I'm building a media room in a newly finished basement. I've listened to a bunch of speaker at several stores and am starting to go crazy.
Looking to build a 5.1.2 system now, maybe expand to a 7.2.4 system eventually. System will be 95% home theater, 5% music. Will be used by entire family ( wife and 3 school age children) - could be on at typical TV listening or background levels for up to 6 hrs per day between all users. Occasionally would be run at reference levels for movie night.
I have a Marantz SR7013 receiver I purchased a short time ago to run the system. I have separate old 5.1 surround upstairs with Monitor Audio Silver RS, Pioneer Elite AVR and Def Tech Supercube but want to start fresh in media room.
The space is 23' long x 17' wide, the TV and entertainment console on the long wall , sectional and theater seat around 10 ft from screen. Drywall ceiling mostly 9 ft high so approx 3500 ft^3. Immediately adjacent in same space is 14x14 bar area, approx 1700 ft^3. So total volume of open space about 5200 ft^3. Other rooms in basement closed off by doors. Open stairs in back of room behind seating area. Realize that room will need some treatment to help with reflections.
Budget is approximate, looking for good sound quality and great value products. Need speakers that are not fussy with setup, relatively neutral and clear sound with full bass, and will have wide soundstage given layout of theater seating. Not really concerned with aesthetics (this is the basement) or famous names.
-Front pair $1000-1600,
-center $ 300-600,
-surround pair $300-600,
-Subwoofer $400-1000 (will get that later)
These are speakers I've listened to that I like for the main channels:
-Elac (Debut reference)
- PSB (Imagine X2T) - compared better than compared to Martin Logan motion 20i (thin base, slightly harsh), and though it was warmer and a bit richer if slightly less detailed than more expensive B&W 603
-Paradigm (premier 700f vs Monitor SE 8000f)
-SVS (Prime Pinnacle) compared better than more expensive Focal Chora 816, B&W 603 , Monitor Audio Silver 300
-Triangle (Borea 08) had more detail and clarity than KLH (Kendall) and also had more bass thump than Monitor Audio Silver 300
Also Interested but not available to listen:
- Monolith (THX460 tower)
-Emotiva (T2+)
-Dali Oberon 5 or 7
-Q acoustics Concept 40
Lower preference:
-KEF Q550/750 - not as much definition as I hoped, seemed muffled (or was it the Best Buy setup?)
-B&W 603 - great speaker but beaten by cheaper options (Prime Pinnacle)
-Focal 816 -great speaker but beaten by cheaper options (Prime Pinnacle)
-Monitor Audio Silver 300 and Bronze 200 - Silver was nice but pricey, bronze was too harsh in upper range
-Martin Logan motion 20i-thin bass, not rich sound
-Klipsch RP 6000/8000F - sound was too forward / blaring
I understand that a lot is personal preference but can't really do A:B comparisons of all. Really interested on your opinions on speaker selection since direct head to head of speakers above not possible - I feel a little lost. Is there one or two brands heads and shoulders above? Or a brand that is overrated? Is there something else obvious I'm missing? Should I pick based off the center channel instead of the main front pair? (ie - should I look for the best 3 way center ?).
Right now, I'm leaning towards the Monolith or Emotiva based on price / performance and ease of returns nut of course haven't listened to them.
Looking to build a 5.1.2 system now, maybe expand to a 7.2.4 system eventually. System will be 95% home theater, 5% music. Will be used by entire family ( wife and 3 school age children) - could be on at typical TV listening or background levels for up to 6 hrs per day between all users. Occasionally would be run at reference levels for movie night.
I have a Marantz SR7013 receiver I purchased a short time ago to run the system. I have separate old 5.1 surround upstairs with Monitor Audio Silver RS, Pioneer Elite AVR and Def Tech Supercube but want to start fresh in media room.
The space is 23' long x 17' wide, the TV and entertainment console on the long wall , sectional and theater seat around 10 ft from screen. Drywall ceiling mostly 9 ft high so approx 3500 ft^3. Immediately adjacent in same space is 14x14 bar area, approx 1700 ft^3. So total volume of open space about 5200 ft^3. Other rooms in basement closed off by doors. Open stairs in back of room behind seating area. Realize that room will need some treatment to help with reflections.
Budget is approximate, looking for good sound quality and great value products. Need speakers that are not fussy with setup, relatively neutral and clear sound with full bass, and will have wide soundstage given layout of theater seating. Not really concerned with aesthetics (this is the basement) or famous names.
-Front pair $1000-1600,
-center $ 300-600,
-surround pair $300-600,
-Subwoofer $400-1000 (will get that later)
These are speakers I've listened to that I like for the main channels:
-Elac (Debut reference)
- PSB (Imagine X2T) - compared better than compared to Martin Logan motion 20i (thin base, slightly harsh), and though it was warmer and a bit richer if slightly less detailed than more expensive B&W 603
-Paradigm (premier 700f vs Monitor SE 8000f)
-SVS (Prime Pinnacle) compared better than more expensive Focal Chora 816, B&W 603 , Monitor Audio Silver 300
-Triangle (Borea 08) had more detail and clarity than KLH (Kendall) and also had more bass thump than Monitor Audio Silver 300
Also Interested but not available to listen:
- Monolith (THX460 tower)
-Emotiva (T2+)
-Dali Oberon 5 or 7
-Q acoustics Concept 40
Lower preference:
-KEF Q550/750 - not as much definition as I hoped, seemed muffled (or was it the Best Buy setup?)
-B&W 603 - great speaker but beaten by cheaper options (Prime Pinnacle)
-Focal 816 -great speaker but beaten by cheaper options (Prime Pinnacle)
-Monitor Audio Silver 300 and Bronze 200 - Silver was nice but pricey, bronze was too harsh in upper range
-Martin Logan motion 20i-thin bass, not rich sound
-Klipsch RP 6000/8000F - sound was too forward / blaring
I understand that a lot is personal preference but can't really do A:B comparisons of all. Really interested on your opinions on speaker selection since direct head to head of speakers above not possible - I feel a little lost. Is there one or two brands heads and shoulders above? Or a brand that is overrated? Is there something else obvious I'm missing? Should I pick based off the center channel instead of the main front pair? (ie - should I look for the best 3 way center ?).
Right now, I'm leaning towards the Monolith or Emotiva based on price / performance and ease of returns nut of course haven't listened to them.