New Home Theatre Setup

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surferguy

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#195348 17-Apr-2016 00:34

Hi all,

I'm part way through building a new house and have pretty much sussed out my AV setup.

So far this is how it will work:

HDBaseT Matrix will distribute video around the house via Cat6/HDMI and into receiver in media room (done)
Nuvo Essentia multi-room audio system will distribute audio around the house to ceiling speakers and into receiver in media room to amplify for home theatre (in progress)
Speakers for HT room are 2x Polk Audio 265-RT,1x 266C-RT around TV as below and a pair of Polk Audio RC80i in the ceiling plus external sub

Below are the drawings of the finished setup.

Two questions I need some advice on:

What receiver would you recommend for the home theatre? It's only 5.1 at this stage but will likely wire some rears in case I want to add them in future, so should be 7.1 and capable of running the above speakers for home theatre use. Im not an audiophile and don't want to go crazy but still want a decent sound.
Where would you recommend ceiling speakers are placed in the room below?

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#1534196 17-Apr-2016 06:33

What's your initial budget?

Are ceiling speakers planned to be used for Atmos and DTS:X?

If so (and I think they should be), you want a receiver that supports both Atmos and DTS:X (or has planned firmware upgrade support for DTS:X).

The next questions is do you want 2 speakers or 4 speakers in the ceiling? refer below for Atmos

re placement

Atmos guidelines:

http://www.dolby.com/in/en/guide/dolby-atmos-speaker-setup/index.html

DTS:X

Quick google couldn't find anything, but i recall dts:x saying it didn't matter where you put the height speakers, so maybe just follow atmos guidelines.

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timmmay

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#1534197 17-Apr-2016 07:06

You said "It's only 5.1 at this stage but will likely wire some rears in case I want to add them in future, so should be 7.1 and capable of running the above speakers for home theatre use"

My understanding is 5.1 includes rear speakers. My 5.1 setup definitely does. You'll have left, right, center, where are you planning on putting the other two speakers?

billgates

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#1534302 17-Apr-2016 10:35

You are or have spent a lot of $$$ on the WHA (Whole Home Audio) solution with Nuvo Essentia. I would cancel that and buy a good quality multi zone amp from the likes of Dayton Audio below shipped from US. Buy 6 x Chromecast Audio from a retailer in NZ. Connect the Chromecast Audio with Dayton Audio amp and for less than half price of Nuvo Essentia, you have a WHA solution that is far more flexible and cheaper.

http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-ma1260-multi-zone-12-channel-amplifier-60wpc--300-8150?AID=1457483&PID=6155355&SID=in3pa9hoyy00s3dy0005c

Don't cheap out on receivers or speakers ideally. Luckily you can get some really good speakers now for cheap.

I would cancel the in ceilings Polk for HT and buy either SVS Prime Satellites package below that comes with a subwoofer or Elac Debut B6 x 4 and 1 x C5 Centre. Either of these speakers brand are a hell of a lot nicer sounding than the Polk. To aviod sound leak issues, you want to avoid in walls as well.

http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/svs-prime-satellite-5-1.html

http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/elac-debut-b6-bookshelfs.html

http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/elac-debut-c5-centre-speaker.html

As for a receiver, the new Anthem MRX 720 is good value for what it offers. 11.2 Pre-Amp ready with 7CH amp included so future proof and supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The ARC sound correction is also damn nice with the new MRX models and simple to setup. It also suports 4K @ 60fps with HDMI 2.0a and HDCP 2.2. The $$$ you save from Nuvo Essentia can be spent here.

If you want a good 5.1 or 7.1 solution, avoid in ceiling or in wall speakers. Even if you decide to go Atmos or DTS:X, you do not have to install in ceiling speakers. You can buy something like a pair of extra SVS Prime Satellites and mount them facing down with a wall bracket. Remember the bigger the hole you cut, the more sound leaks from that room's walls.

http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/anthem-mrx-720-11-2-pre-amplifier-7-amplifier-channel-receiver.html

As for ceiling speakers for WHA you can save even more $$$ and get Monoprice speakers for rooms like below. They sound really good. The price below is for a pair in USD$$.

http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=4104

http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=4929

Which brand and model HDBaseT matrix have you purchased or looked at buying?

Do whatever you want to do man.

Dunnersfella

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#1534331 17-Apr-2016 12:10

For a 5.1 or 7.1 amplifier, you have a multitude of choices.

To improve your sound, try moving the couch forward somewhat (if possible) so you're not slammed hard up against the back wall. Apart from that, you look to have a fairly 'standard' setup.

Speaker placement-wise, head to Dolby's website and check out their recommendations.

If you can't follow them to the letter, don't worry as the amplifiers room correction will help compensate automatically. Oddly enough, the Anthem linked to above will not measure the distances between the listener and the speaker, or the speaker phase - but pretty much every other system on the market will.

Talkiet

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#1534333 17-Apr-2016 12:13

Apart from decent speakers, the best thing I ever did for my HT system was get a projector. It transforms the experience. I don't give a hoot that a big TV is sharper or has 4x as many pixels, a projector makes you feel like you're at the movies in a way that no panel can (That costs less than a decent car).

FWIW I scoffed at the above advice before I got a projector as well.

Oh, I have a TV as well, and a screen that is motorised and comes down out of the ceiling when the projector is turned on.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

surferguy

15 posts

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#1534336 17-Apr-2016 12:29

Thanks for the feedback.

Hadnt thought about going Atmos but something I will consider now. The only thing is I cant spend bucketloads on the receiver, 2k max. Any thoughts on something like Pioneer VSX1130? http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/pioneer-vsx-1130-k-7-2-channel-av-receiver.html

I definitely want to go with inwalls to save space as its not a huge room, and to make the whole setup fairly invisible. They might not perform as well as bookshelves but as I said Im not an audiophile just want a decent home theatre experience. The front Polk 265-RTs and 255-RT are purchased but havnt purchased the ceiling speakers yet, I was going to go with the RC80i as read they are timbre matched for the RTs and perform well for the price. Have read lots of good reviews about the 265/255 inwalls as performing well for the price (I imported them for half the price of what they are in NZ).

The speaker setup currently is 3 fronts and 2 ceilings, but as I said I would wire for 2 rears as well so could go with the recommended 5.1.2 ceiing setup (http://www.dolby.com/in/en/guide/dolby-atmos-speaker-setup/5-1-2-setups.html). In that case I would need 2x rear speakers so open to suggestions here... I havnt budgeted for any further speakers so they need to be affordable.

The Nuvo Essentia is already purchased (again imported for half the NZ price), mainly to easily switch audio in different rooms and control it via RS232, but also because I want inwall control panels . I'm going to connect a Sonos to it so can use the Sonos app for audio but then can also switch speakers to the TV audio from the various sources which are all centrally located. I got a 4x4 HDBaseT matrix off Alibaba to switch the video which works really well.

Rikkitic

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#1534340 17-Apr-2016 12:40

timmmay:

You said "It's only 5.1 at this stage but will likely wire some rears in case I want to add them in future, so should be 7.1 and capable of running the above speakers for home theatre use"

My understanding is 5.1 includes rear speakers. My 5.1 setup definitely does. You'll have left, right, center, where are you planning on putting the other two speakers?

My (very old) Yamaha amp has connections for presence speakers near the front and rear speakers as well as surround speakers. I don't think you can have too many speaker cables front and rear these days, especially if you want to future-proof.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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Dunnersfella

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#1534342 17-Apr-2016 12:43

If you're looking to go ATMOS, make sure your amp will actually be updated to DTS:X in the future.

If the AV industry is anything to go by, many brands will claim an update is coming, but simply never update their amps and try to sweep things under the carpet.

Sound harsh?

Then why haven't the updates happened already?

Denon, Marantz and Yamaha are the only ones to have followed through on their promises - why no one else?

Re: ATMOS speakers, I'd certainly look into the Polk's that allow you to angle the tweeter towards the listening position.

Or, ideally, find a speaker that can angle the driver too.

The biggest question is...

Will the HD Base-T play nicely with whatever amp / TV selection you end up with?

Nudibranch

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#1534412 17-Apr-2016 14:47

How do people here feel about the Onkyo receivers?

Pretty happy with mine, It's an old 709 but will likely consider Onkyo again when coming to upgrade.

The new ones coming out look pretty interesting and the sound is pretty sweet.

App works well and works well with a few third party remote apps too.

Should fit into your budget. www.avalon.co.nz

Talkiet

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#1534450 17-Apr-2016 16:35

Nudibranch:

How do people here feel about the Onkyo receivers?

Pretty happy with mine, It's an old 709 but will likely consider Onkyo again when coming to upgrade.

The new ones coming out look pretty interesting and the sound is pretty sweet.

App works well and works well with a few third party remote apps too.

Should fit into your budget. www.avalon.co.nz

Onkyo - leaders in terms of features for price. Sound good.

Dodgy history of reliability - over several generations of amps they clearly valued features and power above good design and reliability. Lots of fried HDMI daughterboards from overheating.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

richms

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#1534457 17-Apr-2016 17:08

Onkyo is crazy hot I found. Even playing nothing, it will get hot enough that cat's love to sleep on it. Have to turn it off when not using it because it sucks as much power as everything else combined just sitting there idle.

The sooner they abandon the antique power supply and amplifier designs in something that is supposed to be high tech the better.

Richard rich.ms

Dunnersfella

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#1534468 17-Apr-2016 17:37

Rumour has it, they'll be utilising the Pioneer Class-D amplification in their new top-of-the-line models for 2016.

Hopefully they put MCAAC on-board too, as the Onkyo room EQ software is amongst the worst around... not that I necessarily rate MCAAC, it's just that Onkyo's effort is um, sub-par.

timmmay

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#1534469 17-Apr-2016 17:37

I have two fans for my onkyo - one sitting on top drawing air out, one on the cabinet sucking air out. It's been reliable, but before that it got super hot. If I had to buy another I'd probably consider an Onkyo if they've fixed the heat problem.

DaveB

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#1534528 17-Apr-2016 19:08

What size monitor / TV screen are you using?

Although we have since moved, we learnt the hard way that a "Home Theatre" is only as good as the size of the screen on a cold winter night. Audio is as important, but can easily overtake the room if the video falls somewhat behind.

Camden

115 posts

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#1534532 17-Apr-2016 19:16

We have two HT set ups, one in the lounge and one in the games room. Generally speaking most of the main brands of amps will do the job providing you choose one of the range available with the specification that you need.

Both our setups are 5.1 The lounge has a Yamaha 7.1 amp , model RX-V 1075 running through a pair of Monitor Audio L & R speakers and a B&W centre. The rears are in ceiling B&W and the sub is an Onkyo. Bit of a mix of speaker

brands but bought seperately over the years.Overall the sound is very good. If you put a "block buster" type video on the amp/speakers can handle a decent volume very well with no distortion. I find that the rear ceiling speakers are

more than adequate for the job. For just music listening I switch to sterio only.

The other setup is based on a Onkyo TX-SR507 amp running through a set of floor standing Mission speakers for L&R,a Mission centre and two Mission bookshelf speakers wall mounted on swivel brackets for the rear. Again this system

has performed well and we find the sound pleasant to listen to.

Both amps have performed faultlessly since purchase. The Yamaha is two years old and the Onkyo is now five years old. Through upgrading over the years,this is the third Onkyo I've had and all of them have performed well with no

problems. The only problem i've had with Onkyo is an early CD player that continually had problems with it's lazer and after about ten years I binned it.( Can you remember when $2000 was common to buy a CD player! )

It looks like the in wall front speakers have are being incorporated to achive a clean design. In wall and in ceiling speakers would be a no-no to the purist but the quaiilty of todays speakers for the average person the sound should be

very enjoyable. I have a pair of B&W in wall speakers in the kitchen running off the Yamaha and I listen to classic or jazz through them at reasonable volume and again,they do the job well.

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