Home cinema - lost in the options
Discussion
Currently having our internal garage converted into a room, which at 5.5.m by 2.7m would seem to offer a good space to host a home cinema, amongst other purposes. So, a rough plan for a drop down 110 /120in screen screen at one end, sofa towards the other and a 4k projector on the ceiling is in draft.
Now, 20 years ago, I had an early add on surround system with mono rears, then an all in one type kit before leaving that all aside till now. Getting myself up to speed this weekend on currrent tech, I've lost count of the number of speaker options available! I've no idea what I should be looking at. 5.1, 5.1.2, 9.1.4 or something inbetween?
I'm flexible on installation as I'm building in furniture and it's a suspended ceiling, down at present for wiring work. I could do the full monty 9.1 etc etc, but is it worth it in the space? is there a sweet spot for a modest home install?
Budget is leaning towards a healthy figure for decent 2nd hand receiver and speakers, unless I find a compelling new deal.
Also, what else should I be looking at, common pitfalls etc?
Now, 20 years ago, I had an early add on surround system with mono rears, then an all in one type kit before leaving that all aside till now. Getting myself up to speed this weekend on currrent tech, I've lost count of the number of speaker options available! I've no idea what I should be looking at. 5.1, 5.1.2, 9.1.4 or something inbetween?
I'm flexible on installation as I'm building in furniture and it's a suspended ceiling, down at present for wiring work. I could do the full monty 9.1 etc etc, but is it worth it in the space? is there a sweet spot for a modest home install?
Budget is leaning towards a healthy figure for decent 2nd hand receiver and speakers, unless I find a compelling new deal.
Also, what else should I be looking at, common pitfalls etc?
Sounds like a good project!
Personally I think 5.1.2 is a good starting point so five surrounds, a subwoofer (or two) and then a couple of speakers in the ceiling for height channels. This number of speakers can be driven by a single AVR so is easy to install and calibrate. The subs would need to be active or have their own amp...
If you are self building then I'd be looking on AVForums and ebay for second hand AVRs and/or speakers - loads of people want the latest and greatest. The value of second hand gear is really low.
Ceiling speakers for the height channels is an obvious choice so then you just need to work out how to incorporate the surround channels and subs. We tend to build a false wall for the front channels so they can go behind the screen but if you are going for smaller speakers (which tend to have a lower cost too) then you might not need to do that.
Good luck! Its an exciting project to be doing!
Personally I think 5.1.2 is a good starting point so five surrounds, a subwoofer (or two) and then a couple of speakers in the ceiling for height channels. This number of speakers can be driven by a single AVR so is easy to install and calibrate. The subs would need to be active or have their own amp...
If you are self building then I'd be looking on AVForums and ebay for second hand AVRs and/or speakers - loads of people want the latest and greatest. The value of second hand gear is really low.
Ceiling speakers for the height channels is an obvious choice so then you just need to work out how to incorporate the surround channels and subs. We tend to build a false wall for the front channels so they can go behind the screen but if you are going for smaller speakers (which tend to have a lower cost too) then you might not need to do that.
Good luck! Its an exciting project to be doing!
Definitely worth a visit to AVForums, lots of info on there.
I'd say a key component you need to research here is the AVR you are going to buy to run all the equipment. If you are planning on going for Atmos, then just make sure the amp you buy is future proofing yourself etc. Same for 4K, HDR. Options are endless, and so are costs!
Do you have a rough budget in mind?
With 4K projector you'll need to consider how you get the signal from the AVR to PJ, if it is a long distance etc.
Cables, make sure you again future proof yourself by running plenty cables so you dont have to do it in future.
As for 5.1 / 7.1 / 9.1 etc... If it is a dedicated room I would try and go for 5.1.2 as a starting point, if not 5.2.4 -
5 bed level speakers placed correctly will give you a good surround experience.
1 Good subwoofer, ideally 2 will be needed for that size of room.
2 Atmos speakers above head ideally, or at least at height should give you some overhead effects. It is really only worth going for 4 if you have both the room size, and separation between speakers. There isn't much point having two atmos speakers mounted closely to your rear surrounds for example.
As for speakers, you really need to get into your local HiFi shop and audition a few of them. What one man prefers, can be very different to the next.
I'd say a key component you need to research here is the AVR you are going to buy to run all the equipment. If you are planning on going for Atmos, then just make sure the amp you buy is future proofing yourself etc. Same for 4K, HDR. Options are endless, and so are costs!
Do you have a rough budget in mind?
With 4K projector you'll need to consider how you get the signal from the AVR to PJ, if it is a long distance etc.
Cables, make sure you again future proof yourself by running plenty cables so you dont have to do it in future.
As for 5.1 / 7.1 / 9.1 etc... If it is a dedicated room I would try and go for 5.1.2 as a starting point, if not 5.2.4 -
5 bed level speakers placed correctly will give you a good surround experience.
1 Good subwoofer, ideally 2 will be needed for that size of room.
2 Atmos speakers above head ideally, or at least at height should give you some overhead effects. It is really only worth going for 4 if you have both the room size, and separation between speakers. There isn't much point having two atmos speakers mounted closely to your rear surrounds for example.
As for speakers, you really need to get into your local HiFi shop and audition a few of them. What one man prefers, can be very different to the next.
Front, Centre, Right - Spend good money on the centre - it does most of the lifting.
Rear side surrounds - I find dipole (bipole) rear side surrounds diffuse the effects so they are not so blatant. You know - the triangle speakers that fire both fore and aft.
I have a rear centre - single/mono - and it gets used a lot.
Sub - essential.
What's that? 5.1.1? I've not kept up!
Atmos height speakers? Normally I'd say forget about it. It's a gimmick. But if you've got a suspended ceiling, then why the hell not :-) Curiously - those that do have them - do you really notice sounds moving up and down?
Amp - make sure it switches HDMI for you - saves a massive ballache when using the system.
Rear side surrounds - I find dipole (bipole) rear side surrounds diffuse the effects so they are not so blatant. You know - the triangle speakers that fire both fore and aft.
I have a rear centre - single/mono - and it gets used a lot.
Sub - essential.
What's that? 5.1.1? I've not kept up!
Atmos height speakers? Normally I'd say forget about it. It's a gimmick. But if you've got a suspended ceiling, then why the hell not :-) Curiously - those that do have them - do you really notice sounds moving up and down?
Amp - make sure it switches HDMI for you - saves a massive ballache when using the system.
The final .2 or .4 are the Atmos / Auro / Height and as ND says, properly set up they make a great addition to a system.
It is subtle, yes, but if its pointed out and then removed you do notice it.
I agree with other 5.1.2 would be an ideal started. The seating will need to be pulled forward of the back wall to benefit properly from 7 surrounds and 4 Atmos's.
Depending on your door way that may not be practical.
V.
It is subtle, yes, but if its pointed out and then removed you do notice it.
I agree with other 5.1.2 would be an ideal started. The seating will need to be pulled forward of the back wall to benefit properly from 7 surrounds and 4 Atmos's.
Depending on your door way that may not be practical.
V.
If i was speccing a system i would still say 5.1 or (or 5.2 in a big room).
Atmos speakers are nice to have, but are probably active only once or twice in a whole movie (the rears are probably not on much more).
Most people have a limited budget for speakers, so i would rather spend my speaker budget on 5 good speakers rather than 7,9 or 11 not so good speakers.
However since you have the ceiling down, why not put in the cabling for atmos speakers etc so you can easily add them later if you want to.
Atmos speakers are nice to have, but are probably active only once or twice in a whole movie (the rears are probably not on much more).
Most people have a limited budget for speakers, so i would rather spend my speaker budget on 5 good speakers rather than 7,9 or 11 not so good speakers.
However since you have the ceiling down, why not put in the cabling for atmos speakers etc so you can easily add them later if you want to.
Yes it's very easy to get sucked into a spiral of budget creep once you start reading up. I went very OTT the last time I rebuilt my room and recycled my previous MK LCR speakers as Atmos (and bought one single extra one for the '.4' part of Atmos). Four subwoofers, surround backs (same make, but much more modest model). I treated the room for acoustics and reduced decay times considerably, properly calibrated not just using the AVR mic, but separate software too...the full Monty.
It's on AV forums DIY section if you search for 'When Worlds collide'
Trouble is these days I hardly ever bother with it.
Usually just have something on TV and the projector isn't used except when we have visitors (so many over the last couple of years of course 
). It sounds absolutely amazing when it's all fired up, but my priorities have changed for various reasons and I now think I should have stuck with a simple (by comparison) 7.2 set up I had before and not spent the decent used car money on the extra speakers, subs and amps, etc.
Tl;dr Think really hard about what YOU want from it (not trying to impress strangers on the web) and what you'll really get from it...too many become obscessed with the equipment and aren't actually all that into watching films. Yes I'm guilty of that one to a degree; but mainly I don't think there are many new films I'm interested in watching now.
It's on AV forums DIY section if you search for 'When Worlds collide'
Trouble is these days I hardly ever bother with it.
Usually just have something on TV and the projector isn't used except when we have visitors (so many over the last couple of years of course ). It sounds absolutely amazing when it's all fired up, but my priorities have changed for various reasons and I now think I should have stuck with a simple (by comparison) 7.2 set up I had before and not spent the decent used car money on the extra speakers, subs and amps, etc.Tl;dr Think really hard about what YOU want from it (not trying to impress strangers on the web) and what you'll really get from it...too many become obscessed with the equipment and aren't actually all that into watching films. Yes I'm guilty of that one to a degree; but mainly I don't think there are many new films I'm interested in watching now.
OldSkoolRS said:
Yes it's very easy to get sucked into a spiral of budget creep once you start reading up. I went very OTT the last time I rebuilt my room and recycled my previous MK LCR speakers as Atmos (and bought one single extra one for the '.4' part of Atmos). Four subwoofers, surround backs (same make, but much more modest model). I treated the room for acoustics and reduced decay times considerably, properly calibrated not just using the AVR mic, but separate software too...the full Monty.
It's on AV forums DIY section if you search for 'When Worlds collide'
Trouble is these days I hardly ever bother with it. Usually just have something on TV and the projector isn't used except when we have visitors (so many over the last couple of years of course ). It sounds absolutely amazing when it's all fired up, but my priorities have changed for various reasons and I now think I should have stuck with a simple (by comparison) 7.2 set up I had before and not spent the decent used car money on the extra speakers, subs and amps, etc.
Tl;dr Think really hard about what YOU want from it (not trying to impress strangers on the web) and what you'll really get from it...too many become obscessed with the equipment and aren't actually all that into watching films. Yes I'm guilty of that one to a degree; but mainly I don't think there are many new films I'm interested in watching now.
There speaks a man who has walked a similar path to me.It's on AV forums DIY section if you search for 'When Worlds collide'
Trouble is these days I hardly ever bother with it.
Usually just have something on TV and the projector isn't used except when we have visitors (so many over the last couple of years of course ). It sounds absolutely amazing when it's all fired up, but my priorities have changed for various reasons and I now think I should have stuck with a simple (by comparison) 7.2 set up I had before and not spent the decent used car money on the extra speakers, subs and amps, etc.Tl;dr Think really hard about what YOU want from it (not trying to impress strangers on the web) and what you'll really get from it...too many become obscessed with the equipment and aren't actually all that into watching films. Yes I'm guilty of that one to a degree; but mainly I don't think there are many new films I'm interested in watching now.
I usedRoom-EQ, all sorts of mucking around - never went dual SW but did have a Velodyne servo 15 at one point. In fairness, it became a hobby/obsession - trying to attain the best sound I could. Like you I now rely on the TV mostly - I have a nice 5.1.1 system with Mirage OM-7s at the front
and the PJ only gets fire up for must-sees on a big screen - most recently, Dune Part 1.
I've just lost a lot of the enthusiasm and focus more on the actual movie now rather than achieving aural nirvana. I think partly because my current place has aweful acoustics and I just can't be bothered to start all over again :-)
I read your build some time back - superb quality build. Way past what I've ever done.
Edited by Griffith4ever on Tuesday 16th November 17:40
I'm researching options for when I change my TV from plasma to OLED and have found I'm quite out of touch with the current options - Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, eArc etc... Then add a gaming console into the mix with associated problems with audio pass through on receivers etc!!!
So I'm probably going to simplify things and just buy the Panasonic JZ2000 OLED TV with its own built in Dolby Atmos speaker. Obviously nothing like the sound quality of a proper set up, but my living room doesn't really lend itself to positioning rear speakers etc. If I had a better shaped room then I would love to go for a proper set up.
So I'm probably going to simplify things and just buy the Panasonic JZ2000 OLED TV with its own built in Dolby Atmos speaker. Obviously nothing like the sound quality of a proper set up, but my living room doesn't really lend itself to positioning rear speakers etc. If I had a better shaped room then I would love to go for a proper set up.
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