Suggestions on 7.1 setup, Please?

[thekaptn]

Ok, I know this is one of the most annoying questions for a forum, but I am just having a headache trying to figure out what to get as my next surround sound system. In the past I have rocked the Onkyo 7.1 in a box, but that was a while ago and I am looking to step up to a meaner and cleaner. I have read the 3k and 5k suggested systems on this site, but It doesn't help me for the fact that I am wanting to run in-wall and in-ceiling.

To start off I am looking to add on to my existing setup which is as follows:

Sony 52XBR4 LCD TV
PS3
AppleTV
Tivo Series3

In this I am hoping to setup a 7.1 sound system to truly make use of blu-ray trueHD and MA tracks, while sounding phenomenally better than what a HTIB would sound.

The room is 14'x18', with an open awning behind where we will be sitting.

I am wanting to go Towers for the front, In-Walls for the Surround L/R, and In-Ceiling for the Back Surround L/R.

As far as the receiver goes, I am in between the Denon AVR-2308CI and Onkyo SR-876, I am leaning towards the 876 for it's use of the HQV Reon-VX.

Pretty much if you had $2.5-3K, What would you do?

Thanks in advance.

 

[the grunt]

You might want to consider Axiom‘s in/on wall speakers.

http://www.axiomaudio.com/wallspeakers.html

http://www.soundstageav.com/onhifi/20070501.htm

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=511833&highlight=axiom#post511833

I don’t own them but have read many positive comments about them.

Before you go in wall/ceiling be sure you have no other option as It’s hard to tweak things once you’ve done the mounting.

Cheers,
Dean

 

[thekaptn]

Axiom

Thanks Grunt,

I went to axiom's web site and those speakers seem to fit the bill for me!

So here is what I am thinking...

Onkyo TX-SR876
Pair W3 In-Wall Speakers
EP175 Powered Subwoofer
VP100 Center
Pair QS4 Surrounds
Pair Millennia M50 Towers

Would this be a good setup? Or should I look for a better receiver?

 

[lsiberian]

You may also look into a DIY project. If you do your homework and plan well. I bet you can put together an amazing system.

 

[the grunt]

When I first read your thread I mistakenly thought you were planning to go all in/on wall not just the rears and surrounds, so I should preface something first. Don’t base your system only on what in/on wall speakers are available for rears and possibly surrounds since most of the audio information in movies, music and games comes from the front speakers.

Generally the front 3 speakers should match as closely as possible (identical is ideal) but unless you plan on lots of multi-channel music it’s not usually as important that the surrounds and rears match the rest of the speakers. It’s nice but just not as important. So I think you’ll be happier in the long run if you prioritize picking speakers you like the sound of for up front and then get something at least close for the surrounds and rears.

That said I think Axiom is still a fine choice (I own them so I’m biased). Here’s a couple things I would tweak on your list.

I love my Axiom subwoofer but just think you can get more for your money from SVS or HSU.

If you plan on listening to lots of 2 channel music w/o a subwoofer go with the M60s. If, as it looks, you plan on mostly movies and don’t mind using a subwoofer for music then go with the M22s for mains and put the money you save toward getting a better subwoofer. I’ve directly compared the M22+sub to the M80+sub and could would have been hard pressed to tell the difference if it wasn’t an A/B comparison.

The QS4s are great surrounds and should work well in your sized room.

I’m assuming your planning to use the W3 speakers as rears? Are these the ones going in the ceiling? If so how well they work will probably depend on how far back behind you they are since they’ll be pointing straight down and not at your listening position. Consider if you can getting another pair of QS4s and use the Axiom ceiling brackets to mount them so they point at you. The QS speakers are actually pretty small and might not stick out to much depending on how your room looks. I’m just not fond of in ceiling speakers and you’ll likely not see them in “recommended systems” because of how much they compromise sound. That said the rears are presently the least important of all the speakers in a 7.1 system so you might not be compromising much by going in ceiling.

The VP100 will work with any of the Axiom speakers and should be fine for the size of your room. However, if you do get M22 mains consider using an M22 center if you can fit one below or above the TV. Having 3 identical speaker up front, although not necessary, is considered ideal.

Lastly don’t assume Axioms are the only speakers for you. Axiom M22s are “detailed” speakers that will reveal flaws in many recordings the M50s and M60s a little less so. Some people don’t like this quality in sound reproduction so unless you already know what type of speaker sound you like it would pay to go out and demo a bunch of speakers taking notes about what you did and didn’t like. Then get those or similar sounding (post back here for recommendations) speakers for your mains and center. Even if you do choose another brand for up front I still highly recommend the QS4s as surrounds and rears as IMO they’re hard to beat. Though I have read some good things about the Emotiva surrounds as long as you like them in black.

Cheers,
Dean

P.S. I just saw you have another thread where it looks like you got and followed some good advice. I’ll leave rather than delete this post in case it helps someone else. Enjoy your new system and post back your thoughts and some pictures to share with others in your situation.