Please suggest 7.1 setup for 110 sq ft room

[rshri]

I intend to setup a 7.1 home theater in a small room when lockdown ends. Please suggest amplifier and speakers.

Room type - 10 ft X 11 ft. (closed from all sides)
Budget - Not fixed. Can easily spare around 1 to 1.5 lakhs for this.
Intended usage - Exclusively movies

One restriction is that I cannot wall-mount the speakers. I intend to mount them on stick-type speaker stands and place the stand at correct position manually whenever I watch the movies. I guess this means that I need light, satellite speakers.

Please advise!

 

[fLUX]

These are some of the package options

Speakers - Wharfedale 11.1 series / QAcoustics 3010i ( Priced around 80k to 1 Lakh)
Speakers- QAcoustics 3050i 5.1 package / Wharfedale 11.2 series (Priced around 1.5 lakh)

AVR -Yamaha RX-V685/ Denon X2600H For budget upto 60k
Yamaha RX-V585/Denon X1600H for budget upto 50k

If you are willing to go the used route , you wil get even better setups at the mentioned budget.

 

[rshri]

These are some of the package options

Speakers - Wharfedale 11.1 series / QAcoustics 3010i ( Priced around 80k to 1 Lakh)
Speakers- QAcoustics 3050i 5.1 package / Wharfedale 11.2 series (Priced around 1.5 lakh)

AVR -Yamaha RX-V685/ Denon X2600H For budget upto 60k
Yamaha RX-V585/Denon X1600H for budget upto 50k

If you are willing to go the used route , you wil get even better setups at the mentioned budget.

Thanks for the suggestions. I need some confirmations -
- It looks like these packages have floor standers? That may not do for me; I need light small speakers that I can mount on stick-type stands so that I can pick them and move them around as needed
- Aren't these packages "too powerful" for a small room like mine (10 ft by 11 ft)? I do not want to unnecessarily buy high-end equipment whose potential I cannot fully realize in my setup.
- My budget is not limited. So instead of packages should I buy discrete items like best sub, best center channel speaker and so on? (All of them suitable for small room)

 

[fLUX]

Thanks for the suggestions. I need some confirmations -
- It looks like these packages have floor standers? That may not do for me; I need light small speakers that I can mount on stick-type stands so that I can pick them and move them around as needed

Only the 3050i package has floor standers. All the other packages have bookshelf speakers which can be stand mounted.

- Aren't these packages "too powerful" for a small room like mine (10 ft by 11 ft)? I do not want to unnecessarily buy high-end equipment whose potential I cannot fully realize in my setup.

Even at moderate volumes these sets have very good dynamics and will work for the room size you have mentioned.

- My budget is not limited. So instead of packages should I buy discrete items like best sub, best center channel speaker and so on? (All of them suitable for small room)

Yes this would be a much better option then going for a set provided you are flexible on your budget since components cost more this way. I have gone this route and currently using Concept 20 as my Front LR , 3090i as my Center and 3020i as my Rear speakers. My sub is of a different system which i owned before, might upgrade in the future. My room size is 11 by 14 and i dont feel these are a overkill by any means so for your room size as well the above suggested components will not be an overkill (the 3010i set uses 3010i bookshelfs as front and rear LR ) and same holds true for the Wharefedale sets.
If you intend to go this way you might need to budget out seperately for individual components , as good subs i see being recommended here range 50k+ (REL/SVS so forth) on its own. Front LR and Rear LR will set you back by another 35-50k (Options mainly are from Qacoustics, Wharfedale and Dali) depending on which bookshelves you go for. A decent center will cost you upwards of 20k.

 

[rpmahale]

Considering the limited space it is better to go for wall mounted speakers than stand mounted speakers as stand will eat floor space. If it is possible for you to go for wall mounted speakers than you may get best home theater components and experience within your budget without sacrificing the room aesthetic . As now days auto calibration system takes care of speakers size, placement, distance etc , system calibration becomes hassle free and provides accurate results . Within your budget I may suggest Polk OWM5 as LCR and OWM3 as surround and Atmos with Denon x2600/Yamaha RX V685. You may be spare with sufficient budget to go for good subwoofer like Polk DSW Pro 550i. Polk OWM will provide you flexibility for different speaker mounting options and positions.
Elac Cinema 5 , JBL cinema 610, Klispch quintet, Def Tech ProCinema 600 etc may be another option with stick like stand option but you may need to pay for stands as it doesn't come with speakers packag. But this will be a compromise in overall movie watching experience. Q Acoustic 3020i may be good option but that will cost a bit more than your mentioned budget and again stands will cost extra.

 

[rshri]

Considering the limited space it is better to go for wall mounted speakers than stand mounted speakers as stand will eat floor space. If it is possible for you to go for wall mounted speakers than you may get best home theater components and experience within your budget without sacrificing the room aesthetic . As now days auto calibration system takes care of speakers size, placement, distance etc , system calibration becomes hassle free and provides accurate results . Within your budget I may suggest Polk OWM5 as LCR and OWM3 as surround and Atmos with Denon x2600/Yamaha RX V685. You may be spare with sufficient budget to go for good subwoofer like Polk DSW Pro 550i. Polk OWM will provide you flexibility for different speaker mounting options and positions.
Elac Cinema 5 , JBL cinema 610, Klispch quintet, Def Tech ProCinema 600 etc may be another option with stick like stand option but you may need to pay for stands as it doesn't come with speakers packag. But this will be a compromise in overall movie watching experience. Q Acoustic 3020i may be good option but that will cost a bit more than your mentioned budget and again stands will cost extra.

Thanks! I will look up the reviews/prices of options you have suggested.
My main issue with wall mounted speakers is running the cables along the corners. Permanently adding speaker wires runs on concrete walls will ruin the aesthetics of the small room. For example have a look at this picture of corner where FL speaker will go. I cant figure out how to permanently run speaker wire here cleanly. That's why thinking of getting speaker stand that I can move to this corner when watching movies

 

[rpmahale]

I also faced the same problem while making a concealed wiring for my HT set but ask my electrician friend to do it with minimal damage and he did it. It is one time hassle but you can have neat and clean wiring. Make sure to use double shilded high gauge good quality speaker wire. This is a one time problem which can be done once else you need to take care of running wire always which also ruine the aesthetic of room.

 

[rshri]

I also faced the same problem while making a concealed wiring for my HT set but ask my electrician friend to do it with minimal damage and he did it. It is one time hassle but you can have neat and clean wiring. Make sure to use double shilded high gauge good quality speaker wire. This is a one time problem which can be done once else you need to take care of running wire always which also ruine the aesthetic of room.

If possible, please post few pics of how you managed running and concealment of speaker wires.
In US people easily getaway by running wires behind the walls or under the carpet. For Indian homes its a real problem.

 

[haisaikat]

@rshri why do you need a 7.1 package for such a room size, this may be a overkill. In a 10 x 11 room your effective listening position will be even lesser and 5.1 is more than sufficient. I did 7.1 setup 9 years back and till date very limited titles that use 7.1 effectively even if marked 7.1 in audio.

If you still want to invest, go for 5.1.2 or 5.1.4 atmos setup. There can be ways of hanging from ceiling even if there is no false ceiling. And I agree to the other suggestion from @rpmahale that avoiding stands would be better. If you have flexibility of wires, buy ones (14 AWG for fronts and center and 16 AWG for others) that have some like color with your room texture.

 

[elangoas]

Room type - 10 ft X 11 ft. (closed from all sides) Budget - Not fixed. Can easily spare around 1 to 1.5 lakhs for this. Intended usage - Exclusively movies

5.1.2 set-up would be good.. A 7.2 capable AVR in the budget of 40 ~ 50K and the rest for speakers should get you there..

 

[rshri]

@rshri why do you need a 7.1 package for such a room size, this may be a overkill. In a 10 x 11 room your effective listening position will be even lesser and 5.1 is more than sufficient. I did 7.1 setup 9 years back and till date very limited titles that use 7.1 effectively even if marked 7.1 in audio.

If you still want to invest, go for 5.1.2 or 5.1.4 atmos setup. There can be ways of hanging from ceiling even if there is no false ceiling. And I agree to the other suggestion from @rpmahale that avoiding stands would be better. If you have flexibility of wires, buy ones (14 AWG for fronts and center and 16 AWG for others) that have some like color with your room texture.

5.1.2 set-up would be good.. A 7.2 capable AVR in the budget of 40 ~ 50K and the rest for speakers should get you there..

I agree. However I cant figure out how to place the speakers on ceiling. Then there is problem of running speaker wires to it. Maybe I should buy 5.1 for now and add Atmos speakers later when I am clearer on this.
Is Yamaha RX-V585 good enough for this plan (5.1 now and add .2 later)?

I am now seriously thinking of ways to make permanent speaker cable runs. Moving speaker stands every-time will be a drag.
Considering QAcoustics 3010i or 3050i (5.1) if I am able to make permanent wire speaker cable runs. Will get something lighter like Elac Cinema 5 otherwise to make it easier for me to move speakers mounted on stands.

Why is 3050i double the price of 3010i? If I understand correctly, the only difference is that front speakers are floor standers.

 

[jerryjames72]

I agree. However I cant figure out how to place the speakers on ceiling. Then there is problem of running speaker wires to it. Maybe I should buy 5.1 for now and add Atmos speakers later when I am clearer on this.
Is Yamaha RX-V585 good enough for this plan (5.1 now and add .2 later)?

I am now seriously thinking of ways to make permanent speaker cable runs. Moving speaker stands every-time will be a drag.
Considering QAcoustics 3010i or 3050i (5.1) if I am able to make permanent wire speaker cable runs. Will get something lighter like Elac Cinema 5 otherwise to make it easier for me to move speakers mounted on stands.

Why is 3050i double the price of 3010i? If I understand correctly, the only difference is that front speakers are floor standers.

Yes, Yamaha RX-V585 will be pretty good
I think you have mistaken 3010i for 3020i as -:
3010i has 4 inch woofer & Weighs 4.1 Kg each
3020i has 5 inch woofer & Weighs 5.5 Kg each
3050i has 2 x 6.5 inch woofer & Weighs 17.8 Kg each So it's not just a floorstanders & it's bass output is pretty good In FF6 the flip car vs BMW scene Brian's car flies on you that's the throw of the 3050i

Thanks & Regards
JJ

 

[Srinivasa Rao]

If possible, please post few pics of how you managed running and concealment of speaker wires.
In US people easily getaway by running wires behind the walls or under the carpet. For Indian homes its a real problem.

Please find attached snaps of my cable management.

 

[elangoas]

I agree. However I cant figure out how to place the speakers on ceiling. Then there is problem of running speaker wires to it.

If you don't have false ceiling, then get a regular, smaller BS which have the mounting capability at the rear.. Threaded inserts.. You can then use external brackets to fix them on ceiling..

Maybe I should buy 5.1 for now and add Atmos speakers later when I am clearer on this. Is Yamaha RX-V585 good enough for this plan (5.1 now and add .2 later)?

Defnetly 7.1 AVR is better, inside your budget..

 

[haisaikat]

I cant figure out how to place the speakers on ceiling. Then there is problem of running speaker wires to it.

There are many unconventional by easier ways if you search online. One such way is to run left to right wall hollow pipes and handing speakers from it.

Maybe I should buy 5.1 for now and add Atmos speakers later when I am clearer on this

I would recommend to buy an Atmos AVR even if your use it in 5.1 mode now. Typically 7 to 10 years these AVRs should run and an Atmos AVR would ensure that you do not have to consider upgrading sooner. If there is budget issue, wait for some more time and buy. You will gain in longer run.

 

[rshri]

Thank you guys! Now waiting for lockdown to be over to put plans to action!

 

[Srinivasa Rao]

Thank you guys! Now waiting for lockdown to be over to put plans to action!

So what have you finally decided with. As other forum members suggested, go with 7.2 AVR at least, Marantz 5014 or Denon 2600h. If limited budget, start with floor standers and center channel and build your set up over a period of time. All the best.

 

[rshri]

So what have you finally decided with. As other forum members suggested, go with 7.2 AVR at least, Marantz 5014 or Denon 2600h. If limited budget, start with floor standers and center channel and build your set up over a period of time. All the best.

Indeed, the plan is to start with 7. 2 AVR and 5.1 speakers. I would like to audition the speakers and AVR before deciding on brands, but it seems unlikely in current scenario even when lockdown ends. Most likely I will have to make blind online purchases - Yamaha and QAcoustics. Budget is not a problem, my only concern is asthetics, fesability and avoiding paying for unusable features.