upgrading AV setup - views wanted....

[xcentric]

Upgrading my mixed Ruark speakers/Yamaha 3020 AV system: given listening in places is hard right now I may just plunge in, so input from others helpful.

Room is 5m x 4m, vaulted ceiling (ridge across the room as you look forwards). No need for music - separate stereo system - so just AV performance, from Sky Q/Netflix/Blu-ray, with wired internet.

Thinking the Denon AVC6500H is a good step up.

Speakers - currently looking at Monitor Audio Silver AV package (Silver 200, Silver C150 Centre, Silver FX Rears and Silver W12 Subwoofer.), the B&W 603 package (603 fronts, 607 rears, HTM6 centre and ASW608 sub), possibly Fyne (F501 Floorstanding Speakers, F500 Bookshelf Speakers, F500C Centre Speaker with F3-12 Subwoofer).

Experiences with these welcomed, as are alternatives in similar price range.

Some comments from me:

• not overly a fan of the looks of the MA rears, but looks are not critical c./f. sound. Narrow fronts are helpful
• previous b&w speakers I've heard in hi-fi have been overly bright and harsh to my ears
• am likely to move to atmos at some point in next year or two - will have to have in-ceiling speakers as the ceiling is angles and it's the only way to get correct positioning, will be a .4 setup for that. Could do it now with time on my hands I suppose.....

Do any of these work better with Atmos than others? Does the switchable nature of the MA rears help? (and finally, what in-ceiling speakers would people recommend for their choice of 5.1 setup?).

thanks.....

[VEX]

Monitor Audio would be my go-to in this price bracket as an installer. Dont disagree on the brightness of B&W, but I have no used them in any of my installs, just hearing others.

If you go with MA, depending on your room sizes you wouldnt specifically need 4 speakers, and equally you dont need super high quality because, like the rears, they are for effects only. So I would consider using just a pair of C265's or 4 if needed.

V.

[xcentric]

thanks. That was my feeling too. Am likely to go with standard MA rears not the bi/dipole ones in the package, as sitting them on stands in the right place is actually the easiest for me

[VEX]

There is an intersting trade off with di-pole as effects channels.

The feeling of space the generate is amazing, but a side effect of that is they are less focused or directional.

If you are pairing with Atmos personally I would say you want more directionality over space, so yes swaping the FX for something more directional would be better.

V.

[kingston12]

I’ve got the older B&W CM series. I think they sound great for movies and for most types of music but occasionally I’ll put some music on that sounds very harsh through that metal tweeter.

I like them overall, but not sure if I’d get them again.

One thing about the package you mention is that the ASW608 seems quite a lightweight subwoofer to partner those floorstanders.

I use an ASW608 to add some weight to my computer speakers and it is excellent for its size, but I don’t think it’s enough for a full home cinema set up.

If you do go for B&W I’d be tempted to swap that sub for a BK XXLS400 which is about the same price, but a lot better for a proper system.