Some doubts about my first non-HTIB purchase - help a fellow out.

[hashhar]

Hi,

I'm looking to build a 5.1 (for now) system which I plan to expand to 7.1.4 over time. My input sources are primarily going to be my desktop for games + BD movies, Fire TV Stick for Netflix/YouTube apps and bluetooth is good to have for phones or friends who'll visit.

Based on this I figured I need 11 channels and settled on Denon X3800H + a stereo amp to drive FR since the 3800H only has 9 amped channels. This is the only part of the system I'm confident about.

About my listening space:

10'x10' room - yes, square isn't ideal
near-field usage at ~4ft from center channel for music + games
movie usage at ~8ft from center channel

For the room size I read that there's almost no point in using tower speakers or a larger sub (like 10 or 12 inch subs).
So now I'm super confused about what speakers to get because I have no idea how they sound or whether they'd be too big for my room or not ideal for near-field music listening at the desk.

Another alternative I was considering was saving some money on speakers and adding a powered 2.1 setup as well for near-field but that sounds like a compromise on speaker quality.

Also I'm in Gurugram, any folks here in Delhi-NCR who would be kind enough for me to visit and see their HT setups to get a feel for it? I can bring food and drinks

 

[spirovious]

For the room size I read that there's almost no point in using tower speakers or a larger sub (like 10 or 12 inch subs).

With that room size, good bookshelf with 6 in driver can be a good choice. If still keeping towers in mind, then 5.5in driver based one can be considered. Now coming to the rest setup, if you are more into music then 5.1 can be skipped. But if you need a good home theater then can start with avr/speakers first and then add rest to the setup.

 

[sivakumars]

For that room size, I would suggest 5.1.4 or 5.2.4 with the atmos top middle and front height configuration. If you go for 7 bed channels, atleast there should be 3 feet gap from the surround back channels from your listening position for you to observe the difference. If you go for 5 bed channels, you can set your listening position close to the back wall and have the surround placed in the sides firing at your ears. This will save the cost for etc 2 channel amp and redirect the budget towards better speakers for LCR.

 

[hashhar]

Quick update. After a bit more reading here and elsewhere I know the following:

1. I should stick with 5.1.2 in the room size I have right now. 4 atmos would be good to have but the room dimension don't allow me to meet the Dolby recommended placement.

2. I'd go for sealed subs simply because of their smaller form factor. Looking at Polk HTS, REL models and SVB for now. Will audition them once I've decided my LCR.

3. I've made a list of dealers in NCR and have started demoing whatever they have. So far I know that I don't like Bowers & Wilkins tone. Polk, KEF and Monitor Audio I've heard and am ok with. I'll probably get towers as long as a bookshelf of same price doesn't sound better. So far I like Monitor Audio Silver and Bronze series towers.

4. Denon X3800H is going to be my AVR unless I can find a X4800H for similar price. The X4800 has much better heatsinks and so it should have an eaiser time in hot Delhi climate without AC.

I'll share the dealers list once I visit all of them and confirm which ones actually have demo options.

 

[hashhar]

Also I have some tips for people who might be auditioning speakers.

1. Music is much better to filter bad options from the beginning. Movies are very "busy" and have limited and predictable range of frequencies. E.g. Listening to music on B&W speakers immediately showed me that they felt very shrill for my taste. In earlier audition with movie scenes only I thought they were ok.

2. Pick some clips to test: treble (should not feel like it "hurts"), bass (bass guitar / drum machine music), stereo image (songs with panning across soundstage), clarity (lots of layered instruments / vocals) and "power" (songs with lot of energy).

3. Make sure to listen from different heights, sides to side movement and moving close and away from speakers. Some speakers are very very directional and sound is very bad off axis.

4. Test at both very low and normal volumes. Some speakers lose detail at very low volumes.

5. Check for distortion at high volumes specially with busy songs.

6. It's a good idea to preare a fixed Playlist of music and movie scenes to use for every demo and keep notes right when you demo things. You very quickly forget details about how something sounded. Also make sure you listen to speakers for some time, don't swicth between them very quickly and make sure volume is similar otherwise we tend to feel louder speaker = better.

 

[rwnano]

Focals try kijiye aap.