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Feedback on newbie home theatre setup

1611 Views 19 Replies 6 Participants Last post by sigpig, Jul 13, 2021

Zenday

Discussion Starter · Jul 11, 2021 (Edited)

Hi, am a newbie to a proper home theatre setup. Request for feedback on the following 5.1.4 setup
Klipsch r-625fa for front channel
R-504c for center channel
R-5800w for L/R surround sound .
Cdt-5800 for in ceiling atmos
R-120sw subwoofer
Denon 3700h
Room dimensions 17w x 20d x 10h
I know is not the best timbre matching but I also read on this forum that should not matter much for movies , I am not using the setup for music.

What are your thoughts on this?
this setup was motivated by price . The whole setup was around 3k
I would have liked r8000f as front speakers but they are a bit expensive.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

Zorba922

· #2 · Jul 11, 2021

Zenday said:
Hi, am a newbie to a proper home theatre setup. Request for feedback on the following 5.1.4 setup
Klipsch r-625fa for front channel
R-504c for center channel
R-5800w for L/R surround sound .
Cdt-5800 for in ceiling atmos
R-120sw subwoofer
Denon 3700h

I know is not the best timbre matching but I also read on this forum that should not matter much for movies , I am not using the setup for music.

What are your thoughts on this?
this setup was motivated by price .
I would have liked r8000f as front speakers but they are a bit expensive.

Yes you are correct, "timbre matching" is a fantasy unicorn for HT. However, your overall system has some very questionable allocation of resources.

Your are outrageously overpaying for those in-ceiling speakers and in-walls ... $439 apiece for speakers that will be doing a lousy 10-20% of the output is an incredibly poor investment, esp. since you're sticking yourself with a craptastic $200 subwoofer .

The R625A for $520/pr at Adorama is not a bad deal but keep your expectations very very low on the built-in upfiring module, it's just a stupid marketing gimmick.

The 504C center is the best decision in the whole proposed setup. However, you can get the 95% identical RP-450C center from Crutchfield for a lot less ($400).

Keep in mind that the center does 60-80% of the total HT output, so big hulking towers like the RP-8000F are completely unnecessary for HT use.

Have you ever heard or owned Klipsch speakers before?

Reactions: 1

Zenday

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 11, 2021

Thank you for the reply. The way mu room setup is in need in wall speakers for side surrounds .
the Following is the cost breakdown
$500 for 625fa pair
$370 for R5800 pair
$410 for cdt 5800 pair
$400 for rp504c
$300 for r-120sw
I couldn’t find any better deal than this .
yeah I have heard of klipsch but never experience it properly other than Best Buy and Costco setup .
I don’t have an option for surround bookshelf speakers

Zorba922

· #4 · Jul 11, 2021

Ok, so I'd keep the 504C and 625FA if you have a strong VISUAL preference for towers up front.

For your in-walls and in-ceilings, those Klipsch 5800s are availabe from Amazon for $225/pr & $230/pr

If you have a medium sized room (let's say, 15 x 20' enclosed) I'd get a decent $600 sub like an SVS PB1000 Pro; if you your room is part of an open plan where it opens up to adjacent spaces, I'd get a pair of those. Unless you seldom/never watch big budget action movies, in which case the R120SW is $200 at Best Buy (but goes on sale for $180 at Costco I think).

Zenday said:
Thank you for the reply. The way mu room setup is in need in wall speakers for side surrounds .
the Following is the cost breakdown
$500 for 625fa pair
$370 for R5800 pair
$410 for cdt 5800 pair
$400 for rp504c
$300 for r-120sw
I couldn’t find any better deal than this .
yeah I have heard of klipsch but never experience it properly other than Best Buy and Costco setup .
I don’t have an option for surround bookshelf speakers

Reactions: 1

Lp85253

· #5 · Jul 11, 2021

Go for the good sub... There is no substitute for good bass in an ht set up...

Kini62

· #6 · Jul 12, 2021

Zenday said:
Thank you for the reply. The way mu room setup is in need in wall speakers for side surrounds .
the Following is the cost breakdown
$500 for 625fa pair
$370 for R5800 pair
$410 for cdt 5800 pair
$400 for rp504c
$300 for r-120sw
I couldn’t find any better deal than this .
yeah I have heard of klipsch but never experience it properly other than Best Buy and Costco setup .
I don’t have an option for surround bookshelf speakers

"Keep in mind that the center does 60-80% of the total HT output, so big hulking towers like the RP-8000F are completely unnecessary for HT use."

Completely wrong and terrible advice.

Reactions: 1

Zorba922

· #7 · Jul 12, 2021

Kini62 said:
"Keep in mind that the center does 60-80% of the total HT output, so big hulking towers like the RP-8000F are completely unnecessary for HT use."

Completely wrong and terrible advice.

Keep saying that, so you'll feel better about buying your big hulking towers.

(Actually the Q750s aren't really THAT big and hulking, that would've been the Q950s.)

Garet Jax

· #8 · Jul 12, 2021 (Edited)

Personally, I think you spent too much on the AVR, the Atmos speakers and the Klipsch and not enough on the LCR and sub.

If it's me and I have $3000, I spend it on:

Emotiva C2+ $400
Denon S750H $400 or less from Costco (got mine for $350 shipped on special)
JBL 580 $399 X 2 = $800 (they run specials every 6 weeks or so)
HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer $939
KEF Q150 Pair $400 Rear Surround

This is just under $3000, but gets you into a great sub and best of breed speakers for your 5. You forego Atmos, but IMO it cost you too much to do given the value it provides. Even with a budget of $4000, I still don't get a Deon X3700H for atmos. I might get a second sub.

Kini62

· #9 · Jul 12, 2021

Zorba922 said:
Keep saying that, so you'll feel better about buying your big hulking towers.

(Actually the Q750s aren't really THAT big and hulking, that would've been the Q950s.)

Part of your problem is you confuse 60-80% of dialogue with total output. The mains do at least 50% most likely more of the total output for most any type of movie/TV show other than a one person monologue without a musical score.

Reactions: 1

Zenday

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 12, 2021

Thank you for your input . At this point I feel comfortable to stick with the klipsch system . Svs subwoofer is a upgrade to what I have at this time . Also Best Buy doesn’t have r120sw for any discount . At tis time of writing this reply , the price I got the system for is the cheapest .
Thank you tor clarifying about the center and front side Channels .
I have never had a receiver and 9 channel seems the minimum I would need for a 5.1.4 system . Between the denon, yamaha and sony on this forum reviews , I was leaning in the denon 3700 for the price and features in the same class and quality .
The previous sound system I had was a Bose cinemate 15 so this is totally a new area of setup for me .

Reactions: 2

Zorba922

· #11 · Jul 12, 2021

Kini62 said:
Part of your problem is you confuse 60-80% of dialogue with total output. The mains do at least 50% most likely more of the total output for most any type of movie/TV show other than a one person monologue without a musical score.

No, the center does at least half of the FRONT sound effects and theme music AS WELL AS at least 90% of the dialogue.

Even the most FX-heavy action movies are still mostly dialogue most of the time (in between car chases, shootouts and explosions).

A very simple way to verify this is to simply disconnect the center speaker while keeping the receiver in 5.1 mode ... you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.

YOUR problem is that you simply want to validate whatever you have on hand. A few years ago when you owned Klipsch speakers you constantly got all huffy and defensive whenever anyone described Klipsch as being overly "bright" ... now that you've gotten rid of them you occasionally say the exact same thing about them.

Reactions: 1

Zorba922

· #12 · Jul 12, 2021

Zenday said:
Thank you for your input . At this point I feel comfortable to stick with the klipsch system . Svs subwoofer is a upgrade to what I have at this time . Also Best Buy doesn’t have r120sw for any discount . At tis time of writing this reply , the price I got the system for is the cheapest .
Thank you tor clarifying about the center and front side Channels .
I have never had a receiver and 9 channel seems the minimum I would need for a 5.1.4 system . Between the denon, yamaha and sony on this forum reviews , I was leaning in the denon 3700 for the price and features in the same class and quality. The previous sound system I had was a Bose cinemate 15 so this is totally a new area of setup for me .

Well, are you ONLY able to purchase from Best Buy? Do you have a bunch of BB gift cards or something?

One good thing about BB is that they will price match Amazon and possibly Crutchfield, if you show them a link of an identical product on sale for less that is in stock.

No offense, but it does not require any massive outlay of cash to easily surpass a Bose system. It most certainly does not require a $1300 receiver if that comes at the expense of far better-ROI components of your system such as the subwoofer(s). If you need to, I would hold off on the Atmos speakers for now in order to do so.

Reactions: 1

Zorba922

· #13 · Jul 12, 2021

@Zenday

If you haven't already, I'd strongly encourage you to go out and listen to an actual Atmos setup for yourself to see if it really warrants the financial investment, especially given the fact that there are STILL relatively small amounts of native Atmos content available after all these years. Of course the audio industry loves to hype it up, since it results in consumers buying more speakers and more expensive receivers that can drive more channels.

I went out and listened to a $10K Atmos setup a while back, with proper in-ceiling speakers and all the goodies. Heard the opening scenes of "Mad Max Fury Road," "Guardians of the Galaxy," and the whole Dolby Atmos demo BR disk. Was very underwhelmed....just seemed incredibly trivial and gimmicky to me compared to a normal high quality 5.1 setup...all that trouble just to add a vertical dimension to the sound effects? ZZZZZZZZZZZ! But some folks do find it worthwhile---I just think it's best to let your own ears decide rather than leaping on the bandwagon blindly.

Also, bring along a favorite movie of yours that you've watched many times, that is NOT mixed in native Atmos. Have the shop use their receiver to "upmix" it into Atmos. This will give you a more accurate idea of what type of "Atmos" you'll actually be listening to most of the time, rather than an "Atmos" demo clip which is designed to sell the format.

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Reactions: 2

Kini62

· #14 · Jul 12, 2021

Zorba922 said:
No, the center does at least half of the FRONT sound effects and theme music AS WELL AS at least 90% of the dialogue.

Even the most FX-heavy action movies are still mostly dialogue most of the time (in between car chases, shootouts and explosions).

A very simple way to verify this is to simply disconnect the center speaker while keeping the receiver in 5.1 mode ... you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.

YOUR problem is that you simply want to validate whatever you have on hand. A few years ago when you owned Klipsch speakers you constantly got all huffy and defensive whenever anyone described Klipsch as being overly "bright" ... now that you've gotten rid of them you occasionally say the exact same thing about them.

The front stage has 3 speakers. The center does most of the dialogue but only 1/3 of the sound effects and music sometimes less. That means for most of the content the mains are doing at least 66% of the output sometimes more since some effects are not sent to the center channel. Here's a challenge for anyone. Watch a movie with a really good soundtrack both effects and music using just the LRs and then just with the center. No one would ever say that watching with just the center is better. There would be no soundstage at all. It would be like using a sound bar. Plus you've just reduced your efficiency by at least 3db probably more since most centers are not as efficient as "regular" speakers. That is unless they prescribed to your ridiculous notion that no one needs LR speakers with anything beyond a 4" driver since they don't contribute hardly anything to HT.

Here, copy and paste this into your signature. Fits you to a T-😆
“If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with ********.”

― W.C. Fields

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Zorba922

· #15 · Jul 12, 2021

Kini62 said:
The front stage has 3 speakers. The center does most of the dialogue but only 1/3 of the sound effects and music sometimes less.

1/3 of the fx & music? I call BS on that. Disconnect the center speaker during your favorite movie and tell me what's left. It's nowhere near the 2/3 you claim, that's a joke.

Zenday

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jul 13, 2021

Zorba922 said:
Well, are you ONLY able to purchase from Best Buy? Do you have a bunch of BB gift cards or something?

One good thing about BB is that they will price match Amazon and possibly Crutchfield, if you show them a link of an identical product on sale for less that is in stock.

No offense, but it does not require any massive outlay of cash to easily surpass a Bose system. It most certainly does not require a $1300 receiver if that comes at the expense of far better-ROI components of your system such as the subwoofer(s). If you need to, I would hold off on the Atmos speakers for now in order to do so.

Actually I did not purchase anything from Best Buy, the reference was for your earlier comment that we could get Klipsch R120sw for $200 at best buy which we dont get it for that price right now.
I agree with the Bose system not being in the same class.

A good 9 channel receiver which can atleast play 4K at 60fps ( not needed rn but just future proofing ) , is still in the 1K ball park currently , hopefully will get some good deals on them.
I have the connections for in-ceiling speakers and left and right in-wall surrounds, so was just trying to make the system complete by adding all the speakers.
Dont want to go the route of pro line speakers from klipsch as it doesnt look like its DIY.

Zenday

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 13, 2021

Zorba922 said:
@Zenday

If you haven't already, I'd strongly encourage you to go out and listen to an actual Atmos setup for yourself to see if it really warrants the financial investment, especially given the fact that there are STILL relatively small amounts of native Atmos content available after all these years. Of course the audio industry loves to hype it up, since it results in consumers buying more speakers and more expensive receivers that can drive more channels.

I went out and listened to a $10K Atmos setup a while back, with proper in-ceiling speakers and all the goodies. Heard the opening scenes of "Mad Max Fury Road," "Guardians of the Galaxy," and the whole Dolby Atmos demo BR disk. Was very underwhelmed....just seemed incredibly trivial and gimmicky to me compared to a normal high quality 5.1 setup...all that trouble just to add a vertical dimension to the sound effects? ZZZZZZZZZZZ! But some folks do find it worthwhile---I just think it's best to let your own ears decide rather than leaping on the bandwagon blindly.

Also, bring along a favorite movie of yours that you've watched many times, that is NOT mixed in native Atmos. Have the shop use their receiver to "upmix" it into Atmos. This will give you a more accurate idea of what type of "Atmos" you'll actually be listening to most of the time, rather than an "Atmos" demo clip which is designed to sell the format.

Thank You. Yes you are right not too much atmos content, but I have heard to a proper atmos setup at my colleagues 9K HT setup and was wowed by it. Granted my proposed setup wont come close to that but its a start and would be a leaps and bounds improvement from bose cinemate 15 I had.
My game room is a closed space rectangle in which I can control a good bit of sound stage with some amount of sound proofing.1917 movie had some nice atmos content which i was able to experience at my colleagues place and that motivated me to pursue atmos. There are bunch of good movies back from 2013 onwards that have some great atmos content as per his experience.
other than that I imagine gaming should also be fun like mordern warfare etc .

Zorba922

· #18 · Jul 13, 2021

Zenday said:
Actually I did not purchase anything from Best Buy, the reference was for your earlier comment that we could get Klipsch R120sw for $200 at best buy which we dont get it for that price right now.

Oops, Google gave me a link to the R100sw instead, which is on sale for $200.

Yeah right now the pandemic has really driven prices up up up on just about everything. Wanted to buy a new car but am holding off for at least another year at this point...

Reactions: 1

Zenday

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jul 13, 2021

Lp85253 said:
Go for the good sub... There is no substitute for good bass in an ht set up...

yes , passed on the klipsch and got the SVS PB-1000 pro

Reactions: 2

sigpig

· #20 · Jul 13, 2021

Zorba922 said:
Oops, Google gave me a link to the R100sw instead, which is on sale for $200.

Yeah right now the pandemic has really driven prices up up up on just about everything. Wanted to buy a new car but am holding off for at least another year at this point...

The global semi-conductor shortage really affects things, doesn't it?
As often as I can, I always buy demo models. They have to be in perfect condition, have all the maintnance and servicing done, and you get the exact same warranty starting on the first kilometre you drive - all for thousands less. Another option is a rental-company lease return. Most times they are only a year old...

Reactions: 2

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