Hey Guys
I am looking to put together a semi-decent atmos setup in my new apartment (in Bangalore) in the next few months. This will be clubbed with an OLED TV (55" or 65), a FireTV stick for streaming (I might upgrade to a AppleTV 4K later) and will also support a PS5 for gaming.
The room
- The room is just <2ft (12ft x 16ft) with 10-11ft of viewing distance
- It's a fairly symmetrical shape, although with a french window and no-wall on the left and right, which makes adding dedicated surrounds in a 7.1.x setup difficult/meaningless
- Since the interiors are yet to be done, cable concealing and speaker placement can be handled right away
Usage
- Primary will be Streaming across Prime Video, Netflix, Hotstar etc.
- Would like to start dedicated 4K BluRay movie viewing
- Gaming via the PS5
- Occasional music
Current Shortlist
- Main 5.1 Speakers- Wharfedale DX-2 5.1 HT Package
- Will be able to source this for ~₹36k from UK (post the pandemic travel restrictions etc get relaxed)
- AVR- Denon AVR-X2700H
- Getting it for <70k currently locally with warranty
- Atmos Ceiling Speakers- Polk Audio RC60i pair or the Q-Acoustics Q165C pair
- Getting a pretty good deal on both (priced similar/lower than UK/US) with the Q165C around 2k more expensive than the RC60i
The above (plus the accessories like wiring/plugs etc) should keep
my budget well south of ₹1.5L, which is my cap.
Questions
- The fundamental question - Does the overall setup look good? Any advice on changes here? Will the wharfedales work well with the rest?
- Is there any sense in waiting further to buy the AVR? I did read in many posts in the forum that the prices right now are exorbitant for AVRs, and are expected to drop a few months later. Did not find a reference for the lower price though. If it would be a matter of 2-3k only, I might as well buy it now to ensure my interiors and cable planning is accurate
- Which one would be better between the RC60i v/s the Q165C? The price difference is just 2k, though I have not been able to find any good comparisons. Since COVID and lockdowns restrict the option to audition, wanted some advice here
- I was planning to get 14-Gauge wiring for the entire setup. Is this overkill for such a small room?
- Would a 65" TV be overkill in this setup? The cost difference is significant, but I have received mixed inputs around 65" being better for the big-cinema-viewing experience
Thanks in advance!
That's such a well-thought out set-up.
Am also in around the same stage as you on a similar process, so to answer your questions:
1. Tasty! I have read up so much, listened to a few, and juggled so many permutations. I think you have nailed it in terms for best bang-for-budget.
2. The best I price I could see for the X2700 is 65K. There are two views about AVR pricing, which I have seen on this forum. The first is correct, and having followed the trends for a few months in this lockdown, I can ascertain it is factual - AVR prices are at some serious mark-up these days. The second view, which is also something I read in this same forum, is -- citing trade sources -- that the prices are going to go up further north. You should be able to find that poster if you search in one of the denon or AVR forums or even with a simple search of keywords -- 2700 3700 trader/retailer. Now, I still haven't seen prices move up in any of the online sites I keep checking ever so often. Just in case it is true, it is totally up to your judgment.
3. I personally haven't still made up my mind on this for my set up, but the Polks are definitely one of the options. So, can't comment further.
4. Here again, it is only theoretical knowledge, but this is also where things start getting really, really interesting - I am firmly in the '14-gauge is the safest bet' for any room side of this debate . In the sense that, you can't go wrong. (Attaching something I was reading last night. Please go through that.) The line I took away from the attachment is that cables sure won't boost performance, but they definitely can kill performance. For my setup, I would go for Mediabridge most likely. Many FMs here say the finolex ones are damn good also. Since you are in Bangalore, you should have a lot of options. My suggestion would be to stick to a good, reliable 14-gauge.
5. This question, I am extremely well equipped to answer.
I have just come back after watching 55in from about 7 feet-ish, and it was truly so-so. The 65-inch Oled, however, was much better from 7-8 feet-ish. I came back from the showroom wishing I could afford a good 75-in Oled for my viewing distance (around 7-8 feet)
So, again, since you live in Bangalore -- and I envy you for this -- and have a room that is 16 feet long with a viewing distance of 11-ft, you should easily be able to wrangle an Epson TW9400+100-inch screen for the price of a good 65-inch TV.
Trust this was helpful and wishing you all the best on your HT journey. Enjoy the process. Have fun.