A/V setup

[dmclone]

We're selling our house, which had a dedicated home theater w. 5.1 setup. Moving into this new house, I'd like to move to a simple setup. A few things to consider:

I already have the A/V receiver I'm going to use. Denon X3700h. Overkill for what I need, but it works.
I already have a giant 500 watt 15" sub

90% of use will be YTTV, Netflix, HBO, etc

I'm thinking of just going with 2 towers and a center channel. I've never owned tower speakers, in the home theater setup I had some 20 year old NHT bookshelves. Basement setup with 9' ceilings, plenty of space.

I'd like to spend less than $1,500 for those 3 speakers.

Thoughts on this setup? Will I miss the surround? Brands? I keep hearing about ELAC, KEF, Wharfedale, etc.

 

[Isualum13]

When i did mine I just kept my eye on Facebook marketplace and ebay until I was able to get what i was looking for which was some decent klipsch speakers at a reasonable price.

Until then I just used the built in speakers on the tv.

I like having the surround sound. But without having the wires running behind the walls/ceiling it's a bit of an eyesore.

 

[Clonehomer]

I ditched the full system in lieu of a good soundbar when we moved. Been happy with it. Saves a lot of hassle and declutters a lot as both are hanging on the wall with no need for running wires and having a cabinet to hold the equipment. Now that physical media is essentially dead, there’s not much need to have a place for a DVD player and receiver.

 

[spierceisu]

I like having the surround as well. I use this for my rear speakers so I don't have to run wires all the way from the receiver to the back.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/rocketfish-wireless-rear-speaker-kit-black/6254098.p

It transmits wirelessly. You just have to have a power outlet and hook the speaker wires to the rear receiver part. It works really well for me.

I have Klipsch speakers that are not high end Klipsch by any means but sound really good to me. I have A Klipsch R-25C center channel, KF-26 tower speakers for my front, and some small speakers from my old Klipsch Quintet II set as my surrounds. I also have a Klipsch Sub-12 as my sub. I second going on facebook marketplace and you can find some really good speakers if you look.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Is this for home theater only or are you going to be listening to music also? If only home theater, I would look at Klipsch speakers, very efficient speakers, so you Denon receiver should be fine. Klipsch are used in many movie theaters because of their efficiency, but let me warn you, there are those that say they sound fatiguing on the ears after awhile. I love mine, do not rule out B stock or second hand speakers either, you can get a great bang for your buck with either. $1500 for the mains and center is not a bad budget, and then fill in with the surrounds down the road. Be sure to timber match the main 3 speakers.
The best way is to go into a high end audio store, not a Best Buy, and tell them your budget, and you want to listen to all types of speakers, remember HT speakers might be great for that use, but be disappointing for some types of music. Decide on what you are going to use them for, be honest with yourself, and then purchase the best you can afford for that use. Our HT is used about 99% for that purpose only, and we rarely play music on the system.

 

[ackatch]

I ditched the full system in lieu of a good soundbar when we moved. Been happy with it. Saves a lot of hassle and declutters a lot as both are hanging on the wall with no need for running wires and having a cabinet to hold the equipment. Now that physical media is essentially dead, there’s not much need to have a place for a DVD player and receiver.

We bought a JBL Soundbar w/Subwoofer like this at NFM and I've never been happier with it. We still have a "TV Stand" under the TV's (70" center TV, and a 42" on either side - makes for a wonderful March) that holds video game consoles, the soundbar, and a few ISU collectibles.

 

[ruxCYtable]

If I am being honest, I am not enamored with surround, and find it mostly unnecessary. A lot of shows/movies, you don't even notice it, and when you do it's fleeting. I currently have a 5.2 system, but only because our home was already wired for it.

Give me a solid 2.0 or 2.1 setup and I'm perfectly happy. I'm not an audiophile and I don't need the best of the best. I want a good system at a good price. I'm perfectly happy with mid-level speakers from JBL, Yamaha or Polk.

If you've got a good sub, I'd personally skip the tower speakers. Get yourself some good quality bookshelf speakers and some nice stands that match your decor.

Just one man's opinion...

 

[CyCoug]

I have a couple Vizio kits which broadcast the rear surround wirelessly to a subwoofer and two satellites. The front is a soundbar mounted under the TV.

Not sure if audio purists would approve but it works fine for watching streaming content.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

If I am being honest, I am not enamored with surround, and find it mostly unnecessary. A lot of shows/movies, you don't even notice it, and when you do it's fleeting. I currently have a 5.2 system, but only because our home was already wired for it.

Give me a solid 2.0 or 2.1 setup and I'm perfectly happy. I'm not an audiophile and I don't need the best of the best. I want a good system at a good price. I'm perfectly happy with mid-level speakers from JBL, Yamaha or Polk.

If you've got a good sub, I'd personally skip the tower speakers. Get yourself some good quality bookshelf speakers and some nice stands that match your decor.

Just one man's opinion...

You cannot beat a well set up sound system, when you jump as the sound comes from behind or above you. HT systems can get very expensive, but the great thing about the hobby is you can purchase and build slowly over time. Start with the mains and center and build up from there as money becomes available. There is no substitute when you can actually feel the sound in the room.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I'm an A/V purist, so I recommend pulling the wire and doing it that way. That being said, I have a sonos setup in my living room, with the wireless rears. You won't confuse it for the 5.1 setup in the theater, but it's adequate for the kids' cartoons.

That being said, there's a bit of nuance to get the Sonos sounbar to output the 5.1 sound. You don't really have an AVR, and not all TV's will output 5.1 to a soundbar. My research and experience is a few years old now, but you may have a bad time if you expect true surround sound, unless you have the right TV.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

I started HT about 25 years ago, we have a Klipsch sound bar in the TV above the fireplace because of the WAF. My main HT gear, I have purchased over time, when I first started I purchase the synergy Klipsch system, and then a few years later upgraded to the Klipsch RF-83s with the matching center RF-64. The surrounds are the RF-62 mounted on the back wall. Before we moved I had the 62's mounted on the sides and was running RF-82s for the rear, which was overkill. For subs have duel SVS 4000 series. sealed subs, I use a Denon 4700 as a pre/pro with everything powered by a Monolith 7 x200 amp.
I have used the mains and center for over 20 years, that is where you want to spend the money on, as receivers and other components will be outdated over time, but speakers should last a lifetime if you do not push them at high levels all the time. We have a very nice system and have reached the point that upgrading the speakers will not get me much of a bang for the buck. Not a purist like Nick, just love to show off the system with guests and watching a movie is better at home then at the theater.

 

[0u812]

I understand the love for sound bars, but a good component AV system is my preference. I would do a sound bar for small house/bedroom, but do the old school for a big living room or theatre.

I currently run a Denon receiver, all older Klipsch speakers (1984 Klipschorns in the corner of my living room) and a BIC (cheap) powered sub. Youtube and sports have never been better in my house.....what I have noticed is how football and basketball games have evolved sound broadcast wise in recent years. Lots of ambient sounds which really make it fun to watch a good ISU or other favorite team game!

 

[viking63]

We're selling our house, which had a dedicated home theater w. 5.1 setup. Moving into this new house, I'd like to move to a simple setup. A few things to consider:

I already have the A/V receiver I'm going to use. Denon X3700h. Overkill for what I need, but it works.
I already have a giant 500 watt 15" sub

90% of use will be YTTV, Netflix, HBO, etc

I'm thinking of just going with 2 towers and a center channel. I've never owned tower speakers, in the home theater setup I had some 20 year old NHT bookshelves. Basement setup with 9' ceilings, plenty of space.

I'd like to spend less than $1,500 for those 3 speakers.

Thoughts on this setup? Will I miss the surround? Brands? I keep hearing about ELAC, KEF, Wharfedale, etc.

I have some probably 20 YO PSB Image 5t towers, 8c center and 2b bookshelfs (surrounds) I'd let go for cheap. Had them mated to a Marantz SR8000 series receiver and they sounded very nice.

I currently have a Polk Audio Signa S4 soundbar with subwoofer. It's nice but doesn't match the 5.1 surround setup experience I had previously. Moved to smaller place and wife didn't want the surrounds taking up room. I will have to say it is nice not having all the cables and separate receiver.

 

[bstegs]

In my previous house, I had a 5.1.2 setup with rear (overhead) atmos. I can't tell you how much I missed that when we moved 5.5 years ago. I only recently got back to a 5.1 setup in my theater room. It is like a breath of fresh air when watching Andor and The Last of Us or playing video games. With that said, I still really miss my overheads. I have yet to experience another movie like the sound in Blade Runner 2049 with Atmos and surround.

For reference, I have a pair of GoldenEar Triton Fives along with the corresponding center and rears. My sub is a Hsu VTF-15H MK2. These are powered by a Denon x4800.

 

[Frak]

I'm an A/V purist, so I recommend pulling the wire and doing it that way. That being said, I have a sonos setup in my living room, with the wireless rears. You won't confuse it for the 5.1 setup in the theater, but it's adequate for the kids' cartoons.

That being said, there's a bit of nuance to get the Sonos sounbar to output the 5.1 sound. You don't really have an AVR, and not all TV's will output 5.1 to a soundbar. My research and experience is a few years old now, but you may have a bad time if you expect true surround sound, unless you have the right TV.

I have the Sonos bar and bookshelf’s for surround. It’s not real 5.1 surround, but honestly, I’m more concerned about playing music than having theatre quality tv. And Sonos is great for that. They make it easy to play music in the house with the app.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

I have the Sonos bar and bookshelf’s for surround. It’s not real 5.1 surround, but honestly, I’m more concerned about playing music than having theatre quality tv. And Sonos is great for that. They make it easy to play music in the house with the app.

People need to understand speakers for music can be totally different from those that are used for HT. Some brands are going to be better than others if you want to play both, but brands like Klipsch are much better at HT unless you are shelling out for the Heritage Series of speakers, which is going to cost you thousands.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I have the Sonos bar and bookshelf’s for surround. It’s not real 5.1 surround, but honestly, I’m more concerned about playing music than having theatre quality tv. And Sonos is great for that. They make it easy to play music in the house with the app.

I held off on Sonos for a long time, but once I got them, I fell in love. Being able to have a Super Bowl Party with the game audio all over the house is a fun thing.

 

[brianhos]

Moved into a new house 4 years ago, I went back to 5.1 and a pair of subwoofers (SVS PB3000's). I honestly cannot tell that much of a difference, it's just not worth all the extra wiring to get all those channels. Just a pair of wires snaked through the ceiling and the rest on the cabinet below the TV. I do need a new TV though.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Moved into a new house 4 years ago, I went back to 5.1 and a pair of subwoofers (SVS PB3000's). I honestly cannot tell that much of a difference, it's just not worth all the extra wiring to get all those channels. Just a pair of wires snaked through the ceiling and the rest on the cabinet below the TV. I do need a new TV though.

Duel subs would be a 5.2 system. Try moving the speakers around a little and using the room equalizing set up feature in your receiver to get the best sound.

 

[JP4CY]

I held off on Sonos for a long time, but once I got them, I fell in love. Being able to have a Super Bowl Party with the game audio all over the house is a fun thing.

Yeah Im deep into the Sonos-sphere myself.
Arc + Port + (2) Ones + (2) subs in living room.
-use port for turntable
One for kitchen
Beam + mini sub in bedroom
Move 2 in garage
Roam for bike and traveling