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Question

Home Audio

Mar 27, 2015 1:05PM PDT

Question for anyone that can help. We are looking for some speakers for our living room. It is vaulted and doesn't have the best acoustics. We would like front facing as there isn't really any place to put speakers behind us. We don't want to spend a ton of money on a system. We currently just have a sound bar but it doesn't have much depth. We are considering a center with a right and left and wireless sub. Any thoughts on what would be the best? If you need any more info please just let me know.

Thanks for any help you might be able to provide!!!

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
More info needed
Mar 28, 2015 12:53PM PDT

Are you looking at a surround system, or some sort of 2.1 which would also be used for watching movies/TV? Or is it mostly listening to music? What other components (e.g. receivers, TVs, cable or sat boxes, etc.) are already in the mix?

You also really don't provide a budget of any kind, which really is where the rubber can hit the road.

If possible, try to use a traditional wired sub product since they actually work <ahem>, and would provide much, much better sound quality. Any chance you could sketch the room and upload a quick rough drawing of the space to imgur.com? You may have more options than you think you do. Real surround doesn't have to cost very much.

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Pics and layout
Mar 30, 2015 12:08PM PDT

Thank you so much for your reply. I have posted three pics from different angles of the room and then the fourth is the actual floor plan for the room. Please take a look and let me know your thoughts. Just search under scrumhalfgal.

We currently have the Sony STR-DN850 7.2 Channel 4K AV Receiver and Sony TV. We aren't looking for an intense movie watching experience. Just something that sounds better than just the TV. We also like to listen to quite a bit of music. We also have the Yamaha YAS-103 Soundbar which is far better than just the TV speakers but it doesn't have a whole lot of depth or great volume to it in our space.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

thanks again for all your input!!!

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Would you mind posting the direct links
Mar 31, 2015 12:39AM PDT

I searched imgur using your screen name and it returned zero hits.

thanks

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here you go
Mar 31, 2015 3:40AM PDT
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Thanks- that helps(!) ;)
Apr 2, 2015 6:40AM PDT

Looks like a challenging but really nice space. Love the open fireplace.

I really feel you would be wasting the capabilities of that wonderful Sony 7.2 receiver by not making an attempt at even basic 5.1 sound. If the Yamaha soundbar you have now isn't good enough for your needs, going with a 2.1 system seems silly when you are 90% of the way home Wink

You technically wouldn't even have to do much in-wall wiring given you have two areas (right and left) above the entryway for rear surrounds to be mounted. They could even be located on top instead of flush on the walls. If the Receiver was located nearby, you could utilize a color matched raceway to hide wires. Plenty of permutations there- some of which are located on Youtube in order to see the particulars during installation, etc. Energy Take Classic 5.1 speakers would be a decent starting point, budget wise.

The other tweaks I would consider are:

Instead of mounting the R/L/C speakers up high, or to the right/left of the fireplace, consider mounting them wider past the windows (around mantle height). This would present better sound separation. And later on when the budget permits, re-mount the HDTV using a reticulating/articulating mount that lets you pull out the HDTV away from the wall and pulls it down lower for proper viewing height. FWIW, chiropractors *love* HDTVs mounted above fireplaces(!) Similarly, you could attach the center channel speaker to move out/down with the HDTV by utilizing such a modern mount. Amazon sells them too.

Let me know if you have any more specific questions.

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Thank you!!!
May 16, 2015 4:26AM PDT

Thank you so much for the information!!!

We will be using all of it Happy