[ianbiz]

Educate me please.
I'm looking at finishing up the TV room in our house, I was wondering what you audiophiles out there are into these days. Trying to do this on a lower end budget as it will be used quite a bit.
Space is somewhat an issue (no floorstanding speakers or multi-amp setups). I do have room to do a typical 5.1 but kinda like the idea of a soundbar and a sub or 2.

Also wondering what you guys are doing for equipment stands when the TV is mounted on the wall.

[Diokaef]

Originally Posted by ianbiz

Educate me please.
I'm looking at finishing up the TV room in our house, I was wondering what you audiophiles out there are into these days. Trying to do this on a lower end budget as it will be used quite a bit.
Space is somewhat an issue (no floorstanding speakers or multi-amp setups). I do have room to do a typical 5.1 but kinda like the idea of a soundbar and a sub or 2.

Also wondering what you guys are doing for equipment stands when the TV is mounted on the wall.

Focal Dome 2.1 and Yamaha receiver Can't go wrong with that.

[335R1]

I'd like info on this sound bar too. Does it give you that true 5.1 surround sound? I've a 6.1 set up in my entertainment room, but want one set up in my bedroom too.

[stimpy]

A soundbar isn't true 5.1. You need the perfect room setup for a soundbar to work correctly as it bounces the sounds off the walls. It's basically simulated 5.1

My buddy has a perfect rectangular room and his Yamaha soundbar sounds really good but it's not a replacement for the standard setup imo.
________
vapir no2

[daixloxbmw]

i'm with stimpy on this one... soundbars are not true surround sound options. they only simulate surround sound by bouncing sound off walls so that you are merely hearing echoes of the original sound and they only "work" when you have a perfectly shaped room. if one side of your room opens up to another room, then you obviously wont be hearing any sound bounce back from that side.

therefore, if you are asking true "audiophiles" for their opinions on soundbars... they will tell you that audiophile and soundbars can't be used in the same sentence.

if space is really an issue, try looking into one of these tiny sub/sat HTIB options from sony, panasonic, onkyo, etc. many of them offer tiny satellite speakers that can be placed fairly easily with a subwoofer that can be hidden away in a corner somewhere. although this is far from audiophile-quality, it is still substantially better than a soundbar because it will at least provide true 5.1 or even 6.1/7.1 surround sound.

[ianbiz]

would a soundbar be suitable for the weekly movie and tv show use?

[ianbiz]

picture of the room currently.

[TMR]

http://www.usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/3765.asp

[SantaPimp27]

Originally Posted by ianbiz

Educate me please.
I'm looking at finishing up the TV room in our house, I was wondering what you audiophiles out there are into these days. Trying to do this on a lower end budget as it will be used quite a bit.
Space is somewhat an issue (no floorstanding speakers or multi-amp setups). I do have room to do a typical 5.1 but kinda like the idea of a soundbar and a sub or 2.

Also wondering what you guys are doing for equipment stands when the TV is mounted on the wall.

I personally wouldnt go with a sound bar if i were you. there really not that great and cannot give you true surround sound.

If you post a budget up i could recommend you a quality system to use. With a smaller budget, sometimes its smarter to go with a HTiB, but you can build a decent cheap setup.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Sound bar = poor man's 5.1. Where the seating position in your room? if it's not at the very end of the room, you'll be better off mounting the 2 rear speakers right at that kink in the wall to get a rectangular setup.

[achenator]

my set up. speakers are Mythos by Definitive Technology

[samwoo2go]

Go for true 5.1 and don't skip out on quality, you'll regret it. If budget is tight. you could always just get the 2 fronts with receiver first. Then center and sub. and lastly for a pair or 2 of surround back for 5.1 or 7.1. I would much rather do it in tiers like that than to get a shitty setup, ESPECIALLY if u use it alot. Why would you cheap out on something you use alot?

[samwoo2go]

I say about $1500 is the minimum for an entry level respectable setup that's not trash.

here found you a good sub to start things off

https://svsound.com/store/index.cfm?...category_ID=12

[number335]

Anyone have any experience with the Bose cinemate series II systems. They sound pretty good in the stores, but not sure if its worth $800. I don't want to run wires all over my home and it seems like a great compact system with great sound.

[SantaPimp27]

Originally Posted by samwoo2go

Go for true 5.1 and don't skip out on quality, you'll regret it. If budget is tight. you could always just get the 2 fronts with receiver first. Then center and sub. and lastly for a pair or 2 of surround back for 5.1 or 7.1. I would much rather do it in tiers like that than to get a shitty setup, ESPECIALLY if u use it alot. Why would you cheap out on something you use alot?

+1 this is a very good alternative if your short on cash

Originally Posted by number335

Anyone have any experience with the Bose cinemate series II systems. They sound pretty good in the stores, but not sure if its worth $800. I don't want to run wires all over my home and it seems like a great compact system with great sound.

bose is some of the most overpriced crap ever. go onto any real forum with guys that do audio for a living and you will almost never see a recommendation for bose.

if you give me a budget i could recommend some speakers that will blow bose out of the water

[samwoo2go]

Originally Posted by number335

Anyone have any experience with the Bose cinemate series II systems. They sound pretty good in the stores, but not sure if its worth $800. I don't want to run wires all over my home and it seems like a great compact system with great sound.

Bose speakers and Monster cables are caviar of the audiophile world...a whole bunch of money for nothing...but everybody likes it because its mother fucking caviar

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by samwoo2go

Bose speakers and Monster cables are caviar of the audiophile world...a whole bunch of money for nothing...but everybody likes it because its mother fucking caviar

Yep.

I went all out on my HT, spent waaay too much, but then again, the only thing I will need to replace in the next 20 years is the TV.

I have B&W 804S as my mains, with the B&W HTM3 as my center. B&W inwalls 7NT for by surrounds and a Velodyne DD10 for my sub. Running those are a Anthem AVM 50 Pre-amp and a Rotel 1095 power amp.

[SantaPimp27]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

Yep.

I went all out on my HT, spent waaay too much, but then again, the only thing I will need to replace in the next 20 years is the TV.

I have B&W 804S as my mains, with the B&W HTM3 as my center. B&W inwalls 7NT for by surrounds and a Velodyne DD10 for my sub. Running those are a Anthem AVM 50 Pre-amp and a Rotel 1095 power amp.

damn dude very nice setup. quality speakers last forever, and hold their value very well.

im rocking Paradigms

maybe ill start a Home theater thread where everyone can post up their stuff

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by SantaPimp27

damn dude very nice setup. quality speakers last forever, and hold their value very well.

im rocking Paradigms

maybe ill start a Home theater thread where everyone can post up their stuff

Yeah, that was my thinking with spending what I did on them.

Quite a few of professional musicians use B&W because they are accurate and don't add anything artificial to your source material, the con of that is that they don't add anything artificial to your source material, lol.

The quality of your source material is important with B&W, as if you put shit in, you will get shit out. HOWEVER, you put in a nice SACD or a DTS quality material these things are orgasmic. They are critical listening speakers and reward if you are a audiophile.

Since I got the system, I have gotten very much into orchestra, Comp. Jazz, Yanni type of music.

They do great in the movie department as well.


Good call on the Paradigms, they are definitely a better value then B&W

[darkcloud]

I could use some suggestions.

1. I need a center channel. Requirements: Must be slim. Mounting is not an option as the logical placement of the tv in my room is the corner. Under $250.

2. 2 Front and 2 Rear speakers. Again this is not a traditional shaped setup. Stand speakers aren't an option, front left placement area is where the dog sleeps haha. Wall mounting is a must. Have all 4 speakers being the same would be great. Under $600.

The sub and receiver I have are currently good enough. Only way I'm pulling off new speakers is because we just remodeled that room and the current speakers won't work for the new placements. I ran all my speaker wires in wall with nice speaker wire wall plates.

My room shape

[lambtron]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

Yep.

I went all out on my HT, spent waaay too much, but then again, the only thing I will need to replace in the next 20 years is the TV.

I have B&W 804S as my mains, with the B&W HTM3 as my center. B&W inwalls 7NT for by surrounds and a Velodyne DD10 for my sub. Running those are a Anthem AVM 50 Pre-amp and a Rotel 1095 power amp.

NICE! BW ftmw....

OP, If you want a super nice sound on a budget, go with HSU Research.

[SantaPimp27]

Originally Posted by darkcloud

I could use some suggestions.

1. I need a center channel. Requirements: Must be slim. Mounting is not an option as the logical placement of the tv in my room is the corner. Under $250.

2. 2 Front and 2 Rear speakers. Again this is not a traditional shaped setup. Stand speakers aren't an option, front left placement area is where the dog sleeps haha. Wall mounting is a must. Have all 4 speakers being the same would be great. Under $600.

The sub and receiver I have are currently good enough. Only way I'm pulling off new speakers is because we just remodeled that room and the current speakers won't work for the new placements. I ran all my speaker wires in wall with nice speaker wire wall plates.

Hmm, for the two front channels, i would highly recommend some Paradigm SE1's. there a hybrid between the monitor and studio lines, but closer to the studio line.

Here's a review on them:

http://www.hometheatermag.com/compac...tem/index.html

they retail for $300 each. the SE center is $500 and i would recommend either spending more or saving up. 80-95% of all dialogue is sent to the center channel during movies and is arguably the most important speaker in the system. ideally, if you could make a 3rd SE1 work, that would be perfect

Paradigms, like most higher end speakers must be bought from an authorized dealer and are not sold over the internet. Dealers are known to give 10-25% off.