Home Theater Audio (recomendations/tips)

**XxAndyxX** · 11-14-2006, 08:29 PM

My grandparents are getting a new house and I told them I would setup the sound in their theater room. I have quite a bit of experience in the car audio department and a little in the home, but never to this degree.

My budget is ~$5,000
It's a fairly large room (25'X25') with no obstructions.

This is kind of what I was thinking
~$1,000 For receiver
~$1,000 For 18' sub and plate amp (maybe 2 15')
~$2,500 For satellite speakers (not sure if I want 5.1 or 7.1)
~$500 For subwoofer boxes and all cabling

I know best place for L/R/C speakers are at ear level, and surround is slightly above ear level. But how much of a difference does this make? I ask because it would be easier and cleaner if I could mount them in the ceiling.

**scott_fx** · 11-14-2006, 08:41 PM

would the be ok with towers over sat speakers?

**XC-C30** · 11-14-2006, 08:44 PM

first off, it's not so much the price, as it is sound. so you could say: "I'll spend that much on this and that" but you sure have to listen to different combinations. espessially in home audio the difference in an amp and speakers are VERY noticeable, so really, go listen to a few amps and look for speakers that match. and really do'n go over it easily! Take your time, and try to take some amp/speakers home, to test them out for a few days.

Also, in my opinion an 18" sub would be overkill. most all-in-one pre-packed HT-sets use a sub from 8" to 12", and it works fine. Bigger isn't always better.

My advice in this: Let your/your grandparents' ears decide, cause they'll probably like something else better than you do and vise versa....

I know for one thing marantz and mordaunt short are a nice combination, or focal and cambridge, also nice.... but there's really too many options, and if you're willing to pend that much money, we really shouldn't take part in this, because that's a lot of money to let it depend one what other people may choose....

just my 2 cents

**XxAndyxX** · 11-14-2006, 09:20 PM

scott: I would have to try to convince them to get towers, but I know they would rather have some kind of ceiling or wall mounted speakers. I'm going to try to atleast get wall mounted.

IC-C30: I know most home theaters in a box have 8 to 12. But most of those aren't that great IMO. I've heard 15' that sound amazing. So I atleast want to go with 15'. My decision won't depend on what other people choose. There's tons of different speakers out there narrowing it down helps. Ofcourse I'm going to do lots of research on the speakers before I buy. Infact, research is what I'm doing right. I've already learned a lot about home audio in the past week of researching.

I definitely want to stay with in the same company although I'll probably get a sub from a different company. I've been looking mainly at B&W and Klipsch, for subs I've been looking at Adire's timult line and some from Ascendant Audio.

**XC-C30** · 11-14-2006, 09:30 PM

well, adire would DEFINATLY be on my wishlist also! staying with the same company for speakers, well, it makes it easier to smoothen out the sound, so yea, good idea.

narrowing it down, indeed might help, but on what criteria? If the only criteria is price, there's still too much to choose from.

And PLEASE try to convince them for choosing floorstanders or bookshelf speakers, the sound really will improve over those tiny wallmounted speakers. I'd pick 2 floorstands for the front and 2/4 (depending on setup) bookshelfs for the surround....

**fwaggle** · 11-14-2006, 09:31 PM

a square room sucks. they can't pick a different room with non-equal measurements?

**scott_fx** · 11-14-2006, 09:32 PM

cambrige soundworks has a subwoofer and slave woofer that are amazing! i had a pair of polk sats that sounded really good... 7 yrs ago. klipsh are hard to beat too for name brand speakers. there is also a whole 'no name' area of the hobby too. NHT's are great for the price... really hard to beat, not that small so you wont have the x-over issues that blose speakers have. Elemental Designs also has a line of h/t speakers that you should look into.

**scott_fx** · 11-14-2006, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by fwaggle

a square room sucks. they can't pick a different room with non-equal measurements?

very true, but you can get creative with sound deadening to help.

**XC-C30** · 11-14-2006, 09:36 PM

@scott: who's looking into bose nowadays? I could immagine, maybe morrons, but other than that, and people who are willing to read and want to spend the money on really HE stuff..... those people KNOW to leave bose aside.