Speakers for a small area

[crf250x]

Good Day To All,

It's been along time since I put an AV System together. So the learning curve has been pretty steep these past few months.

Just a short note to get some feedback on what I am planning to do.

Goal: Purchase and Install new, Display, Receiver 7.1, Inwall Speakers and free standing powered Sub.
Where: In our basement that is currently being renovated.
Space: The area available is 13 wide by 19 feet deep.
Location of the Couch: 7 Ft from the Flat Panel.
Issues: The couch cannot go further back due to the "Laundry Area". So actual space that the media area will take up is about 13 by 13. The rear Left and Right speakers will be further back about 19 ft from the display.
Speaker Locations: Front left and Right and Center will be on the wall with the Flat Panel. Surround Left and Right will be at ear level on either side of the couch, (actually they will be in line with the back of the couch), the listner's head will be slightly in front of them.
Rear Left and Right Speakers can either be in ceiling or in wall but they will have to be at about the 7ft level due to cabinets, etc.
Gear to be purchased: Samsung 55 8500 series, Harmon Kardon AVR 1600 or 2600, Samsung Blu-Ray (have one now so may use it for awhile before upgrading it)
Wire: Monoprice 12AWG 4 Conductor CL2. Plan to run one "wire" for each set of speakers. Heard that this works well and less wires to run.
HDMI Cable: Monoprice
Boxes, plates and plugs, all from Monoprice.

This system will be for AV only. I have a two channel amp, CD player and speakers that I will use for Audio in the house. Yamaha and Totem. Plan to upgrade the amp later, but love the Totems

Questions
- Better AV Receiver than the HK 1600 or 2600, or will one of these be just fine?
- Samsung 55 8500 series, we have a Samsung 38 inch 600 series already and a Samsung Blu-Ray both I think are fine, so would like to stay with Samsung, but if you have other recommendations that would be great.
- Speakers, have been doing lots of research on this site and others. Kevins message was a great help. But have not yet nailed down the speakers.
- Trying to find something for about $1,500 for the seven of them.
- Do in ceiling speakers work Ok for rears? Or always better to go inwall or free standing. May also get smaller bookshelf speakers for the rears and just put them on the cabinets at the back of the room, would that be better than in ceiling.
- Subwoofer, any thoughts on which powered sub for around $500
- With the size of area that I have and issues with the back wall, am I better of just staying with 5.1

The stuff from Monoprice should be here soon, so hope to start wiring next week. Any advice most appreciated.

 

[XEagleDriver]

Goal: Purchase and Install new, Display, Receiver 7.1, Inwall Speakers and free standing powered Sub.
Where: In our basement that is currently being renovated.
Space: The area available is 13 wide by 19 feet deep.
Location of the Couch: 7 Ft from the Flat Panel.
Issues: The couch cannot go further back due to the "Laundry Area". So actual space that the media area will take up is about 13 by 13. The rear Left and Right speakers will be further back about 19 ft from the display.
Speaker Locations: Front left and Right and Center will be on the wall with the Flat Panel. Surround Left and Right will be at ear level on either side of the couch, (actually they will be in line with the back of the couch), the listner's head will be slightly in front of them.
Rear Left and Right Speakers can either be in ceiling or in wall but they will have to be at about the 7ft level due to cabinets, etc.
Gear to be purchased: Samsung 55 8500 series, Harmon Kardon AVR 1600 or 2600, Samsung Blu-Ray (have one now so may use it for awhile before upgrading it)
Wire: Monoprice 12AWG 4 Conductor CL2. Plan to run one "wire" for each set of speakers. Heard that this works well and less wires to run.
HDMI Cable: Monoprice
Boxes, plates and plugs, all from Monoprice.

CRF250X,

Welcome to the forum! Very good write-up, plenty of detail, and it sounds like you have a solid plan--here are a couple thoughts on your questions:

- Better AV Receiver than the HK 1600 or 2600, or will one of these be just fine? - Let your speaker selection drive your AVR power requirements. Beyond that, AVR features are the most important. In general, I advise to step up to the AVR level with pre-amp outputs to ensure the ability to add external amps later on.

- Samsung 55 8500 series, we have a Samsung 38 inch 600 series already and a Samsung Blu-Ray both I think are fine, so would like to stay with Samsung, but if you have other recommendations that would be great. - Good company, as long as you are pleased, by all means stick with them. I have multiple Pannys for similar reasons.

- Speakers, have been doing lots of research on this site and others. Kevins message was a great help. But have not yet nailed down the speakers. - The most important selection you will make!

- Trying to find something for about $1,500 for the seven of them. - At ~$200 a piece you have lots of options. Take your time, demo if able.

- Do in ceiling speakers work Ok for rears? Or always better to go inwall or free standing. May also get smaller bookshelf speakers for the rears and just put them on the cabinets at the back of the room, would that be better than in ceiling. - For same cost, generally best performance is (in order): bookshelfs, in-walls, then in ceilings.

However, from what you wrote, it sounds like the cabinets at back of room could substantially interfere with in-wall performance. If that is true, I would opt for bookshelves.

NOTE: Surrounds are normally installed a foot or two above seated ear level. See:
http://www.dolby.com/consumer/setup/speaker-setup-guide/index.html

- Subwoofer, any thoughts on which powered sub for around $500. - Start search with SVS, HSU, and Velodyne (too name but a few good companies).

- With the size of area that I have and issues with the back wall, am I better of just staying with 5.1 - I am not a big fan of 7.1 primarily due to lack of much 7.1 media, and a preference not to "matrix" when I don't have too.

Your room size and layout can support 7.1, as long as the rear cabinets don't create more acoustic problems then it would be worth.

One gameplan to consider is:
1) Wire for 7.1 like you plan (also consider wiring for an additional sub for future growth).
2) Only buy & install 5.1 speakers and give it a try. See how it sounds, what you like/don't like.
3) Add a pair of old bookshelves you either own or can borrow to "test" the difference between 5.1 and 7.1. Then, if you then feel it is worthwhile, decide on and buy the rear speakers.

Best of Luck,
XEagleDriver

 

[AVRat]

The "Laundry Area" must be large! LOL!! 7” from the display puts you in about the right spot for the 19” room acoustics. Due to cost/room restraints, I think that a 5.1 setup would suffice. The Niles PR-6 fit nicely in your budget. For the sub, look no further than SVS PB12-NSD or eD A3-300

 

[crf250x]

Hello XEagleDriver and AVRat

Thank you both for your replies. Great info.

Yes, will wire for 7.1, and will run a couple of extra wires/boxes in for subs in different spots in the room, so I can move the sub around and see if it is better in different places.
Will put boxes in the for the rears, and go with bookshelves back there, thanks for the advice on that. Will first complete the 5.1 system and than see what the addition of rears do.

Yes, the laundry area is big, sometimes when you give a bit more you get a bit more in return. Not always but sometimes. Actually the cost of the washer/dryer, SS Stand up Freezer, Microwave, Cabinets, Counter Top, etc, will be about the same as the AV System, so I guess it all balances out in the end. Just have to figure out how to get wine fridge into this "deal".

Speakers, doing more reserch. Checked out the Nils Pr-6, they look good. Will try to "hear" them somewhere here in Vancouver. And will check out some other options. No in ceiling speakers, free standing or inwall only.

Sub, sold on the SVS PB-12 NSD. Haven't heard it yet, but no doubt they will be great.

Receiver, wow, what a lot of choices. Not sure I understand the pre-amp outputs to add another amp(s). Need some help to understand this as the couple of threads that I read about pre-amp outputs talked about sending audio to other recieves/amps in the home. So are the pre-amp outputs allowing audio to go out to an amp for audio only speakers? or something else? Seems like the recievers of 2010 have way to much stuff. They want to be Swiss Army knives. XFM, Cat5, Zones, etc.

Are there any receivers that just have great sound, good power, have a enough HDMI connections for the Cable Box, Xbox, Blu-Ray and upconvert?

Any suggestions most appreciated.

 

[AVRat]

The pre-amp outputs are just to add more powerful amp(s) if necessary. Some speakers with low impedance/sensitivity can be harder for receivers alone to drive, so an outboard amp may be necessary.

Looking at prices for receivers up North, it looks like you can purchase one for your needs in the CAD$600-$700 range. I’d lean toward the Denon 790, Onkyo 607, Pioneer 1019.

 

[crf250x]

Thanks AVRat

Info most appreciated.

Understand that pre-amp outputs, thanks.

Did some more research last night and now understanding the value of all the "extras" and also the manufactures need to come out with something new every year.

The AVR's that you noted are on my short list that I made last night. Leaning towards the Pioneer or the Onyo 607. Seems like the Pioneer has better sound, will have try to listen to one. Also liked the Marantz 6003, but more money.

I better make my decison soon or I will no doubt start reading 2010 reviews and what the latest and greatest.

Thanks

 

[crf250x]

Hello Again,

Ok, so did a bit of shopping today.

Marantz SR6004 $888
Marantz Sr6003 $717
Onkyo SR707 $629
Pioneer Elite 23TXH $545
Denon 1910 $489
Onkyo SR607 $419

Could not find the Pioneer 1019 for sale.

No doubt the Onkyo SR607 will be just find for me, but the Pioneer Elite 23TXH looks pretty attractive, but I don't know if it is actually any better than the Pioneer 1019.

Which one would you buy?

Thanks

 

[crf250x]

Found some Polk Audio RC65I on the net for $134.27 a pair.
Are they any good?
Could I use them for the fronts and the surrounds? or just the surronds?
Would one them work as a center or should I be looking elsewhere for a center?
Also found Polk Audio RC85I on the net for $197.87 a pair, bigger speaker, but are they better?

Back in the day Polk used to be a good name, but with prices this low for a pair of speakers I am wondering if they are still "good".

 

[skers_54]

Found some Polk Audio RC65I on the net for $134.27 a pair.
Are they any good?
Could I use them for the fronts and the surrounds? or just the surronds?
Would one them work as a center or should I be looking elsewhere for a center?
Also found Polk Audio RC85I on the net for $197.87 a pair, bigger speaker, but are they better?

Back in the day Polk used to be a good name, but with prices this low for a pair of speakers I am wondering if they are still "good".

Polk's lower lines are just ok. I had a set that's now with my parents and they are better than Bose but nothing to really write home about. My parents have a pair of Polk in-wall surrounds that work well with the system (not sure what the model number is). Since you're canadian, check out Axiom's speakers. They're supposed to be comparable to Paradigm's Studio line and would fit your budget.