Just starting. HT first, then, THE WORLD (of Stereo Listening)

[Squigz]

Hello from Australia everyone!
I can safely say the future (here) isn't much different. Take that as a good thing for now!

I'm JUST starting my real audio journey. My Dad got me into music when I was young. I've always has sensitive ears, they hurt easily from loud noises and workplace required hearing tests show I can hear~10ish dB below the usual threshold of human hearing for more than half the usual spectrum. I could well have hated music had it not been for my Dad (I went through a phase after moving out where I thought hearing damage had caused me to no longer appreciate music because piano playing sounds like a terrible bunch of muddled notes. Now I realise it's likely because I don't have the gear my dad has).

I just posted a thread asking for some advice on AVRs, so won't double up here. Please go see it if you have 2c to offer.

I am also looking at options for Atmos too.

I'm most keen to get something setup for Home Theatre, but since I have enjoyed music previously (and often listen to pop and rock on my tiny 5.1 Logitech kit upstairs with my PC), I'm hoping to get something that can work well in that space too so I can dabble a bit and expand.

 

[ryanosaur]

I see no reason to build separate systems for stereo and ht usage unless you are in different rooms by necessity (lounge and office system, for example). If that’s the case and you are streaming exclusively, you could simply go the path of a DAC, an amp and some good passive Speakers, or get some active Monitors and bypass the Amp as well.

 

[Pogre]

You can build a very nice ht system that will sound awesome with music too if you're talking about the same space. We can't offer much of any advice without a budget tho...

Plus what's available to you there down under? You'll want decent subwoofage too for ht, and I personally love it for music too. Even the stuff that doesn't necessarily go that deep. There's a sense of clarity, spaciousness, texture and weight, not just boom-boom, that only a sub can add. SVS, Rythmik and Monoprice Monolith are a few of the better companies for that.

Need that budget first tho!

 

[Squigz]

I see no reason to build separate systems for stereo and ht usage unless you are in different rooms by necessity (lounge and office system, for example). If that’s the case and you are streaming exclusively, you could simply go the path of a DAC, an amp and some good passive Speakers, or get some active Monitors and bypass the Amp as well.

Absolutely. I was more saying that if I want to get much more into stereo listening, then I might upgrade my fronts in my HT and get a dedicated power amp for them (or get active fronts).

Though, I see myself listening much more upstairs, in a much more open room, where my PC sits. I haven't yet got anything set up to route from the HT to there, so setting that up as a zone won't be possible at the moment. For now, the Logitech Z5500s will have to do up there hahaha. Until, as you say, getting a smaller separate system installed there.

 

[Pogre]

Though, I see myself listening much more upstairs, in a much more open room, where my PC sits. I haven't yet got anything set up to route from the HT to there, so setting that up as a zone won't be possible at the moment. For now, the Logitech Z5500s will have to do up there hahaha. Until, as you say, getting a smaller separate system installed there.

For an upstairs music only I like Ryan's suggestion of looking to powered monitors and maybe a sub. Then you don't have to worry about an amp or setting up a zone 2. There are some very good sounding powered monitors out there.

 

[Squigz]

Heya @Pogre
Rather than doubling up, do you want to head over to the other thread I made? Or I can copy the entire thing here if better.

Honestly, 90% of the help I need at the moment is choosing between 2 AVRs (with not much else available competition wise but open to suggestions) [choices are a 9.2 Yamaha, a 9.2 Marantz with 11.2 processing, and possibly anything I can get with 11.2 amp chanels, though that is getting into triple the price], and then sorting out an Atmos solution.
Desire for 11.2 over 9.2 is for rear surrounds, which I do not even know if I want / will sound good / will be noticeable in the space yet! If the Denon Home wireless speakers can be used as surrounds with a wired system on the Marantz, I may do that as it could well be the cheapest way of getting 11.2, with the ability to move the wireless speakers to another room in the house if we don't care for them in the HT. Best of both worlds! Had my heart set on the Yammy though, but honestly I have almost no experience with them so....

Budget isn't really a hard limit, more of a 'I don't want to double the price, aiming for best in class without breaking the bank'. Hoping for around $10,000 AUD though, if I had to pick a number.

 

[Pogre]

I'll just head on over to your other thread and get caught up then!

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

For the AVR, I’ll nod to Marantz. Yamaha makes great sounding equipment. But I loathe their menu structures, and even more so that they have this proprietary language and unusual ways to set things up. If your already used to that, or prefer their style then I’d go that way. But my preference is for D/M.
As for 7 vs 5? Well the money you’d save on rear surrounds could be reallocated to their areas. However as mentioned, budget has some latitude so my vote is for 7.x.4. I have a seven channel bed layer and while adding rear surrounds wasn’t super transformative, I would definitely not take them out. Buy once cry once.

 

[j_garcia]

Marantz fan here too. I have owned 4 or 5 of them. I switched for a while and came back

I vote no 7.1 unless that is Atmos not a traditional 7.1 setup. That is the setup I currently have and it works well. I had a 6.1 setup previously and Atmos is much more worth it.

Though my setup tends to be use for HT a lot these days, my focus was always music from the beginning. Start with the mains (including taking the center into consideration) - get something you like for music and let that drive the rest of the conversation. That benefits you in two ways: 1) you will always enjoy your music 2) HT only benefits from it since good speakers that you like the sound of will always sound good for HT as well.

 

[Pogre]

Marantz fan here too. I have owned 4 or 5 of them. I switched for a while and came back

I vote no 7.1 unless that is Atmos not a traditional 7.1 setup. That is the setup I currently have and it works well. I had a 6.1 setup previously and Atmos is much more worth it.

Though my setup tends to be use for HT a lot these days, my focus was always music from the beginning. Start with the mains (including taking the center into consideration) - get something you like for music and let that drive the rest of the conversation. That benefits you in two ways: 1) you will always enjoy your music 2) HT only benefits from it since good speakers that you like the sound of will always sound good for HT as well.

Yeah, that's not a bad way to go either. It really was my approach too. I started with focusing the bulk of the budget on my main speakers and subs and used speakers I already had for surrounds. I didn't get a center channel right away either and used phantom mode for a while. My focus was music first too, and that opened my budget up for better quality 2.1 stereo.

For ht you can even get away with using your Logitech speakers for surrounds until you're ready to pony up for matching ones. Your front 3 are the most important to have matching. You can get away with different surround speakers. They're mainly for effects and don't get nearly the play that the front 3 do. Depends on your goals. This approach is a little more patient and music focused.