Surround Sound System Advice

[Yorkville]

Hi everyone, this is my first post, though I have been reading everyone's tips and suggestions for some time now, and everyone has been so helpful I figured maybe someone could lend me a hand.

I just moved out of my parents place into my first apartment, and I thought I'd splurge on a home theatre I could be proud of. So far I have a 50" Panasonic Plasma, a Samsung 950 DVD player, and the Denon 3806 receiver...and of course in 2 weeks the new xbox. But I am still using a 10 year old set of Cambridge speakers and I am looking to get something newer.

The couch is 12' from the tv and though the room is in a "C" shape, I the living room area is about 13' wide. I because of the room shape a 5.1 system is necessary because there is no room behind the couch.

So this is where I turn it over to you knowledgeable folk, I mainly am going to use this system to watch movies and tv and I am looking for speakers that can give me the best surround effects for movies and such, not so much for music, since my ipod is going to be hooked up and cant give that great of a sound quality anyway. I am willing to spend up to $700 or so if its a system that can last a while. So far ive been looking at the Mirage Nanosats and Harman Kardon's HTKS 14.

Any help would be really appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Buckle-meister]

...I thought I'd splurge on a home theatre...

Splurge. It's such a great word. Welcome to the Forum Yorkville.

...because of the room shape a 5.1 system is necessary because there is no room behind the couch.

I can't really help with the choice of speakers I'm afraid, but if there is no (implied) room for a 6.1 or 7.1 setup because the couch is hard up against the rear wall, you are currently not hearing as good a quality sound from your system as you will by pulling that couch away from the back wall.

I understand that space may be a bit tight, but trust me, try it, and you'll quite possibly be knocked out by the difference you hear.

Regards

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Welcome to the forum. You've made some great purchases so far. We'll try to steer you to a nice 5.1 surround system.

Unless you have zilch for room, you're really going to miss out on the best part of HT - the Bass. The Nanostats sub is pretty useless for HT bass. And I'm not a big fan of HK's speakers (is anyone here?).

Help us out here. Are you planning on putting the satellites on the walls, or on stands? How big can you go? Is a center channel with at least dual 5.25" drivers a possibility? How about a larger sub?

 

[Yorkville]

Thanks for your replies so far.

The front speakers will be placed on a console, the center speaker can be up to 28" wide and about 9" high. I plan on mounting the surround speakers on the wall, but in a few months some construction will be done so I could put them in the ceiling if that will give a better sound.

Also, Im not really a fan of HK speakers either, but there is also a little WAF (or rather, live-in girlfriend) going on here and the sleek silver look of those compliments the Denon receiver and some furniture, of course in the end whatever sounds the best will win.

Again, thanks for replying so soon.

 

[Yorkville]

I understand that space may be a bit tight, but trust me, try it, and you'll quite possibly be knocked out by the difference you hear.

Regards

Great suggestion, I think I am going to try that out.

 

[Snap]

not familar with those speakers.

But if you are looking at 7 bills for all your speakers that pretty much puts you into the book self/sat systems.

Phase Tech V-4 System would work
Def Tech Pro Cinema 60's
Orb Single Ball system would round out the top 3.

 

[Buckle-meister]

...I think I am going to try that out.

As a rough guide, you should ideally sit somewhere between 1 to 1.5 times the distance between the speakers, from the speakers, and preferably closer to 1 times. Thus, as you move the couch back or forward, the distance between speakers will increase or decrease respectively.

You should also hear a difference by playing with the angle your speakers are toed-in towards your listening position; more toed-in will sharpen the imaging, but reduce the percieved width of soundstage. Conversely, toeing the speakers out will increase the soundstage width but reduce the sharpness of the imaging. All that matters is that you find a balance you are happy with.

Regards

 

[mulester7]

You should also hear a difference by playing with the angle your speakers are toed-in towards your listening position; more toed-in will sharpen the imaging, but reduce the percieved width of soundstage. Conversely, toeing the speakers out will increase the soundstage width but reduce the sharpness of the imaging. All that matters is that you find a balance you are happy with.

Regards

.....total agreement, Buckle....I also would lean to toe'ing the mains in, directly pointing at the sitting sweet-spot, get all the imaging to be had by that application, and then widen the soundstage with the surrounds.....

 

[Yorkville]

I think thats a great idea, is there a guide as to what hight the surrounds should be at? And is there a reason to mount them on the ceiling?

 

[Buckle-meister]

...I also would lean to toe'ing the mains in, directly pointing at the sitting sweet-spot, get all the imaging to be had by that application, and then widen the soundstage with the surrounds

Ach! No Mulester7! Remember that I'm principally a two-channel man. To me, doing what you say is...well...it's sacrilege!

I much prefer a slight loss of sharpness for an increased expansive soundstage. But remember Yorkville, it's not what Mulester7 or I like that matters, but what you like.

...is there a guide as to what hight the surrounds should be at? And is there a reason to mount them on the ceiling?

Hmm, not sure on that one. I do know that the surrounds and surround-back speakers (if you have them) should be a fair bit higher than the other speakers, but as to a recommended height, I can't say for sure. Perhaps someone else here can chip-in...

As for mounting surround or surround-back speakers in the ceiling, I wouldn't contemplate it personally. Input from others might help achieve a consensus...

Regards

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Mounting speakers in the ceiling is taboo in my HT book. I'm not even a fan of in-walls due to the lack of adjustments that can be made. But when the WAF chimes in, what can you do?

Here's some good reading on various topics.
http://www.polkaudio.com/education/advice.php

 

[ELK]

Hello all new to the site, but thought that I would give my 2 cents worth.
As for in ceiling speakers these work fine in many 2 channel applications for distributed audio throughout a home.

Though there are a few models specifically designed for surround applications. I would look at the speaker craft AIM series. The Speaker craft "AIM8 Four" has a pivoting 8” cone woofer and a 1” pivoting dome tweeter. You can aim these speakers for optimal coverage for the 2 rear channels.

I have placed these in several home theater applications and they work great.
Though for a dedicated home theater system I would use a more traditonal speaker system such as the Tannoy Dimension or the KEF XQ Series. All depends on what you want to spend and the room layout.
Hope to have helped and good luck with what ever you do

 

[Yorkville]

So after reading what everyone had to say, I dont think ceiling speakers are for me, but does anyone have or have suggestions to a 5.1 surround system? Ive looked at every system people have mentioned and read the reviews, but in the end they all get the same review, its impossible to pick something out.

 

[Buckle-meister]

...does anyone have or have suggestions to a 5.1 surround system? Ive looked at every system people have mentioned and read the reviews, but in the end they all get the same review, its impossible to pick something out.

That is why there is no substitute for getting out there and having a listen yourself.

Reviews are one thing, and are a great way to quickly whittle down the wheat from the chaff, but blindly buying equipment on a recommendation without even auditioning it is quite another.

Oh, and another thing; pulling the speakers away from their rear wall will also improve the sound's clarity (but the couch especially).

Regards