker
http://store.audioholics.com/section/66209/1/on-wall-speakers

I also recommend this receiver

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

 

[MDS]

The soundbar could kind of a neat solution for a small room but I don't know how they perform and any solution like that is rather expensive.

You have to find a decent balance between size, cost, and performance so if the soundbar works (and you at least try to audition it somewhere first), it may be right for a small room. I'd agree to ditch the Polk sub though, even if you have to wait until funds permit to get a sub.

As far as the surrounds being in the same plane as the listeners, that is ok. The Dolby recommendation is to your sides between 90 and 110 degrees from the listening position. Being in the ceiling, it will sound slightly different but the RC60i have aimable tweeters and that can help too.

 

[dealmaker]

Thanks for your input!

I was looking at the Hsu's a few months ago.

It seems to me with my very limited audiophile knowledge that the Polk 303 sub, at $360-ish, has as good or better freq. response, yet in a much smaller footprint, than the $200-400 subs from the makers below...

SVS
Hsu Research
AV123

I'm not sold on the SoundBar either, but haven't heard one in person yet. I do like those on-wall EMP's, though, and would agree its probably a lot more cost-effective solution. I like that Yamaha receiver, too. Thanks for the recommendations. Any reason you prefer the Yamaha over the Onkyo? I hear the Onkyo's run hot.

 

[Matt34]

Thanks for your input!

I was looking at the Hsu's a few months ago.

It seems to me with my very limited audiophile knowledge that the Polk 303 sub, at $360-ish, has as good or better freq. response, yet in a much smaller footprint, than the $200-400 subs from the makers below...

SVS
Hsu Research
AV123

I'm not sold on the SoundBar either, but haven't heard one in person yet. I do like those on-wall EMP's, though, and would agree its probably a lot more cost-effective solution. I like that Yamaha receiver, too. Thanks for the recommendations. Any reason you prefer the Yamaha over the Onkyo? I hear the Onkyo's run hot.

I wouldn't put much faith in manufacture's published FR, many tend to be very generous to what you will get real world. That being said even most die-hard Polkies will steer you away from there subs.

 

[Adam]

While I'm not a fan of Polk subs, both my brother and one of my friends have them and like them. It comes down to which model, what your room is like, and what your preferences are. I haven't been impressed by Polk subs, but others like them. I'd just suggest buying your gear (whatever you decide on) at someplace that will take it back if you don't like it once you get it home. The performance of any speaker (especially those soundbars, I think) will depend on your particular room. You'll want to be able to judge if you like them once they are set up in your place, not just in a showroom.

 

[Nomo]

Considering that large open area attached to your listening room, I would put a good amount of emphasis the sub.
My SVS SB12plus does a pretty good job for me. Their cylinders are also a good value.

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker setup.

I'd kick the Polk sub. Total waste of money IMO.

www.svsound.com
www.av123.com
www.hsuresearch.com

Also not a big fan of the Soundbar. How about something like these speakers?

EMP EW On-wall Speaker
http://store.audioholics.com/section/66209/1/on-wall-speakers

I also recommend this receiver

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

I second these recommendations.
Since asthetics are an imporant factor, consider on-wall or inwall speakers for the main channels. Sound bars and satelite speaker are a big performance compromise and most sound bars require a small room with side walls for the proper effect.

If you want LFE, it is much easier for a large sub to play low than it is for a small one. I ended up with the SVS SB12-Plus for a compromise of size and performance.

If you want something small that looks and sounds good, check out the X-sub from AV123. Pick up a couple for $200 each and they also offer real wood veneer.

 

[dealmaker]

Thanks for the input everyone.

If driven by the Yammy RX-V663, would the Polk RC60i in-ceiling speakers match up well with the EMP EW's in terms of complementing each other acoustically?

I need to stick with in-ceiling for the surrounds, but they don't have to be the RC60i's.

Thanks again!

 

[Midcow2]

Here is an idea

Hello Everyone,

I have a few questions, so I'm posting this in a couple different forums and threads.

I have a really small "family room" area, 13.5 ft. long X 8 ft. wide X 9 ft high. It has an opening on one side 5 ft. wide by 7 ft. high, and is completely open to a larger room on the other side.

I plan to put a flat screen on one side and a couch on the other side (against a sort of cove-shaped wall).

I'm thinking of Polk's Surround Speakerbar for front and center, and Polk RC60i in-ceiling speakers for rear (5.1). I can also use the Polk Surround Speakerbar for all 5 speakers and run my overhead in-ceiling speakers as the rear for 7.1. In-ceiling speakers are my only option for rears, and they'll have to be positioned almost on the same plane as the seating position and maybe just a bit outboard of the two outside seats on the couch.

For sub, Polk PSW303, and for receiver, Onkyo 605 or 705.

That's as far as I've gotten. I would prefer minimal equipment. The Polk Surround Bar is not a necessity, I just like it because its more minimal. I'd also go satellite speakers but nothing bigger as I don't think I need bigger since the space is so small, and since its so small I want to keep the audio "clutter" to a minimum. The TV will be used for home theater a few nights a week, and the rest of the time for my kids watching Soponge Bob, Hostory CHannel, Wii, etc. (Will it be easy for the kids to just use the TV's regular audio for their stuff?)

So...if I haven't lost everyone yet, any recommendations for me as per equipment? Price isn't really an option but that said, since its such a small place and not the hardcore theater situation I'd like to keep the audio portion under a couple g's.

Thanks in advance for any advice offered!

You room is pretty small so you don't need much to fill the room with sound. And you want it uncluttered. The Defintive Technology CLR3000 retail $1099 (usually you can get 15-20% off) would be perfect. It is a left/right cneter channel with a powere subwoofer. Very clean looking and very clean sound.



The Onkyo recviers you have listed are excellent.

 

[mazersteven]

Thanks for the input everyone.

If driven by the Yammy RX-V663, would the Polk RC60i in-ceiling speakers match up well with the EMP EW's in terms of complementing each other acoustically?

I need to stick with in-ceiling for the surrounds, but they don't have to be the RC60i's.

Thanks again!

The ideal system has identical speakers all the way around. But in real life this is not always possible. IMO your L/C/R mains should be identical, or have the proper center channel speaker that matches. Surround speakers are not as critical. So whatever in-ceiling speakers you choose will be fine. IMO placement will be a more critical issue.


http://store.audioholics.com/product/795/26/mb-quart-alx-6-5-ic-100w-2-way--each-