Home cinema with £5k budget?
Discussion
I'm researching what components to buy for a home cinema which will also be a living room. We do have a second living room which the wife likes to watch her rubbish TV programmes in, so I'm fairly free to plan the room as I want, but whilst keeping it a living room.
My living room is about 6m long (with some additional space behind for rear speakers) by 5m wide and should allow a a 7:1 set up, maybe even a 9:1 with a couple of dolby atoms speakers in the ceiling if I can lift carpets in the room above? I'll be rearranging furniture so my main listening position should be ideal for sitting a correct distance away from a TV sized about 85".
Budget will be up to about £5k, not including the TV.
I called into a local AV specialist yesterday and sat in their demo room which was using 5:1 set up with an Arcam amp and Waterfall speakers (don't know model numbers) but it sounded fantastic, they guy said that kit would cost about £6k. I don't want to go above this amount, and ideally not above £5k, but would prefer 7:1 instead of 5:1.
Are there any brands & models I should be considering or ruling out with my budget please?
My living room is about 6m long (with some additional space behind for rear speakers) by 5m wide and should allow a a 7:1 set up, maybe even a 9:1 with a couple of dolby atoms speakers in the ceiling if I can lift carpets in the room above? I'll be rearranging furniture so my main listening position should be ideal for sitting a correct distance away from a TV sized about 85".
Budget will be up to about £5k, not including the TV.
I called into a local AV specialist yesterday and sat in their demo room which was using 5:1 set up with an Arcam amp and Waterfall speakers (don't know model numbers) but it sounded fantastic, they guy said that kit would cost about £6k. I don't want to go above this amount, and ideally not above £5k, but would prefer 7:1 instead of 5:1.
Are there any brands & models I should be considering or ruling out with my budget please?
You could consider DIY as an option - the DIY Sound Group stuff is very well-rated, for example:
https://www.diysoundgroup.com
You'll definitely get much better vfm doing DIY subs IMO.
https://www.diysoundgroup.com
You'll definitely get much better vfm doing DIY subs IMO.
That budget isn't a lot of money so needs careful deployment.
9.1? 7.1? You'd be spending very little money on each speaker, then you need the amp and sub. My suggestion would be to emphasise "sound" over "specification", which could mean fewer amplifier channels of better quality and fewer speakers of better quality. However, if you want to hear Top Gun flying all around the room you might prefer "more speakers" for that reason alone. Remember, the more speakers you have, the more awkward the installation.
It's all a matter of personal taste but with that budget I'd be looking at 5.1 with three good speakers at the front and two lesser speakers at the back. The amp and front speakers are very important.
Richer Sounds sell loads of this gear and have a relevant system at £5,999 on the link. They also have cheaper ones.
https://www.richersounds.com/arcam-avr11-black-wit...
9.1? 7.1? You'd be spending very little money on each speaker, then you need the amp and sub. My suggestion would be to emphasise "sound" over "specification", which could mean fewer amplifier channels of better quality and fewer speakers of better quality. However, if you want to hear Top Gun flying all around the room you might prefer "more speakers" for that reason alone. Remember, the more speakers you have, the more awkward the installation.
It's all a matter of personal taste but with that budget I'd be looking at 5.1 with three good speakers at the front and two lesser speakers at the back. The amp and front speakers are very important.
Richer Sounds sell loads of this gear and have a relevant system at £5,999 on the link. They also have cheaper ones.
https://www.richersounds.com/arcam-avr11-black-wit...
Can you get a projector?
An 85 inch tv won t be cinematic. It just looks like a big arse tv to my eye.
100 inch tv is better, but a 120inch projector will be a lot better. Starts to feel properly ‘cinematic’ at this size.
https://www.richersounds.com/hisense-120l5ftuk-a12...
An 85 inch tv won t be cinematic. It just looks like a big arse tv to my eye.
100 inch tv is better, but a 120inch projector will be a lot better. Starts to feel properly ‘cinematic’ at this size.
https://www.richersounds.com/hisense-120l5ftuk-a12...
Edited by wyson on Saturday 28th June 14:39
The Gauge said:
That Richer Sounds package looks decent, thanks
As for getting a projector, most of the screens use would be used for every day TV watching via Sky Q box, would a large projector suit that kind of viewing?
Yes it’s our regular evening viewing room. You get used to the size within a couple of days. As for getting a projector, most of the screens use would be used for every day TV watching via Sky Q box, would a large projector suit that kind of viewing?
For tv and cinema viewing the Centre does the most work the. Left right and sub. Then rears and the other surrounds.
We have kef Q900 for LR and centre and q stand mounts for rear. The rest (lots) are ceiling but directional tweeters. It all works great. But go big now !
yah, have a look into Ultra short throw projectors. They can basically be used like a TV. Visible with a ALR screen in the day etc.
The image doesn t pop like a back lit or OLED TV, but again, that makes it look more cinematic as does the big ass size.
It really comes into its own in a darkened room.
You can also get floor rising screens that will hide away in furniture, if you don t want a giant screen dominating the room.
https://global.nothingprojector.com/en-gb
And get laser tv cabinets, so the ‘cinema’ can live in a bit of furniture and hide away when not needed.
The image doesn t pop like a back lit or OLED TV, but again, that makes it look more cinematic as does the big ass size.
It really comes into its own in a darkened room.
You can also get floor rising screens that will hide away in furniture, if you don t want a giant screen dominating the room.
https://global.nothingprojector.com/en-gb
And get laser tv cabinets, so the ‘cinema’ can live in a bit of furniture and hide away when not needed.
Edited by wyson on Saturday 28th June 17:30
As previously stated, you have a budget and it's better to spend that budget on 5 good speakers rather than 7 poorer ones.
The front 3 do 90% of the work and the surround backs (for 7.1) are pretty much impossible to fit in an average room (they're behind the surrounds which most people don't know). Have a look on line for a 7.1 diagram.
See if you can manage to listen to an Anthem amp.
Richer Sounds are advertising them at £1499 -
https://www.richersounds.com/anthem-mrx540-black/
which may be a mistake (£2499 everywhere else).
ARC Genesis is a much better room correction than Dirac live (to me anyway) as it is more flexible.
The front 3 do 90% of the work and the surround backs (for 7.1) are pretty much impossible to fit in an average room (they're behind the surrounds which most people don't know). Have a look on line for a 7.1 diagram.
See if you can manage to listen to an Anthem amp.
Richer Sounds are advertising them at £1499 -
https://www.richersounds.com/anthem-mrx540-black/
which may be a mistake (£2499 everywhere else).
ARC Genesis is a much better room correction than Dirac live (to me anyway) as it is more flexible.
David A said:
Is it scope creep, or hitting the brief? OP did say home cinema, not big ass tv room, and it looks like he has the budget to get a proper set up.Edited by wyson on Sunday 29th June 08:16
wyson said:
David A said:
Is it scope creep, or hitting the brief? OP did say home cinema, not big ass tv room, and it looks like he has the budget to get a proper set up.Edited by wyson on Sunday 29th June 08:16
)I m leaning towards having a large TV to fit in with it being a living room, but I do like this idea of having a cabinet that reveals a hidden projector and screen that can pop up in front of the TV when needed
https://youtu.be/d0wqMo47cak?si=qUl9ZFtc_RAGzKWS
Edited by The Gauge on Sunday 29th June 11:55
No need to spend a fortune on an AV Amp. You don’t need Hi-Fi like sound quality for Home Cinema.
Onkyo and Yamaha have been my choices over the years and more than happy.
Good centre speaker is important for clear vocals. Spending big there won’t be regretted - I have an SVS Ultra, which is a bit of a beast.
Onkyo and Yamaha have been my choices over the years and more than happy.
Good centre speaker is important for clear vocals. Spending big there won’t be regretted - I have an SVS Ultra, which is a bit of a beast.
The Gauge said:
To be fair I don t know what to call it, it s a living room that is used as such but seeing as we have two living rooms I want this one to be biased towards being a home cinema, though I realise that term might normally be used to describe a room dedicated purely to watching films with surround sound. I guess this room will be 50:50 (that s not channel numbers by the way )
I m leaning towards having a large TV to fit in with it being a living room, but I do like this idea of having a cabinet that reveals a hidden projector and screen that can pop up in front of the TV when needed
https://youtu.be/d0wqMo47cak?si=qUl9ZFtc_RAGzKWS
Lol, if you get a 85inch TV on the wall and stick that projector cabinet in front, that will definitely be scope creep! )I m leaning towards having a large TV to fit in with it being a living room, but I do like this idea of having a cabinet that reveals a hidden projector and screen that can pop up in front of the TV when needed
https://youtu.be/d0wqMo47cak?si=qUl9ZFtc_RAGzKWS
Edited by The Gauge on Sunday 29th June 11:55
Personally would sway towards a 100 inch TV if you wanted a big ass TV room where you can watch films.
Ultra short throw projectors work perfectly well as TV's too, so you could have a cinema room where you can watch TV as well.
Unless you have no windows in the room, whatever you do, get a TV and not a projector. I had a decent projector and screen but don't use it very much unless at night because of having windows in the room. During the daylight its useless.
I've now got a 100 inch mini led TV and couldn't be happier, the brightness of the TV during daylight is no contest. 20 inch difference is significant but I can use the TV 24/7 and the size is more than enough in a 7m x 7m room. Watching anything from normal tv, movies, Rugby to F1 on 4k is unreal.
I've now got a 100 inch mini led TV and couldn't be happier, the brightness of the TV during daylight is no contest. 20 inch difference is significant but I can use the TV 24/7 and the size is more than enough in a 7m x 7m room. Watching anything from normal tv, movies, Rugby to F1 on 4k is unreal.
onny said:
Unless you have no windows in the room, whatever you do, get a TV and not a projector. I had a decent projector and screen but don't use it very much unless at night because of having windows in the room. During the daylight its useless.
Good point, thanksWent into Richer Sounds the other day to buy a Ruark radio, they have a demo room for hifi & home cinema etc. They guy said they would be happy to come round my house and view my living room, advise on some options, and then they'd be prepared to set up any of the options in their demo room for me to sample. That's good service.
The Gauge said:
onny said:
Unless you have no windows in the room, whatever you do, get a TV and not a projector. I had a decent projector and screen but don't use it very much unless at night because of having windows in the room. During the daylight its useless.
Good point, thanksWent into Richer Sounds the other day to buy a Ruark radio, they have a demo room for hifi & home cinema etc. They guy said they would be happy to come round my house and view my living room, advise on some options, and then they'd be prepared to set up any of the options in their demo room for me to sample. That's good service.
This had the added advantage of being sound deadening/non reflective as well as being a dark colour and blackout.
Windows not a problem.
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