Need direction...moved from another section

[nosound4u]

New system, new construction, OPEN concept.... and I believe I have all prep complete and correct. I have a total 7 speakers installed . Three above the wall mounted TV and 2 slant ceiling mounted 12' from TV ...then two additional flat ceiling mounted in kitchen approximately another 12' away (SDX-R65 & HDX- R65 speakers installed purchased from a theater direct seller) . Here is a important note..my wife is completely deaf on one side and any "base sound" really effects what she does hear...the base overpowers any other sound. I did not wire for a sub woofer but it can be done if suggested. Is this not the strongest source of base? I don't know...In addition I have (2) HDMI cables and (2) Cat 5e cables installed between TV and closet and separate cable for each speaker also returning to closet. Infrared device can be installed at TV for receiver control??? I was looking at Onkyo receivers in the range from $400 to $600. Would like if possible to have Pandora thru phone played when TV is not in use
Any direction would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Jerkface]

The only Onkyo I'm seeing in that price range that will support your current configuration (7.0) is the NR5100. It does Bluetooth, ApplePlay, Pandora, etc.

BUT....

I don't see IR connectivity on that unit.

(edit)

I see the SR494 also has the 7.0 connectivity and the Bluetooth, but again, no IR.

 

[nosound4u]

having the unit in the closet to hide everything creates a problem. Using the remote will be a pain

 

[lovinthehd]

There are ways around the placement in a closet by RF/BT/IR blaster choices.

 

[}Fear_Inoculum{]

Not sure about Onkyo, but Yamaha has an app to control your AVR that works as long as you are in Bluetooth range.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Okay, the first thing that doesn't work is that you haven't run flexible conduit of at least 1.25" diameter from the equipment closet to the TV location.

Second thing is that you intend to stick hot electronics into a closet. This isn't terrible if you give them plenty of room to breathe, but overheating is the number one killer of electronics.

You SHOULD run wiring for a subwoofer, because it's cheap and easy. If you ever sold the space and someone who wants a subwoofer were to come in, why would you screw them over by NOT including that cable? Pick a location that is out of the way. Either in a corner or behind a couch or similar.

Infrared repeater systems will use up a cat-5 cable. I would run at least TWO more cat-5 cables (total of 4) to the TV location. They are super useful for a variety of things. Make sure that you also have a NETWORK cable run behind the TV location and to the equipment closet location.
But, yes, there are plenty of infrared repeaters on the market which allow you to use a standard remote, or a IR universal remote to run the equipment tucked away inside of a closet. Some better universal remotes also will use RF, and that gets converted to IR inside the closet to control the gear.

It is hard to know if your speaker placement is solid without knowing where your couch is going. I assume that it is in line with the front pair of ceiling speakers.

Finally, I must say, it bugs me that your front three speakers are jammed together like that. You will get almost ZERO stereo imaging from such a setup.

I will say that both my wife and I wear headphones for almost all of our normal TV viewing, we have found, over the years, that it provides a very good way to personalize our audio for the way we like to listen to it. Just something to consider as well, but that can be added later.

Here is a video about setting up a IR repeater, there are a ton of videos about it on YouTube...

Here is a pretty standard IR repeater kit:

https://www.amazon.com/WenkeDigi-Infrared-Repeater-Control-Extender/dp/B09NM4XQ7W/ref=sr_1_14

NOTE: You can extend the IR receiver target by using cat-5 cable in between. You can also use a different IR receiver target which connects to the phoenix block.

 

[nosound4u]

"Okay, the first thing that doesn't work is that you haven't run flexible conduit of at least 1.25" diameter from the equipment closet to the TV location" As a licensed electrician I can tell you running a 1 1/4 conduit means NOTHING. I have separated each different cable for a specific reason. Placing everything in the same conduit is wrong, period.
"You SHOULD run wiring for a subwoofer, because it's cheap and easy. If you ever sold the space and someone who wants a subwoofer were to come in, why would you screw them over by NOT including that cable?"
We build custom homes...this is my 8th personal home, The basement is unfinished and can add cable from any point in this house, so Im not screwing anyone over, thanks its not my first rodeo
The front speakers aren't jammed together and they have directional cones
Closet is large AND has AC supply installed
I'll look into sub woofers but it was left out because as I said Base bothers the wife hearing...completely deaf on one side and that over rides all other sound.

 

[BMXTRIX]

"Okay, the first thing that doesn't work is that you haven't run flexible conduit of at least 1.25" diameter from the equipment closet to the TV location" As a licensed electrician I can tell you running a 1 1/4 conduit means NOTHING. I have separated each different cable for a specific reason. Placing everything in the same conduit is wrong, period.

I don't want you to put anything in the conduit at all. The conduit is so that you can retro in new HDMI cabling or whatever cabling in the future. 20 years ago HDMI didn't exist. You can't imagine the number of homes I run into that want to add TVs or upgrade TVs which don't have the proper cabling in place. 1.25" conduit is large enough to support HDMI cabling or almost any future cabling run through it.

Of course, if there is an unfinished basement, then you can retro cabling in the future...

We build custom homes...

I can't emphasize enough, how poor my experience has been with home builders that try to do home theater. Not that you are bad, but certainly, this is not a 'plus' when it comes to expectations.

this is my 8th personal home, The basement is unfinished and can add cable from any point in this house, so Im not screwing anyone over, thanks its not my first rodeo
The front speakers aren't jammed together and they have directional cones
Closet is large AND has AC supply installed
I'll look into sub woofers but it was left out because as I said Base bothers the wife hearing...completely deaf on one side and that over rides all other sound.

I wouldn't add a sub necessarily. Just the wiring. As I said, no idea you could retro wires in easily enough, that's great. Most seem to not have that access. You may want to consider a bass shaker if you want to add some 'feel' to the space.

 

[Pogre]

As a licensed electrician I can tell you running a 1 1/4 conduit means NOTHING.

It's helpful if something changes or new tech becomes available that requires new or different cabling.