[sy19]

Hi All,

Probably tired of answering this question, but I'll try to make it specific to me...

Just bought a nice LG OLED B8 for the master bedroom, which is about 15x15, roughly square.

I'm not a huge sound guy, and don't know much about it, but I've been toying with the idea of installing something, since we are just using the TV speakers now.

I'm thinking of a budget of about $1,000 max, since it's a small-ish room, my wife and I don't think much about sound as is, and we live in a row house, so don't want to blow out with something that will piss off the neighbors.

For a while I was just thinking of grabbing the new Vizio HTIB, maybe the higher end version that's $899 or so with the wireless sub and two satellite speakers.

However, I've also seen a few Youtube's and articles about simply putting together my own 5.1. It seems I could get much better sound, but possibly miss out on the Atmos features that a more expensive soundbar set would feature. This would be a cheap-ish Denon/Onkyo receiver, some Dayton speakers, maybe the Monoprice set (they even have an Atmos setup, but the installation seems a bit intimidating).

What does everyone recommend in this case? I'm open to learning and hearing about other options I haven't explored.

Cheers

 

[Otto Pylot]

Hi All,

Probably tired of answering this question, but I'll try to make it specific to me...

Just bought a nice LG OLED B8 for the master bedroom, which is about 15x15, roughly square.

I'm not a huge sound guy, and don't know much about it, but I've been toying with the idea of installing something, since we are just using the TV speakers now.

I'm thinking of a budget of about $1,000 max, since it's a small-ish room, my wife and I don't think much about sound as is, and we live in a row house, so don't want to blow out with something that will piss off the neighbors.

For a while I was just thinking of grabbing the new Vizio HTIB, maybe the higher end version that's $899 or so with the wireless sub and two satellite speakers.

However, I've also seen a few Youtube's and articles about simply putting together my own 5.1. It seems I could get much better sound, but possibly miss out on the Atmos features that a more expensive soundbar set would feature. This would be a cheap-ish Denon/Onkyo receiver, some Dayton speakers, maybe the Monoprice set (they even have an Atmos setup, but the installation seems a bit intimidating).

What does everyone recommend in this case? I'm open to learning and hearing about other options I haven't explored.

Cheers

I wouldn't recommend the Vizio HTiB. Vizio is not known for making quality audio equipment. You would be better off looking at an HTiB from Yamaha, Denon, or Onkyo. Just make sure that it is not an integrated system. IOW one that doesn't have a built-in BD player. Typically those have a passive sub (derives its power from the receiver) so you just won't get the range and definition that you would get from a separate, active sub (has its own power supply). If wireless is important then your options are limited. Keep in mind that wireless is only wireless in that the side speakers are not physically connected to the receiver, but they are connected to each other so they will need a power source.

Ideally separates are the way to go. I would decide what you want in a receiver first and then see if you can find a refurb. Once you have that, or at least know what you are going to get, go to the Speakers Forum, mention what receiver you have and your price point for speakers and see what the recommendations are.

 

[golfster]

I wouldn't recommend the Vizio HTiB. Vizio is not known for making quality audio equipment. You would be better off looking at an HTiB from Yamaha, Denon, or Onkyo. Just make sure that it is not an integrated system. IOW one that doesn't have a built-in BD player. Typically those have a passive sub (derives its power from the receiver) so you just won't get the range and definition that you would get from a separate, active sub (has its own power supply). If wireless is important then your options are limited. Keep in mind that wireless is only wireless in that the side speakers are not physically connected to the receiver, but they are connected to each other so they will need a power source.

Ideally separates are the way to go. I would decide what you want in a receiver first and then see if you can find a refurb. Once you have that, or at least know what you are going to get, go to the Speakers Forum, mention what receiver you have and your price point for speakers and see what the recommendations are.

I agree^^^

For example, with the Yamaha YHT-5920UBL Home Theater in a Box, you get their RX-V479 receiver that is a fine receiver in itself and can be used in the future if you decide to upgrade the speakers. The whole system will be well under budget and be a simple way to get your feet wet. For $1000, you can probably do better by picking and choosing. Speakers are a personal thing and you really have to listen to find a sound you like.

 

[Otto Pylot]

I agree^^^

For example, with the Yamaha YHT-5920UBL Home Theater in a Box, you get their RX-V479 receiver that is a fine receiver in itself and can be used in the future if you decide to upgrade the speakers. The whole system will be well under budget and be a simple way to get your feet wet. For $1000, you can probably do better by picking and choosing. Speakers are a personal thing and you really have to listen to find a sound you like.

Yeah. My first sound system was a Yamaha HTiB and it has performed very well for quite a few years now. Never an issue. It's still in use with the downstairs HTS and the LG LCD. Still sounds great for what it is along with the 1080 LCD. That's why I went with Yamaha receiver when I was building the HTS upstairs with the 65 C8. Speakers are Aperion and the sub is Emotiva. An ATV4k and a UHD/BD player top the system off. A modest system but does the job extremely well and sounds great.

 

[sy19]

Quick, copious, useful advice all around. Thanks much.

From the responses I've grabbed a few themes...correct me if I'm wrong -

1. If HTiB, buy a "well known" brand that has a history in sound.
2. That said, if I'm buying a HTiB for the receiver, might make more sense, with my budget, to just buy a nice receiver and separate speakers/sub.
3. Considering #1 /#2, the 5.1 with separate components (and higher quality sound) is more important than HTiB/soundbar Atmos features that are offered at a reasonable price?

Finally - my one concern with separate pieces is the wiring, since I'm not super interested in wiring behind drywall. Is the best option in that case to just run along floorboards, and does the distance of the run matter?

Thanks again!

 

[Otto Pylot]

1- definitely
2 - I’m not a fan of soundbars but they do have their place if you have budget and/or space constraints. Atmos? You’d really be better off with an Atmos-capable receiver and the extra speakers.

Wiring is easy if you can hide it along the baseboard. To push 8 ohms up to 30’ I’d use AWG16 wiring. I have a link to a nice wiring explanation that I’ll post later if you want (I’m waiting for my pizza and beer right now 😉).

EDIT: good pizza and beer. Here's the link: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

 

[sy19]

1- definitely
2 - I’m not a fan of soundbars but they do have their place if you have budget and/or space constraints. Atmos? You’d really be better off with an Atmos-capable receiver and the extra speakers.

Wiring is easy if you can hide it along the baseboard. To push 8 ohms up to 30’ I’d use AWG16 wiring. I have a link to a nice wiring explanation that I’ll post later if you want (I’m waiting for my pizza and beer right now 😉).

EDIT: good pizza and beer.

Thanks for the link. I'll have a read this weekend since it looks to be just about 800 pages!!!

I'm thinking maybe the best path forward is, per the advice here, grab a receiver (Onkyo TX-NR585 maybe), and head over to the speaker section for some recs for relatively inexpensive ones. Suppose I need to trust you all in that the extra effort will be worth it, even for a newb with a low budget and minimal sound requirements/expectations, instead of a soundbar or HTiB.

Cheers.

 

[Otto Pylot]

1- definitely
2 - I’m not a fan of soundbars but they do have their place if you have budget and/or space constraints. Atmos? You’d really be better off with an Atmos-capable receiver and the extra speakers.

Wiring is easy if you can hide it along the baseboard. To push 8 ohms up to 30’ I’d use AWG16 wiring. I have a link to a nice wiring explanation that I’ll post later if you want (I’m waiting for my pizza and beer right now 😉).

EDIT: good pizza and beer.

Thanks for the link. I'll have a read this weekend since it looks to be just about 800 pages!!!

I'm thinking maybe the best path forward is, per the advice here, grab a receiver (Onkyo TX-NR585 maybe), and head over to the speaker section for some recs for relatively inexpensive ones. Suppose I need to trust you all in that the extra effort will be worth it, even for a newb with a low budget and minimal sound requirements/expectations, instead of a soundbar or HTiB.

Cheers.

There is a lot of good stuff in that link but you can always just skip to the wiring chart to give you an idea of wire gauge, ohm rating, and distance. Keep in mind that it's always best to "interview" the speakers beforehand if possible because you can't just go on specs alone. Ultimately it's what sounds best to your ears, not what someone says you need to have.

Good speakers can make a mediocre receiver sound great, but bad speakers can make a great receiver sound mediocre.