Help with 5.1 surround sound system

[ellick]

Hey guys

This is my first time posting. I recently bought my first home and the previous owner was a music producer. In the basement, where his "studio/office" was, still has cables hooked up for speakers, etc.

I am extremely new to audio and surround sound. I almost bought a bose surround sound system for $1000 at future shop until some friends convinced me otherwise.

Below I attached some photos of the room and the type of wiring that was left. Se recommendations, as to what speakers/subwoofer/receiver/etc. would be ideal for the space. I would prefer not to spend over $1000 if possible.

I also read the audioholics.com recommendation for 5.1home theatre for $1000. Would that system suffice?

Any help would be awesome!!

Thanks in advance!!

 

[MidnightSensi]

View attachment 14115 View attachment 14116 Hey guys

This is my first time posting. I recently bought my first home and the previous owner was a music producer. In the basement, where his "studio/office" was, still has cables hooked up for speakers, etc.

I am extremely new to audio and surround sound. I almost bought a bose surround sound system for $1000 at future shop until some friends convinced me otherwise.

Below I attached some photos of the room and the type of wiring that was left. Se recommendations, as to what speakers/subwoofer/receiver/etc. would be ideal for the space. I would prefer not to spend over $1000 if possible.

I also read the audioholics.com recommendation for 5.1home theatre for $1000. Would that system suffice?

Any help would be awesome!!

Thanks in advance!!

Hi, ellick! Welcome to Audioholics!

I like the Audioholics recommend $1,000 system in terms of the spending ratio: meaning the budget is spread appropriately across components to make the most out of the budget.

The most important factor will be the speakers. I have not personally heard those specific Pioneer speakers, so I cannot comment on their performance. However, Pioneer has been a good value for speakers in the past - in my opinion.

My recommendation in your budget is to start with a really nice 2.1 setup, and then build it into a 5.1 system as finances allow. The reason for this is that good speakers have a very long lifespan and make the biggest difference in sound quality. Having to only buy two mains rather than three plus surrounds allows for those two fronts to be better speakers.

What % would you say will be music/tv/movies? What type of movies and music do you like? How many people will generally be watching? (just you? you and a SO? you, wife + kids? etc) How loud do you like it? (moderate, movie theater, imax, stuns small animals volume, internal bleeding volume?)

Do you normally watch blu-rays or stream?

Best,
-Midnight

 

[ellick]

Hi, ellick! Welcome to Audioholics!

I like the Audioholics recommend $1,000 system in terms of the spending ratio: meaning the budget is spread appropriately across components to make the most out of the budget.

The most important factor will be the speakers. I have not personally heard those specific Pioneer speakers, so I cannot comment on their performance. However, Pioneer has been a good value for speakers in the past - in my opinion.

My recommendation in your budget is to start with a really nice 2.1 setup, and then build it into a 5.1 system as finances allow. The reason for this is that good speakers have a very long lifespan and make the biggest difference in sound quality. Having to only buy two mains rather than three plus surrounds allows for those two fronts to be better speakers.

What % would you say will be music/tv/movies? What type of movies and music do you like? How many people will generally be watching? (just you? you and a SO? you, wife + kids? etc) How loud do you like it? (moderate, movie theater, imax, stuns small animals volume, internal bleeding volume?)

Do you normally watch blu-rays or stream?

Best,
-Midnight

hey Midnight

thanks for your response!!

I listen to Vevo a lot(top40 stuff) and watch a lot of action movies with loud explosions. It will be mostly me and my friends watching movies. i would say roughly around 7-8 ppl MAX. I would like it to go BOOM BOOM when I need it to and be subtle as well (my girlfriend isnt a fan of LOUD)

there is a question I have regarding blueray, why do most surround sound systems come with a blueray player??

 

[markw]

Blu-ray and DVD (and some streaming or cable movies) are the only ways to get real multi-channel sound. Yes, there's SACD and DVD-Audio but those are niche markets.

 

[MidnightSensi]

hey Midnight

thanks for your response!!

I listen to Vevo a lot(top40 stuff) and watch a lot of action movies with loud explosions. It will be mostly me and my friends watching movies. i would say roughly around 7-8 ppl MAX. I would like it to go BOOM BOOM when I need it to and be subtle as well (my girlfriend isnt a fan of LOUD)

there is a question I have regarding blueray, why do most surround sound systems come with a blueray player??

Blu-Ray is pretty much the standard for home theater playback now, although many younger people don't even have a blu-ray player and simply use streaming services (at the cost of quality, often). The home-theater-in-a-box type systems often have a blu-ray in them because then playing a movie is simply just putting one in the player.

7-8 people is a lot if you want it loud. The $1,000 audioholics recommendation is good for the budget, but you might like horn loaded speakers:
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/hb-1.html

Maybe 3x of these across the front with less expensive rears (or add the rears later).

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Infinity 10" subwoofer for $300:
http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-10-Inch-300-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0044D3R6I/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1414088369&sr=8-8&keywords=infinity+subwoofer

Infinity P153 bookshelf for $76 each x 5 = $380:
http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Two-way-Bookshelf-Satellite/dp/B004649W1Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1414088338&sr=8-2&keywords=infinity+p163

Denon E300 for $287:
http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-E300-Networking-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00B7X2OV2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414088143&sr=8-1&keywords=denon+receiver

 

[MidnightSensi]

Infinity 10" subwoofer for $300:
http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-10-Inch-300-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0044D3R6I/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1414088369&sr=8-8&keywords=infinity subwoofer

Infinity P153 bookshelf for $76 each x 5 = $380:
http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Two-way-Bookshelf-Satellite/dp/B004649W1Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1414088338&sr=8-2&keywords=infinity p163

Denon E300 for $287:
http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-E300-Networking-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00B7X2OV2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414088143&sr=8-1&keywords=denon receiver

This is a nice recommendation. Receiver is a steal.

I think instead of the Infinity 10", I'd get the HSU STF-1 for the extra ~50 dollars. Then I'd save money on rears and get these:
http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-B652-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B002RMPHMU

I have not heard them myself, but reviews on Amazon are fair for the price, and it also didn't have a bad Stereophile review (I think cheapest speaker they ever reviewed). I wouldn't consider for the front LCRs, but for the rears they would be just fine.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

This is a nice recommendation. Receiver is a steal.

I think instead of the Infinity 10", I'd get the HSU STF-1 for the extra ~50 dollars. Then I'd save money on rears and get these:
http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-B652-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B002RMPHMU

I have not heard them myself, but reviews on Amazon are fair for the price, and it also didn't have a bad Stereophile review (I think cheapest speaker they ever reviewed). I wouldn't consider for the front LCRs, but for the rears they would be just fine.

Well he could get 4 P143 used for $50 each + 2 P143 new for $60 = $200 + $120 = $320, which is $60 less than before. Add a Denon E300 for $287 = $607. Add HSU STF-2 for $375. Total $982.

 

[zieglj01]

View attachment 14115 View attachment 14116
I am extremely new to audio and surround sound. I almost bought a bose surround sound system for $1000 at future shop until some friends convinced me otherwise.
Any help would be awesome!!

Where do you plan to buy from - Canada or the USA?