(Part 2) Best products from r/hometheater

The Yamaha would need a separate 2ch amp ($100-$200) to be able to do 7.2.4, it can only do 5.2.4/7.2.2 on its own.

The Denon X6300 is a better reciever and can do 7.2.4 on its own, but it is $200 more.

The Denon X4300 is a better receiver and has the same speaker specs as the Yamaha, also a $100-$200 external amp is need, but it’s only $1500.

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To answer your questions in the other thread:

> Is it worth it to go for martin logans motion40s or some real high quality front 2 speakers, subs, and center speaker, and then go average (~250) on rest of the 3.0.4?

That is a good route, surrounds and heights should be the cheapest part of your setup for home theater, the center and sub are way more important.

> Is 4k enhancement projector gimmick or worth the extra money?

It will give some reasonably noticeable boost in clarity. Not a must have, but welcomed.

> For 3k speaker budget (no receiver) what speakers would you recommend? I saw the buying guide from this subreddit, but was surprised to see so many unknown brands. I was wondering if PSA MT110 are really that good as they say? (even better than motion 40s and klipsch premium speakers?)

Can't help you compare to the MartinLogan, but they would be better than the RP one of Klipsch speakers.

Now, assuming you don't DIY your subs for under $1000 (or DIY speakers), here's what I'm thinking for $3K;

• Firstly, even if doing only an LCR of the PSA MT110/110C, that would be over $2K, not leaving a whole lot of room for great subs, so I don't know how I feel about this option.
  
  Main option:
  
  
• 3.1 package of HSU CCB-8's and VTF-2 MK5 for $1730 shipped.
  
  
• Second VTF-2 MK5. Gets well past 20Hz @ -3dB, and does so loud (over 100dB at 16Hz).
  
  
• Fluance Signature bookshelves, $400 for side and rear surrounds. Are you doing a raised second row of seating? If so, then you want dipole speakers for the side surrounds, in which I would get the FLuance XLBP, which is normally $200 but on sale for $120, so $340 total with the bookshelves as rears. If you don't want the mahogany color, just paint it.
  
  
• That leaves $265 for the heights on a $3K budget, but since the X4300 plus amp saves you a good amount, that bumps it up to over $500. Around $100 a speaker is what I recommend max for in-cielings used as heights. There are many options, but I like HTD as a company, so I would look to their 8" in-cielings for almost $400 shipped.
  
  If you DIY your subwoofers for say $800 max doing the VBSS like that other user, that would add about $200 to the budget (much less of a bundle deal with the HSU speakers). If you are worried about DIY'ing, just get the HSU 3.1 bundle plus second sub. THE VBSS sub is much better, but the HSU is already a great sub.
  
  I can put together other options, but unless I'm forgetting some options, those would likely be the best.
  
  ____
  
  Don't forget room treatment (even adding a rug to a non-carted floor can help a lot).
  
  The cheap way to go about it is to use foam panels. You can DIY panels made from Roxul, not sure the cost, but much cheaper than buying fiberglass panels or similar online. the roxul/fiberglass panels will be better, but more expensive. For foam, you can get 2 orders of 48pk of 12"x12"x3" wedge foam for about $200 and then a 4pk of corner bass traps for $50. This user spent about $300 (red is more expensive than black). The user who posted his setup hours ago used the GIK Gatsby Arches which look classy as hell, and ran him <$250 for the 4 pack of 2" narrow panels, I would consider looking the 4" ones though. SO that's actually not that bad of a price difference, but that is for 4 panels, you may want some foam behind the speaker like in the user photo I linked (mainly behind the port of the speakers). Their bass traps are expensive though, you could just use the foam ones for those, as the foam bass traps quite well.
  
  While it's a very echoey room to start with, here's a before/after sound test. No matter how good your speakers are, if the room has a noticeable echo, a treated room with cheaper speaker will sound better.

Please don't do a Bose system unless you just absolutely love it. I don't find their sound quality/performance to match their price.

In the above reply you mentioned a 5.1 or 7.1 setup. Unless you have the proper room to setup a 7.1 you're better off going with a 5.1 for both easy of setup and cost effectiveness.

Here are some options I would consider.

AVR - (pick one) The heart of the system. I'm going Yamaha because they are very easy to setup and have a really good app to control them.

• Yamaha RX-V581 $500 or Refurb $350 Great 7.2 AVR with a lot of features. Gives you the option for a zone 2, 7.1 or atmos speakers.
  
  
• Yamaha RX-V481$400 5.1 AVR that includes networking features. Less channels but also less price. If you feel like you won't be expanding in the near future this could be a winner.
  
  Speakers - (Pick one) These are some packages I would look at. I went with packages to make it easier but honestly there are so many combinations we could sit here all day.
  
  
• KEF - E305 $600 on sale This is a great 5.1 speaker package to get you started. Amazing sound and a very small footprint.
  
  
• DefTech - ProCinema 800 $900 another 5.1 speaker package that has small satellite speakers that are very easy to place around the room.
  
  
• Boston Acoustics - CS2300 5.0 set $200 + SVS PB1000 $500 Another good option for smaller speakers and you're getting a very capable subwoofer too boot. Be careful of sub placement as these speakers cross higher than most.
  
  
• Pioneer - SP-PK52FS $480 + BIC F12 Sub $220 This set gets you towers speakers for the front so you don't have to worry about stands for them. You could get the bookshelf set but I would still upgrade to the F12 as the Pioneer sub is probably too small for your room.
  
  
• Q Acoustics - 3000 Series 5.1 $800 Kind of new to the US but they get great reviews from the UK. Different looking speakers.
  
  Keep in mind that you'll probably need speaker wire, HDMI cables, and possibly an optical cable depending on your sources.

Generally speaking, "all in one" packages (AKA, Home Theater in a Box) are less quality than buying the pieces yourself. The Phillips unit you linked seems to be a pretty low end package. with everything being powered by the all in one receiver/bluray player. I can promise you, this isn't pushing anywhere close to 1000 watts.

Don't concern yourself with the power rating. In most cases, its nothing more than an advertizing number for these All in one packages. They are likely quoting the max power handing of each speaker, and adding them together, which is unlikely to ever actually be hit.

My suggestion, check out a place like Accessories4less.com and buy a refurbished receiver (I highly recommend Denon, but if you like Yamaha, thats fine as well) you can save a decent amount by going with a refurb, and it carries the same warranty. I've had 2 refurb Denon's and they've been rock solid for me.

For speakers, you want to spend the bulk of your money on the front 3 (Left, Center and Right) as thats where the majority of your sound is coming from. You want to make sure all 3 speakers match.

If you get a good subwoofer, you usually don't need floorstanding speakers. You can save a dcent amount of money by going with bookshelf speakers for the fronts, and just getting cheap speaker stands on amazon for $50 or so.

As an example, many people love the HTD level 3 speakers, the bookshelf version are $379 for the pair, the floorstanding version is $800 for the pair. (quite the difference!) I've listened to the Bookshelf versions, and they are plenty loud, and sound fantastic in my opinion.

For subwoofers, I like to reference the Subwoofer Guide from /r/Zeos Pick the best one your budget and space allow.

To put together a quick system.
$250 for this Denon refurb receiver
$379 for the HTD level 3 speakers
$229 for the HTD L3 matching center
$299 for and the Bic Subwoofer
Total price: $1157
Add in another $100 for speaker stands, a roll of speaker wire and HDMI cables, and you're around $1200 for a pretty decent home theater setup, that I guarantee will blow your current setup out of the water.

I haven't really heard much about Sony receivers so I can't really comment on that aspect of it but generally Denon or other manufactures are recommended around here. Might be worth looking into something like the Denon x1300 on acessories4less. It's a little more expensive but you get audyssey room correction which can be really helpful.

I'd skip the center channel for now and maybe even the subwoofer and go with some higher end speakers. Something in the $300 range would probably do you much better than skimping on the speakers and getting the center channel right now. The Elac Debut B6's are highly recommended (haven't heard them myself but have heard a lot of praise):

https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1519671824&sr=8-3&keywords=elac+debut+b6&dpID=41zNEwhnFGL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

They're also about to announce the 2018 model lineup and they are front ported which is cool. Maybe some others can chime in on some good speakers in the $300 price range as well.

So the Denon receiver plus a pair of the Elac's would run you about $600, you could save the $100 and put it towards a nicer subwoofer. Something like an HSU, Rythmik, or SVS. I think you'd be MUCH happier going this route than skimping on the components now just to get started and then having to spend more money later on when you realize how much of a difference a quality setup will sound. I skimped out when starting my setup and I definitely have regretted it and spent more money than I otherwise would have had I just spent the money upfront.

The KEF Q100 $250 closeout at kefdirect.com is sold out. KEF does not have any more. Amazon dropped the price of what they had in stock to match. Now that they are sold out at KEF, the amazon algorithm raised them back up to $550 MSRP. Unless anyone else has any to sell, and I don't think anyone else has them, then I doubt Amazon is going to lower the price again unless they want to close them out.

To me these sound at least as good and maybe better than the Q100s I demoed. Wavecrest Audio HVL-1, order on sale here at Ascend $80 each + shipping.

If going 2.0 without a subwoofer, Philharmonic AAPM $290 + shipping. 14 day in home trial. They have a newly upgraded tweeter and have one of the best low ends of 6.5" speakers in the price range and don't necessarily need a subwoofer for music or right away for home theater.

Others, best with a subwoofer:

Ascend CBM-170 $300 + $30 shipping. Neutral sound with a flat frequency response. Best budget audiophile and home theater speakers I have found and own for 50/50 music and movies under $500. Great highs, mids and lows. Nothing missing, nothing overly accentuated. Much better than the Q100s.

Chane A Series $340 + $25 shipping. Flat planar tweeters.

On sale: Polk Audio Signature S20 $245.

DIY: Classix II MT Bookshelf Speaker Kit with Knock-Down Cabinet $232 a pair. Or Helix Dome MTs.

Receiver:

Budget: Denon AVR-S530BT $160 refurbished 5.2 with HDCP 2.2 and HDMI 2.0B for 4k switching.

Recommended: Denon AVRX1400 $300 refurbished 7.2/5.2.2 with Audyssey MultEQ.

Budget subwoofers: Dayton Sub1200 $140, BIC F12 $200, Bic-Acoustech-PL-200 $300.

Better subwoofers: 10" HSU VTF-1 MK3 is $455 shipped or an open box SVS PB1000 is $420 shipped.12" HSU VTF-2 MK5 $580 shipped on sale. Or a 12" Rythmik LV12F front ported, $550 shipped, when it becomes available in December (currently shown is the older rear ported version).

Guides: How to Set Up a Basic Home Theater System - Lifewire, r/HTBuyingGuides FAQ, How to Set Up Your Home Theater Receiver

Speaker Placement: Stereo Music Listening, Home Theater

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>If I do move to an apartment down the road, would they be too loud even without a sub?

No, just turn down the volume.

>are two speakers such as these really a significant improvement over something like a recent Samsung or Vizio soundbar -- enough to justify the cost differential?

Yes, definitely for home theater, even more so for music.

Also consider a center speaker.

Excellent point...and pretty much why I decided on trying to get an AV installer...I'm completed baffled where to put them.

• I was considering the Polk Aurdio OWM3 in white or the Micca COVO-S compact bookshelves after seeing Zeo's review of them...they seemed like they would potentially could be slipped into an arm of some sort, mounted at G0 or L0, and angled down towards the main viewing area without being too obvious.
  
  
• Then I learned how important it was to be at ear level from a prior post. At the time I was so desperate that I was considering trying to do wireless surrounds as bookshelves that I could just move into place on movie night at positioned marked "Gx and Lx (near the middle of the wall)" since "G0 or L0 (Mounted on the upper wall)" didn't seem very reasonable since it was so off of ear level. I figured that on movie night I could just use a rocketfish setup to slide a surround into position @ Gx or Lx and plug one of them in for a few hours...and maybe keep one on a windowsill (@ Gx) ready to go to make it even easier.
  
  
  
• Completely confused, I had a local AV installer stop out and they suggested that perhaps mounting at G0-2 or L0-1 may actually be possible. They even thought that a bipole (or even a monopole) would be possible. Ultimately they suggested the Paradigms bipoles listed above.
  
  
• Honestly bipoles or monopoles (Eg Polk Aurdio OWM3 or Micca COVO-S) don't matter too much to me...as unobtrusive as possible would be preferred. Bipoles sound like perhaps they may be better for non-standard seating at a love seat, at the kitchen table watching TV, or just playing some music for the holidays...but I'm certainly open to suggestions!
  
  
• I was considering asking for an alternate surround from what the AV installer, but quite honestly, I don't know how to best compare them with my current layout, equipment and future plans. Could a ceiling speaker be added in or sliding a wireless speaker into Gx or Lx in the next 5-10 years? I have no idea...it sounds great in theory, but I have no clue what would be recommended or most flexible. But if there is an installer that can help out and provide guidance, Im more than willing to go with whatever they recommend

I'm like you, OP. I also am philosophically opposed to spending more on audio than on screen. That being said, good speakers do last for a very long time: if new formats ever come out, you can always upgrade the receiver and you can keep your speakers forever.

I did a lot of searching and I ended up with a good compromise that allowed me to have a LG OLED 65 together with a set of solid speakers.

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Here's what you need to know:

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- The latest OLED TVs are pretty much the same as last year's. LG B7, C7, B8 or C8 are all the same TV pretty much. Get the cheapest you can find. I bought mine on greentoe.com. I offered 1900$ for a 65' B7 this past April and my offer got accepted. You can even try to price match it with your credit card, I think (search in this sub). This may save you a few dollars more. Bottom line is: you should be able to snatch a 65 OLED for ~1500-1900.

- You can order a refurbished sub for a fraction of the price. I have the Denon X1400H that u/robotdinofight recommended, and I also bought it from accessories4less.

- Atmos speakers are mostly marketing BS. There isn't much sound that comes from above you in movies. That Denon is compatible anyway, so you can always add them later. Before you do that, just go watch a movie in Atmos at a theater.

- Sorround speakers are not that important either. Your dialogue is coming from the center speaker, and music etc will be on the front channels, with just some in your sorrounds more for ambiance than anything else. You can go with *very cheap* speakers here. Source: Zeos's guide here. I ended up buying the cheapest speakers Zeos recommended: Micca Covo-s for 40$ the pair (a factor in my decision was also that I had the speaker stands I was using for the cheap Logitech 5.1 PC system I had. Speaker stands are expensive too so factor in that cost too). These speakers are honestly not great: I tried using a pair of ELAC B6 and yes, sorround was much better. But I like HDR and perfect blacks way more than better sorround, so I ended up returning the ELACs and kept the Miccas as my rear. Maybe I'll upgrade some other time.

- If you are like me and have neighbors and a wife who's not into loud explosion, you really don't need a crazy sub. I have the Elac S10 and that's *more* than enough for us, my wife wants me to keep it down. Get a cheap one! Mine was only about 100$. See Zeos's guide here: https://www.reddit.com/comments/5b1u99

- Invest in good fronts. I have the ELAC B6.2 and while I don't think they sound like the crazy expensive speakers that some friends have, they sound *much* better than a soundbar/integrated TV sound and are great for movies! Important: whatever you buy, you must buy a center channel that matches the left/right speakers. I have the ELAC Debut 2.0 C6.2 center, with the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers as my L/R channels.

- Buy cheap speaker wire and strip it yourself!! I'm so bad with practical stuff that I was a bit intimidated by it, but honestly it's ridiculously simple. The guide that I liked before has a section on wires, read it. The sub has its own cable, remember to buy it (I bought the Amazon one).

- Buy cheap HDMI cables from AmazonBasics.

- I have these stands for my fronts: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PYV7LQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Compared to u/robotdinofight's guide, you lose some sound quality, but only where it matters least and you should save some 700$, enough money to go from the TCL to a LG OLED. Hope it helped!

The Polks mentioned earlier are nice, after researching quite a bit I found a lot of people also recommend the Andrew Jones set, which is what I ended up getting (I grabbed a Bic F12 subwoofer instead of the matching Pioneer one, however)

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-5-0-Theater-Speaker/dp/B00IRH0QMA/ref=sr_1_14

I have NOT seen such kind reviews to the Andrew Jones setup around this subreddit, but most people here seem to be playing in a different league than we are, in terms of budget.

Also, if you're looking to go a bit cheaper with the receiver, this is the one I ended up getting - https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrs730h/denon-avr-s730h-7.2-ch-x-75-watts-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html

It's a refurb, yeah, but it's refurbed by Denon themselves, mine arrived looking indistinguishable from a brand-new one and it works great. It also supports Atmos and DTS-X, all of the HDMI ports are 2.0 full bandwidth, etc...

$375 + $220 = $595, which leaves plenty left over for a good entry-level subwoofer and maybe even some upward-firing Atmos speakers if he really wants to get into it. I have the Atmos add-on speakers that are matched to my floorstanding ones, and I'm pretty happy with them. Again, this subreddit hates upward-firing ones, but I really enjoy the fuller sound, and they cost $100 for the pair.

No worries, this just means a 2.1 or 3.1 is perfect for now, and then you can add on later.

Option 1:

2x RSL CG3 Bookshelf @ $135 = $270

1x RSL Speedwoofer 10s (sold out until Oct) @ $400

1x Denon AVR-X3500H 7.2-Ch x 105 Watts A/V Receiver from Accessories4Less @ $500

Total: $1170

Less of a budget stretcher, giving up a bit of performance. That receiver is realistically future proof (supports 7.2, 4k) and wouldn't need to upgrade for quite some time. More clear upgrade path however. In this scenario, when you want to upgrade, you get 3x RSL CG23s to be your new front speakers and move the CG3 you already own to the sides as your surrounds.

Option 2:

2x ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers @ $300 (comes in a pair)

1x Bic Acoustech PL-200 II Subwoofer @ $300

1x Denon AVR-X3500H 7.2-Ch x 105 Watts A/V Receiver from Accessories4Less @ $500

Total: $1100

About the same as option 1, and would come down to preference to RSL vs Elac (if you can demo Elac at a store, please do, RSL is internet direct only but does have in home trail). Similarly easy upgrade path, you'd just fill it out with the rest of the Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 lineup (ie center, they even have some on walls for surrounds).

Option 3:

2x RSL CG23 @ $200 = $400

1x RSL Speedwoofer 10s (sold out until Oct) @ $400

1x Denon AVR-X3500H 7.2-Ch x 105 Watts A/V Receiver from Accessories4Less @ $500

Total: $1300

This requires a budget stretch, but gets you great stereo performance with a clear upgrade path. For speaker upgrade, you add the 3rd RSL CG23 for your center (these can be used horizontally or vertically FYI), and then whatever you want for surrounds (either the RSL CG3 or an on wall, ect)

Based on these numbers you can see you have about $300 for the speakers, so any speakers you can get for $150 each would work here. Other options are Fluance Signature Series HiFi ($200 for pair), Jamo S 803 ($160 for pair), or Q Acoustics 3020i Bookshelf ($300 for pair). I haven't heard any of these, but they get good reviews (particularly the Q Acoustics).

You could always go less on the receiver, but then you might have to buy a new one later. Would be nearly impossible to go lower on the subwoofer, the BIC and the RSL Speedwoofer are about as good as it gets for that price.

Finally, since you are primarily music focused, you could always axe the subwoofer altogether (add it later) and spend ~$600 on 2 kickass (maybe tower) speakers as music doesn't need as much super low bass as movies do. Let me know if you want to see what that looks like.

I like the hub (companion and elite both work with the hub) but I'd go with the basic remote if I were you to save some money. This one is great and it includes a hub. The only thing the companion adds is some smart light buttons, so it would be fine too if you want those extra buttons. I have the basic Harmony remote I linked and the much fancier Harmony Elite, but I end up using the little remote more often. The elite is overkill unless you have more than 6 devices running to your TV/AVR and the touch screen ends up being a bother sometimes.

Edit: I saw you talking about using a tablet below and wanted to mention that the Hub will work with multiple devices so you can use the tablet or the remote as you see fit. I think the basic remote is definitely worthwhile as I like the physical buttons and easy operation, but you can still use your smartphone or tablet to control your devices too. The hub is $70 by itself so you might as well pay $77 for hub and a remote.

Here's the problem $500 is a tight budget to start with and Dell doesn't have a great way to view their site (had a $200 gift card with my TV) nor are the prices great. For example we usually recommended refurbished receivers for people on a budget and in order to get Atmos an Atmos receiver from Dell you need to get this for $500 whereas the v583 (older model) is $250 and the exact same model is $330 so not being able to take use of a massive discount doesn't help. The other issue is the only passive bookshelf speakers that aren't crappy computer speakers is the Sony core bookshelfSony core bookshelf $120 and tower speakers or subwoofer (which is it? Idk) then they also sell the subwoofer (so maybe the other is the towers?). The core bookshelf speakers are actually pretty good however the subwoofer is worse than others in it's price bracket. However I still think it's your best bet and it's probably a lot better than any of the sound bar subs in your price range since Dell doesn't sell a better sub for the money.

This is my recommendation:

• Sony core bookshelf (ss-cs5) $120 @ Dell
  
  
• Sony core subwoofer (sa-cs9) $158 @ Dell
  
  
• Denon s730h (2017 model year) $220 @ accessories4less
  
  
• Speaker wire 16awg oxygen free pure copper or prebuilt speaker wire with banana plugs @ anywhere
  
  
• subwoofer cable @ anywhere
  
  
• Optionally: speaker stands or wall mounts @ anywhere
  
  Future upgrades:
  
  
• Sony core center channel $120
  
  
• Atmos speakers which can be either: in ceiling speaker like this or slim speakers mounted on the ceiling like this or Sony's matching core Atmos speakers that will sound significantly worse than the other 2 options
  
  
• Side speakers which don't need to be anything special and Micca MB42X or the Polk owm3 are popular options. Don't do wireless for these and your best bet is getting flat speaker wire and either wiring it around or behind your mouldings, under a rug to behind the couch or running the wires in the walls or the floor (what I did). Side speakers are 90-110 degrees from your center channel from your main listening position.
  
  If you have any other questions let me know.
  
  Edit: Also If you're doubting that a 2.1 is a better experience than the others you listed go to Best buy and some of the stores will allow you to demo speakers (or sound bars). It should be immediately obvious that those Sony speakers are in a different league seeing as though the main woofer on the Sony bookshelf is 5" and the Vizio subwoofer is 6" and the Sony subwoofer is 10" and the Vizio doesn't have a single tweeter so are going to be dull and harder to hear dialog in movies.

I'm about to put together a surround sound setup for my room for about $850. I know it's well over $500 but for $500 you won't get much. Although I would recommend looking into the Sony SS CS5 Bookshelf Speakers they are outstanding for their price and you can get a quality AV Receiver for around $250 from Denon and Yamaha.

Also, the matching center for the Sony's performs really well. They're great speakers for the money. Of course you can always spend a couple hundred more and get something better, but the Sony speakers, price to performance is insane. I'd put them pretty close, sound quality wise, to the ELAC B5's. They don't have as much oomph as the ELAC does, but add a sub and you're golden ponyboy.

I have not heard or used the matching sub but I would assume it doesn't go low very well.

Atmos is both an encoding format and a speaker setup, which are actually independent of each other. If your receiver supports Atmos but your speaker setup is lacking you won't get the expected effects.

Yes, each Atmos channel requires its own output, just like the surrounds. So for a basic 5.2.2 setup you could get something like a $300 Denon X1500. If you wanted 7.2.2 or 7.2.4 you need a more expensive receiver. The cheapest way to handle a full 7.2.4 installation is with a $700 refurb Marantz SR6012 + external stereo amp. The external amp doesn't need much power.

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/marsr6012/marantz-sr6012-9.2-ch-x-110-watts-a/v-receiver-w/heos/1.html

https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-50Wx2-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B00F0H8TOC

Up-firing speakers are highly inferior to ceiling speakers, and also too costly. Those RP8060FA towers are $1100 each on a good day. You could get a pair of extremely good L/R speakers for about $550, another $150 for front Atmos, and then spend the saved $1500 on a second subwoofer. I will tell you right now, a second subwoofer is the best upgrade you can make for a home theatre setup. The reduction in room modes is always more than you think.

http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_107RC80I/Polk-Audio-RC80i.html

You will need a second pair of ceiling speakers behind the listening position for 7.2.4.

https://www.dolby.com/us/en/guide/speaker-setup-guides/7.1.4-overhead-speaker-setup-guide.html

If you do go for dual subs, mid-way along the side walls is usually best but you should use a measurement mic to figure out your own room.

Ehh, I wouldnt want to buy new $400 speakers, but I tend to buy used quality gear with everything in life as its just such a better deal.

I started my home audio journey with Pioneer Andrew Jones Towers and bookshelves. they go on sale for about $70 a pair for the BS and 150 for the towers. I got a used 5.1 for about $300 (even though they were new in box) and I enjoyed those for about 2 years before my kids wrecked on of the towers. I would say they are a bit warm (lacking highs) but they had a solid bang for the buck if you aren't paying retail.

I guess if you insisted on buying used because you aren't comfortable with finding good deals, I would consider the following speakers.

• Chane Acoustics - Buy LCR (two 1.4 and one 2.4) and save up for surrounds and sub
  
• RBH Sound - buy three pair and use one as a center vertically
  
• Q Acoustics - Buy two pair and save up more for a center and Sub
  
• ELAC - Buy a pair of bookshelves and a center, save up for another pair of bookshelves for surrounds and a then a sub

Looks like it's currently $299 new at Amazon, vs. $249 at A4L. Either way, it is a pretty good deal; but for me, the 3-year warranty was worth spending a bit more.

If you go new, the dealer matters WRT the warranty. Since there are multiple dealers behind the listing on Amazon, it's worth double-checking that your particular seller is on the D+M authorized dealer list.

It's November; so you could also wait for sales around Black Friday, if you want to save a bit more. Use CCC (or your favorite price checker) to get alerts. I hope you enjoy it, OP.

I am also building slowly to 5.1. I don't know how quickly you want to get there or what you want the final tally to be, but I would opt for less, but better equipment, to start. I'd get a cheaper receiver and subwoofer to get my foot in the door, but I'd buy better speakers.

I'd go with something like this:

Receiver - $169.99 http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamhtr3067bl/yamaha-htr-3067-5.1-ch-x-70-watts-a/v-receiver-same-as-rx-v377/1.html

Front L/R - $279.99 https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQ06/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1473895480&sr=1-1&keywords=elac

This comes in at $449.98 This will be 100% better, and absolutely replace your soundbar, which is what you need right now. It also puts you $80 dollars from the matching center, or $113 from a nice subwoofer. You could spend $500 on a subwoofer now, like was posted above, but it would outclass your fronts by a large margin. I prefer better dialogue/sound overall. This sub is 85% of what a subwoofer double it's price gives. I started with 2.1 and I don't regret going slowly.

Center - $179.99 https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Center-Speaker-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQWE/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1473895660&sr=1-1&keywords=elac+center

Subwoofer - $213 https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M

Agree with areodeck, start with a good 5.1 system. If you decide you want 7.1, you can always add speakers later.

I have the GT1080, you're going to love it.

As for audio, $500 might be pushing it for separates. You're on the right track though, either of those receivers will be good it's just going to depend on if you want to expand to 7.x later on.

These Fluance bipole surrounds are a good value and highly recommended- http://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

You can also check out the guides at https://www.reddit.com/r/Zeos/ for more recommendations.

Good luck!

This is tricky, when you're willing to spend more than $200 but less than $500, I'd either say drop down to the $200 range and pick up two BIC F12's $400 and change or or a single BIC PL 200 II $300 and change, or save up and for one SVS PB 1000 for $500 shipped or one HSU VTF2 $568 shipped

As always there are pro's and con's to each choice here. The HSU being the best subwoofer under $600, SVS PB 1000 next best, and so on.

Both the HSU and SVS will play down to 20hz with authority, again the slight advantage to the HSU, then the BIC PL 200 II is a dang good sub for $300 but doesn't get anywhere close to 20hz or as loud as the other two options.

Finally dual F12's isn't a bad choice either but again even two F12's can't touch a single SVS/HSU option.

I recently purchased a town house, after renting a room for several years. Didn't have any furniture other than the bedroom essentials, so I had a pretty blank slate to work with.

I realize the layout isn't ideal, given the lighting and open floor layout (opens up to the dining room and kitchen), but I was more concerned with having a good hangout environment than having the prefect viewing experience. The only other option was an above ground basement, which would have had the same lighting issue, though better acoustics.

The lighting isn't as bad as it appears in the picture, imo. I've never really had a problem with it, though I do spend most of my time relaxing in the evenings when there is no direct sunlight coming from those windows. Even then, the Samsung seems to handle it well.


EDIT:
Additional pictures of the cable management.

https://i.imgur.com/iPxbpNz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6pkdjpH.jpg

For the wall I used some 1/4" shaped wiremold from Home Depot. Sanded and spray painted it to match the existing 1/4" Round. For the rest of the power cables and such, I modified the middle drawer of an Ikea cabinet to hide them away and give me easy access. I'm still not quite sure what to do about the remaining outlet wires, but other than that there aren't any other visible cables.


EDIT 2:
Since I've been asked about pretty much every piece short of the coffee table, I figured I would update this post to consolidate that info. Most of these items I bought used or on sale.

TV - Samsung KS8500 65"

Reciever - Denon AVR-S720W

Speakers - ELAC UB5/UC5/UB5, Surrounds - B4

Subwoofer - Bic Acoustech PL-200 12"

Entertainment Center - Modified BESTÅ from Ikea

Speaker Stands - Sanus SF30 Steel Series

Couch - Corey Sectional from Havertys

Art - Patent Collections from Displate

Rug - [Safavieh Glacier from Overstock](https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Safavieh-Glacier-Contemporary-Abstract-Blue-Multi-
Area-Rug-6-7-x-9-67-x-9/14248766/product.html)

Bookshelves - Parthenia Etagere Bookcase from Wayfair

Coffee Table - Baxton Studio Wood/Metal End Table

its gonna be hard to get floor standers in your range.

i would recommend speakers like these:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045NCB32/

their normal price is $140 but the sometimes go on sale on amazon like they are now.

which have decent bass but by no means can cover the range of a good subwoofer. most should find it adequate however. you will need stands.

you can add a subwoofer later on if need be.

a Denon Receiver like a 1613 should fit well.

on an Android, download an app called Bubble UPnP (or many other DLNA/UPnP apps out there) and it can play to any DLNA certified device including most new receivers. i can attest to it working well with denon and marantz. however there is a caveat; this will only work with music files on the phone, not streamed files like pandora or spotify or etc.

if you dont want to use stands, basically the only decent floor standers in your range are gonna be something like these:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H1M4NO/

which are decent, and will have more bass, but otherwise not as good as those infinity's.

i forgot to mention, the receiver needs to connect to your home router to work with UPnP, it does not have a direct connection to the phone.

I see lots of commenters recommending high-end stuff which is understandable since you are building your own house and having a large dedicated space for a banging HT. A good 7 channel receiver plus a subwoofer powerful enough for your large room will add up to $1000 pretty quick. Heck, I'd reccomend two subwoofers for a space that large. I will probably get downvoted, but let me help you find some more budget friendly choices.

Receiver $300 - DENON
AVR-X1400H

Subwoofer $300 - Bic Acoustech PL-200 II

Front LR $200 - Fluance Signature Series

* Matching Center - $150

Surround and Rear Surrounds - Micca MB42X 2x$80

This puts you just slightly over budget. also factor in speaker mounts / shelves / stands, cables, etc.... There's obviously lots of options and everyone has their own opinions. Have fun researching, I hope this helps!

Hey yo, I've been doing my fair share of research these past couple of days and this sub as well as /r/Zeos have been a huge help. That budget can definitely get you started with something nice.


These suggestions are all from reading this sub, avsforums, amazon reviews, you name it.. I really have no on-hand experience as I'm saving up for a build myself. (Here is my post in case you're interested)

• Pioneer SP-FS52 - These puppies seem to be a huge favorite everywhere. I did see someone post they were cheaper a couple of weeks back so it's up to you if you want to wait. They are also Pioneer as you mentioned you wanted to stick with that.
  
  
  
• Denon S500 - This brand is very reputable here, as well as the site. Don't be discouraged by the "Refurbished". I'm planning on getting a receiver from this brand and site and jumping on maybe 1 or 2 years of Extended Warranty just for giggles. It has integrated bluetooth as you mentioned that was important. Like someone above mentioned, you can always go a different route and purchase a receiver without bluetooth technology and get a Google Chromecast (~$25-$30) or Bluetooth dongle. (Be aware you will loose quality when you go wireless)
  
  
  
• As for a sub, someone needs to chime in, but these two are held in nice regard: Martin Logan Dynamo 300 and Dayton 1000
  
  
  That should keep you around your budget and have some spare for cables and any other expenses that might come up along the way. Maybe some cable management or whatever.
  
  
  Good luck
  

I just moved my Receiver, Shield TV, Xbox One, & PS4 into a closet. I don't really watch movies on disc any more since ripping all of them and using plex media server on the shield tv. I do play video games, but it's not that big of a deal to switch discs. I LOVE not having any blinky lights anywhere in my field of vision. It really helps add to the illusion of a movie theater and helps my mind just focus on the screen & sound.

I use a Logitech Harmony with hub to control everything. I place the hub in the closet to control everything in there, then use one of the included IR repeater wired right outside the closet door to control the projector. Amazon just had a deal on these for $70, refurbs go down to $70 all the time too. https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Control-Smartphone-Simple/dp/B00BQ5RYI4/ref=sr_1_6?s=audio-video-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1493050015&sr=1-6&keywords=logitech+harmony

I hope you don't mind I found some examples. Onkyo TX-SR444 $319. Monoprice 5.1 speaker set $150. Logitech Harmony Smart Control $70. This will get you something to setup and learn with and it should sound better than what you've had before with a ton more options. The Onkyo has great built in software and a mic to help do some automatic speaker calibration. You can also tweak it manually when you learn more. You can add rear speakers later if you want 7.1. If after a while you find the fronts/center aren't "full" enough you can add something like this and this. When I got started this really helped me out. Reading and research and asking questions helps a ton! Enjoy.

>Budget $150/$250
Size of the room, unsure, This is silly, but its a house we are purchasing, Ive only walked through twice. Its roughly the size of a 2 car garage if that helps as its the space directly above. Double set of doors open into the hall.

That's fine. Ok, that's not too horribly big , lol and it's sealed so for the top end of that budget would be the BIC PL-200 at $249 currently on sale ( I've owned 2 of these in the past myself.) Better to put that money in a jar though and pull it back out when it's $400 -$600 and get either a ported HSU , Rythmik, SVS or Emp-tek but if that's the budget the BIC is the upper budget recommend and the Dayton 1200 at $135 shipped is my lower end recommend.

Here is what I would go for. I plan to upgrade to this sub and this 5.1 setup. I'll probably use my micca mb42x for rears though. They are currently my fronts. But the dipoles I listed look awesome. You can use most bookshelves for rears so you can easily adjust your budget accordingly. Some just mount on the wall easier than others.

Receiver $200-$250 new or refurb Denon

Fluance sx6 $130 (also in black)

Fluance center $80

Fluance bipole rears $120

Bic America Sub $180 or Dayton 1000 for $109

EDIT: So you can easily get this under $700 or even $600 depending on what kind of rears you want, or the sub. Even a cheaper receiver can be found depending on what you want. Also amazon has a great return policy so I almost always go with used in good condition. They give heavy discounts on refurbs just for an item that gets opened and returned.

You can get an x2300 for $400 but personally I would spend the $100 to get the x3300 to get the more power, better room calibration, and if you play retro game consoles, the analog to hdmi conversion. I have an x3100 and I love it. Additionally the extra $38 is worth it to go to the Bic PL 200 II. It's not the loudest or most accurate sub out there, at that price what do you want, but for movies it reaches deep comfortably even at moderate volume. The F12 in my experience doesn't hit the explosion rumble unless you crank it.

First off, get all your wires/interconnects from monoprice, cheaper and good quality.

For the receiver, I'd rather have this if 4k is needed: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx1200w/denon-avr-x1200w-7.2-atmos-full-4k-ultra-hd-a/v-receiver-wi-fi/bluetooth/airplay/1.html

if 4k isn't needed: http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx3100w/denon-avr-x3100w-7.2-receiver-wi-fi/bluetooth/airplay/1.html

That 165 watt rating is pure fantasy, in a 7 speaker configuration you likely aren't going to get much over 25-30 watts per channel although that should be enough. If you have listened to those speakers and like them go for it, if not there are better speakers to be had in that price range. In the price range you are looking I recommend bookshelf speakers (on stands if necessary) as tower speakers in that price range simply aren't going to be that good. That said, for that money I'd get these: http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Two-way-Bookshelf-Satellite/dp/B0045NCB32/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1458665534&sr=1-5&keywords=infinity+primus

with this center: http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-Two-way-Speaker-Center-Channel/dp/B0046A8R5A/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1458665534&sr=1-10&keywords=infinity+primus

and these for surrounds: http://www.fluance.com/surround-sound-speakers/avbp2-bipolar-surround-sound-satellite-speakers

Forget about a 7.2 system until you know what kind of room, you need at least 6' behind the seats for a 7.2 system to work well. As for subs, why dual? Those subs are mediocre at best, better to spend your money on one single high quality sub. My choice: http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/stf-2.html

Leagues better than that Polk sub you chose and inexpensive enough that you can add a second if you really want to. Unless the room is rather large this sub should be sufficient. It is what I consider to be the entry level "elite" sub.

To give some different perspective as someone who worked with a budget much like yours, what I ended up going with was:

• Receiver: Denon S510BT, $230***
  
• L/R: Micca MB42X, $80/pair
  
• Center: Micca MB42X-C, $80
  
• Rears: Sound Appeal SA-VF6.5S, $60
  
  That comes out to $450, so you can spend the remaining $50 on a mounting solution for your rears, if necessary. I did all my research on Zeos' subreddit.
  
  It's got a center for dialogue, it's 5.0 (so I guess the one clear downside is no subwoofer within budget for you), and it's not a HTiB.
  
  Full disclosure, I did end up upgrading my L/R MB42X's to a pair of MB42X-C's, just because I could then take the MB42X's and put them elsewhere in the house, but that doesn't really change my recommendation of the base setup at all.
  
  ***The only caveat I would offer with regards to the setup is to look at the various receivers at this price point to make sure you get the features you would want. For example, from my perspective, a receiver with support ARC would be better and the ability to use banana plugs would be a nice to have (both of which the S510BT doesn't support). They aren't major gripes because you can get around ARC by using optical out from your source, and regular wiring isn't that big a deal, but it's things I didn't realize had to be considered when I started this journey, so I'd be remiss if I didn't mention it here.

You can certainly go the super budget route and get something like that Pioneer set, but there are two main reasons I would advise against that:

• With a set like that, you're pretty much limited to what the set offers for the entire duration that you own that system. The minute you want to upgrade, you'll likely find that you want to start from scratch.
  
• Budget sets that come with a companion subwoofer don't typically offer a great subwoofer (usually pretty mediocre or otherwise terrible).
  
  And, to be honest, a little patience and some research will usually yield a longer lasting, quality system that you will be less likely to want to upgrade sooner. (One of the few exceptions to this would be the SVS Prime Bookshelf Surround set, which is highly regarded.)
  
  If you're gonna start with L/C/R, here are my suggestions around (and slightly above) $500:
  
  
• Polk S20 + S30 ($460)
  
• Q Acoustics 3020i + 3090Ci ($490)
  
• Elac B6.2 + C6.2 ($560)
  
• HTD Level Three Bookshelf + Center ($580)
  
• Chane A1.5 + A2.5 ($630)

I've had older Sony receivers do this, along with losing surround output, and other anomalies. To be fair, my latest one purchased about 5 years ago didn't end up having issues.

I think repairs will probably be more than it's worth but you could look into it if you have a local shop.

Otherwise maybe go for the Denon X1300 - a popular recommendation around here:

$250 refurb:
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx1300w/denon-avr-x1300w-7.2-ch-x-80-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html

$300 new:
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X1300W-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B01EHWFE3O

Or grab any other receiver that you prefer, just do your research and make sure it has HDCP 2.2 which will future proof you for 4K/HDR over HDMI.

Good luck :)

All in one systems are just a step above HTiB systems in regards to quality. The only advantage is that you don't have to get an entirely new system if something fails. What do you have currently? It's possible that there's enough to use to fill in while you save up for more components.

With a $700 budget, here's what I'd recommend:

Receiver ($189.99): Denon s710 Receiver

Subwoofer ($138.00) Dayton 1200 12" subwoofer

Speakers option 1 ($89.99 + $96.99) Pioneer Andrew Jones Bookshelf pair + Pioneer Andrew Jones Center

Speakers option 2 ($229.99 + $179.99) [ELAC B5 Bookshelf pair](http://www.amazon.com/Debut-Bookshelf-Speakers-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSER6O/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1453949947&sr=8-7&keywords=B014GSEPY8%7CB014GSEQ06%7CB014GSEQ2O%7CB014GSEQCY%7CB 014GSEQWE%7CB014GSER6O%7CB014GSEUJ8%7CB014GSEVFQ) + ELAC Center Channel

Option 1 total: $514.97 without shipping, taxes, or accessories. The Pioneer speakers are among the best budget speakers around right now, especially on sale. Some people think they sound a little veiled, so if super crisp highs are your thing, I'd consider alternatives.

Option 2 total: $737.97 without shipping, taxes, or accessories. Yes, a little over budget assuming $700 is your limit. However, it's worth it for the increased sound quality. The ELAC Debut series are one of the hottest speaker lines out there right now, and most reviewers agree that they're worth every penny. There are also alternatives in this ballpark by EMP Tek, Chane, Infinity, etc.

Why no rears? You sacrifice too much in the front speakers by trying to get the whole system at once in the budget. As a matter of fact, if you wanted to you could skip the center channel as well and just buy a 2.1 to start. Remember though that any system you buy needs to be the same series across the front three. You can either purchase identical speakers for the rears later, or look at dipole/bipole speakers, or purchase some cheap speakers off Craigslist for rears. Now, all of this is assuming that you don't have any audio gear. If you already have some older bookshelf speakers, you can use those for surrounds, etc.

So basically, what you'd recommend would be the HTD Level Three Bookshelf speakers, and the Denon X1300, and then add a sub later on when I have the budget for it? (The two above already put me around 700$).

I've trying to keep my purchases on Amazon due to having a ton of Amazon gift card credit right now. Would there be an equivalently good speaker to the HTD Level Three's that is available on Amazon, or is the HTD Level Three the best bang for my buck?

For that budget here is what I would recommend:
Denon X-1500H - Stepping up to the X series gets you Audyssey XT room correction which is the 2nd best available. IMO this is a big step up.

Klipsch RP-150m - This is where most of the subreddit is divided. I personally think the Klipsch RP are some of the best value home theater speakers available and this particular pair is discounted for being outgoing and a less popular color.

BIC PL-200 II - This is my least favorite of the 3 pieces picked and IMO if you can budget enough to step up to the entry HSU, Rythmik or SVS, I'd rather go down that route. This is not to say that the BIC sub is bad but it would definitely be the first on the list to get upgraded when funds allow.

If you decide to save up or stick to your budget, stepping up to a receiver that can do full atmos or getting better or different sounding speakers are an option but it can get confusing fast. I'll let others come up with their recommendations and you can decide.

This one seems to have thhe 4K hdr features and gets decent reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YHT-3920UBL-5-1-Channel-Theater-Bluetooth/dp/B00V9Z2WZG/

Obviously you can spend thousands on speakers, but for your budget you are looking at a package like this or something similar.

If you wanted to step up a bit on the speakers you could go with something like this...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008CMVY7Q

You would need to add an AVR, though, which woul put you a little over budget. Something like this...

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG

That would likely be a pretty nice setup for not too much over your budget.

Gave these a try at my Best Buy. They sound pretty amazing given the size.

Is the Sony receiver I'm looking at good or should I reconsider that as well? Also thinking about the Yamaha-RX-V379 or the Denon-AVR-S510 as other options.

My advice - a subwoofer is essential and most certainly feasible in your budget. It makes all the difference for movies.

BF is coming up and every single year SVS has a sale where you can get a sub for ~400-450.

The surround speakers are not as important - don't buy a package. Get good LCR and whatever surrounds you can manage.

I am very partial to Sony Core speakers, the bookshelf SS-CS5. Search aound and you'll see excellent reviews.

They are only $150/pair - https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SSCS5-3-Driver-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B00O8YLMVA?sa-no-redirect=1&pldnSite=1 and were much cheaper last year and might be again.

In any case these are just as good as the Chanes and if you do pick them, you should get 3 of them for use as LCR.

You are also spending too much on the screen, I bet you can apply some special paint on the wall or get a used one for cheaper.

For streaming device get Chromecast if you want google services like youtube, otherwise a FireTv.

L/R: ELAC B6

Center: ELAC C5

Sub: BIC F12

Receiver: Denon S510BT

Speaker placement can be hard to figure out, but that all depends on the space. 3.1 is fairly easy even in small areas. I had a small living room and this worked out great for me.

When a better idea of the space you have, I could give you a build on what I'd do based on your budget.

If you are interested in something like that (I also highly recommend) the harmony hub is on sale for $50 right now.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BQ5RYI4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?tag=slicinc-20&ascsubtag=c99d1e7cb8a011e990aee6a63278c9240INT&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

I personally love this thing because of the alexa compatibility. Also you can use any phone/tablet as a remote along with that one. I bought a cheap amazon tablet as a dedicated remote

Without a lot of info, but assuming you want to keep it all pretty basic, this is my best shot. Before taxes you're at $687, but you could downgrade the sub to the Sub-1000, or skip the rear channels altogether for now. You'll need some speaker stands for the front, mounts for the rear, speaker wire, etc. So, not a perfect list, but here we go:

• Cheap but good receiver
  
• Decent L/R
  
• Matching Center
  
• Subwoofer
  
• Rear Channel

Sure thing. This is what I got. Logitech Harmony Smart Control. So far, it works great. I like the fact that you can just use the keyboard on the smart device to type whatever you need.

First off. Hurray for a fellow Steelers fan!

Second off, we need a budget for you. /r/Zeos is a great place to start and I am completely following his advise. I can try to help you out. I posted this in another thread, but I think it may be relevant for you.

This is my plan. (As a disclaimer, I am fairly new and a student of /r/Zeos.)

This Receiver

Front Speakers

Center Speaker

With a room that small, you could go with this subwoofer.

All that will be under $500.

If you're doing surround, I'd throw in a pair of these.

Don't forget some good quality speaker wire and banana plugs make life easier.


Also, I see you're looking used. I think that's a good idea. You can get older receivers for fairly cheap. Stick to the names listed in Zeos's post about 5.1 systems.

piecing together the right way is much better than buying a crappy htib system for cheap.

and a 2.1 (2 speakers 1 sub) is more than enough for most things, especially listening to music or normal volume tv/movies in my opinion.

andrew jones moved to ELAC after Pioneer too, and brought his years of expertise to their lower price point too. it is a bit above pioneers, but still very cheap for how good it is supposed to be. i havent heard any of the elac ones yet, but they get a whole lot of great reviews and do look a bit higher quality. they are about twice as expensive though, some pieces a bit more. but, considering how low the AJ pioneers are priced it is still overall pretty low prices as far as speakers can go.

http://elac.com/product-category/debut/

the AJ ELAC Debut center is $180 for example
https://www.amazon.com/Debut-Center-Speaker-Andrew-Jones/dp/B014GSEQWE/ref=pd_bxgy_23_2/161-3108273-0990538

also, i just noticed the AJ Pioneer Towers are on sale for $90 again. just in case you were considering new fronts too... i have 4 of these now (2 still boxed up waiting to be my rear surrounds after i finish reno on my other living room) and have given another 4 away as presents over the years. these are what really sold me on the AJ speakers. for the price difference i am as happy with them as my larger and far more expensive Paradigms.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008NCD2S4/ref=psdc_12097481011_t3_B014GSEQWE

Having a Sony TV has zero impact on whether you get Sony speakers.

For Pioneer, the left, right, and center speakers combine will cost you $192:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008NCD2EI/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008NCD2LG/

For Sony, the left, right, and center speakers combine will cost you $296:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8YLNRS/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8YLMVA/

For reference, if you wanted the floor standing options for either it will be an extra $100-150 in either case.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8YLL8E/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0798YNCQ1/

I will assume you will go with bookshelf speakers for now and the Sonys. That means that your AVR, speaker cable, left, right, and center channels combined come to about $500.

That leaves about $500 for a subwoofer. That is a nice chunk of change for a really nice subwoofer.

First, are you certain you want a premium subwoofer like that? Second, are you concerned that you may disturb your neighbors in an apartment building with a subwoofer?

Personally, I would save my money and get the BIC America F12. It is an absolutely excellent subwoofer for $200 and is likely already overkill for your needs:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015A8Y5M/

These general consensus is these are going to be a better bang for your buck.

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-FS52-Designed-standing-Loudspeaker/dp/B008NCD2S4

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S510BT-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00YAO43YG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1484676180&sr=1-1&keywords=denon+receiver

As far as sub goes. These cheaper reccomended are:

https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1000-10-Inch-Subwoofer/dp/B0063NU3AA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1484676249&sr=1-1&keywords=dayton+audio+sub-1000

https://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1484676267&sr=1-1&keywords=bic+america+f12

or my personal favorite:

https://www.outlawaudio.com/products/m8.html


There are other brand like Chane and HSU that get great reviews as well for speaker/subs.

Just got these surrounds and am very pleased with them so far. Really great option for the price if you can't shell out the extra cash for surrounds that match your fronts. Being able to wall mount with just drywall anchors is a nice bonus (I'm renting an apartment and just ended up using a couple of those 3m command hooks on each one)


Fluance AVBP2 Home Theater Bipolar Surround Sound Satellite Speakers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00067OLOS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_o-F6Ab6TRCNTX

Would you recommend going with the 2.1 system with these:

Elac B6's and the BIC F12

OR

WharfDale Diamond 10.1's and the BIC F12

or the 5.1 system with:

Fluance AV5HTB's and the BIC F12.

Thanks

EDIT: Added the WharfDale's since they are of comparable price to the Elac B6's and I've heard they are supposed to be pretty great

I personally would recommend some decent bookshelves over these Home Theater in a box (htib) deals. The idea is that you want wooden cabinets over plastic. Something like this will blow away that Harmon set, Pioneer SP-PK52FS Andrew Jones 5.0 Home Theater Speaker Package https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRH0QMA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_4xJpyb1ERSEW5
Those harmons use 3 inch drivers vs the 5 inch drivers on standard bookshelves. That means the pioneers will produce a much fuller sound and fill the room much better. You can also look at Micca speakers as they are a great value as well while destroying any HTIB.
Good denon receivers can be had around 200.

For the apartment set up i'd do something like this and save a few bucks.

Receiver:Denon E-400 280

Speakers: I'm more of a fan of Klipsch than I am of Polk. These guys are on sale this week and they sound as great as they look. Klipsch KB-15 150each

Center: Klipsch KC-25 150

Subwoofer: Apartment subs are the hardest thing to buy depending on your neighbors. Personally something small and compact that isn't going to cost and arm and a leg until you get a proper one for a house that just rounds things out is recommended. Something like this from Martin Logan for 130.

860 for everything here compared to the 1180 you posted for similar quality items. If you are looking to grab some towers in the future and like the sound of the 5.1 you may be looking at something like this Klipsch Reference RF-62II

If you wanted to upgrade the receiver a bit this is a few hundred more but is a better overall pieceDenon AVR-X3000

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-Theater-Speaker-Package/dp/B00IRH0QMA?th=1 5.0 or 5.1

https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-SUB-1000-10-Inch-Subwoofer/dp/B0063NU3AA/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1485640866&sr=1-1&keywords=dayton+sub
Sub

I don't own any of this equipment, but it is pretty agreed on that it has a great performance/value ratio

For such a small space it seems your budget of $1500 for sound is way overkill, unless your planning to keep the gear when you move to a bigger place.

For a room that size, get a receiver like this

some bookshelve speakers like these

a subwoofer like this

rear bipole speakers like this

and finally some speaker wire and banana cables.

This set up is beautiful in my small apartment living room. All in all that comes out to ~$520 and you can use the rest of your money on a TV upgrade.

SVS PB2000 sub -$800

Marantz SR5009 $420

Infinity primus center $200

Infinity primus towers $300 for the pair

Infinity primus bookshelfs $190 for a pair add another pair for 7.1

add another big subwoofer later for more oompf. the primus series represents pretty good value and they will play quite impactfully

then figure in another grand for a projector and screen

Purchase List:

Optoma HD27 1080p 3D DLP Home Theater Projector - amazing image quality and extremely bright - can almost watch the screen with all the lights on: https://www.amazon.com/Optoma-HD27-1080p-Theater-Projector/dp/B01JR7G672

Homegear 100” HD Motorized 16:9 Projector Screen W/ Remote Control - works very well, packaged and arrived in great condition: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J22TNRI

Yamaha RX-V379BL 5.1-Channel A/V Receiver with Bluetooth: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V5VJ3TM

2 ELAC B6 Debut Series 6.5" L & R Speakers by Andrew Jones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GSEQ06

1 ELAC C5 Debut Series 5.25" Center Speaker by Andrew Jones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014GSEQWE

AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014I8TC4E

Monoprice Affinity Premium 14AWG Braided Speaker Wire: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015YN6G9G

VideoSecu 2 Heavy duty PA DJ Club Adjustable Height Satellite Speaker Stand Mount: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VRREPG

Projector Mount - VideoSecu LCD/DLP Projector Ceiling Mount Bracket: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IDC0K2

2x LED Lighting for Bar/Couch: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V27VX7E

I got this for $99 from Best Buy the other day:

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Control-Smartphone-Simple/dp/B00BQ5RYI4

Havent used it much since our theater is still under construction, but it seems like it will be quite awesome.

You could pick up a little T amp. I have this one but there are cheaper options available. That only has two outputs and just a knob for volume control. Itd be good for testing them out and music for parties, etc but not realistic for TV watching since you'd have to get up to change the volume.

Everyone is going to tell you to get a receiver. Youre at the opportunity where you can dive into the home theater world and, if you have the funds, you won't regret it.

i got these

http://www.amazon.com/Fluance-AVBP2-Surround-Satellite-Speakers/dp/B00067OLOS/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409784653&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=fluance+avb

look good, sound good. pretty happy with them.

Onkyo 9.2 THX Dolby Atmos, DTX
5.1.4 configuration or 7.1.2 $499

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2GA8510524&cm_re=9.2_receiver-_-9SIA2GA8510524-_-Product

Below for 5.1.4

Micca MB42X-C Center Channel - $70

https://www.amazon.com/Micca-COVO-S-Compact-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00N8265I8/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1540843764&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=micca+mini+speakers

Micca bookshelf speakers pair 2x $120 for 4 Bookshelf speakers

https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-C-Channel-Speaker-Tweeter/dp/B009IUIV4A/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1540844054&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=micca%2Bcenter%2Bchannel%2Bspeaker&th=1

Micca COVO-S Mini 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers - Hung from ceilling used as Atmos speakers 2x

$90 for 4 speakers

https://www.amazon.com/Micca-COVO-S-Compact-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B00N8265I8/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1540843764&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=micca+mini+speakers

Speaker Mounts for Celling Atmos speakers

Micca Subwoofer $129.00

https://www.amazon.com/Micca-10-Inch-Powered-Subwoofer-MS10/dp/B07B4MSXZ8/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1540844226&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=micca+subwoofer&psc=1

That totals $908 leaves you some extra for banana plugs, wiring, mounts etc. which can be had for cheap on Amazon

• Some of the speaker mount kits come with 4-6 mounts which could be used for all the speakers run $10-$30
  
  
• If you don't get a 9.2 Atmos you could shave about $250 off the cost and just get a 5.1 Receiver that decodes just up to Dolby True HD, and DTS - MA which would be plenty for a novice
  
  
• The 9.2 Receiver would allow him to add another Sub or drive better speakers later if he plans to upgrade
  

Hello,

I'm looking into replacing my Psw505 with a sub that hits deeper. My Psw505 can rattle the walls but it lacks punch. Looking around I found these two options in my price range,

Svs PB-1000 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K88UMPW/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=AKR88PAWTQVN2&psc=1

Svs PB-2000 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I985V4U/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=A2H3DYB5PUVNNI&psc=1

Both of these subs should have more punch then the Psw505 from what I've read.

I posted a picture of the room I'll be using the sub in. The room dimensions are 14'x11' usable space. My Psw505 is located on the left side of the room, not pictured. My main usage is movies/netflix 85%, gaming 10%, music 5%.

Are the subs I linked good options for what I want? Are there other options worth considering?

Thanks,

I'm pretty sure Bose speakers use the same type of wire normal speakers use.

Just cut the end offs and then strip the wire to get a bare wire. You can then add a banana plugs for ease or simply use bare wire.

For all wiring I use monoprice.com or home depot.

Why not grab some Andrew Jones Pioneers instead of the PSB? That would save them a lot of money and sound plenty good for them I bet.

Only 400 for the entire set.
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-PK52FS-5-0-Theater-Speaker/dp/B00IRH0QMA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1481746756&sr=8-6&keywords=andrew%2Bjones%2Bpioneer%2Bspeakers&th=1

Of course I'm not saying your mom shouldn't get an amazing reference setup if she wants one, but for about 500 bucks you could probably make her very happy.

FYI, the Harmony Touch refurb is on Woot! today for $134.99 shipped.

Though if you have a smartphone the Harmony Smart Control is $129.99 new on Amazon. The product page also has a good comparison chart.

I'd recommend you get the get the Pioneer Andrew Jones speakers for that price. You can get 2 pairs of bookshelves+1 center for just $333 or if you want front floorstanders than that set currently costs $460.

These come highly recommended. Many people liked them and said they're the best at their price. Wirecutter did a fairly extensive comparison and concluded these are the best budget surround-sound speaker system.

This and these would be a start to a great system, or you could do the same receiver + these fronts and this center and these surrounds. The second set is my setup, actually. That's napkin math to $1k, and it's freaking solid. slightly not as good as the UB5s, but for home theater usage, that's less of a deal. If you want top end music performance too, I'd vote get the UB5s. I'm extremely happy with my B6s/matching center / surrounds.

2 problems:
That's a car amplifier, you'll do a lot better with an amp that's meant to sit on a desk. this is a popular choice:
https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-50Wx2-TDA7492-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B00F0H8TOC/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1497632169&sr=1-2&keywords=SMSL+amplifier

That sub is unpowered; it'll need its own discrete amp. you'd be better off getting a powered sub, and splitting off your '.1' channel to it's amplifier.

An subwoofer with a built in amp (most home audio subs have one) will probably blow out your budget. Those low frequencies take a lot of power to drive. you may want to go 2.0 for a little while until you're ready to get a sub.

Honestly, for your budget, the Z623 may be the way to go, rather then buying super cheap components separately.

This is my first attempt at building a home theater. I built the acoustic panels and the DVD door myself. Everything else was done by best buy. I have everything running to a small room behind the couch which I control via a harmony hub and an echo dot.

All lights are "smart" and can be individually controlled by the echo dot.

My setup:

Projector:Epson home Cinema 2150

Screen: Silver Ticket 16:9 120" Grey Screen

FL and FR:Micca MB42x

Center:Micca MB42X-C

Rears: Fluance AVBP2

AVR: Denon S510BT

Sub: 10" Dayton Audio Sub-1000 (x2)

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Please let me know if you have any suggestions!

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