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Need help with room setup

1164 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by taoggniklat, Feb 16, 2010

pwoL

Discussion Starter · Feb 12, 2010

So Im just getting into home audio, Ive been reading a bunch of threads over here and all that, but I was looking for some help specific to my situation.

So here is a mspaint drawing of my bedroom lol, the tv is a Samsung LN37B650

red box is the general area of where I watch the tv from.

- Is a 5.1 system ok for this size room? or is it rather small room for a 5.1?

- Is where I watch tv from a problem? I hear that having a system where youre viewing position is against the wall presents some problems.

Right now Im looking to get a home theater in a box, thinking of getting a SONY HT-SS360 (looking at the ONKYO HT-S3200 aswell) I dont mind spending some more $ though. I know buying everything separately is the way to go but Im not ready to do that yet.

I love the tv and watch bluray movies all the time, and want a decent home theater system to make the experience even better. Ill keep researching, and Id appreciate any advice / comments. Thanks

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Wayne A. Pflughaupt

· #2 · Feb 12, 2010

Quote:
- Is a 5.1 system ok for this size room? or is it rather small room for a 5.1?

Yes, it is kind of small, but if that’s all you have to work with, then that’s the way it is. Truth is, every system/room involves compromises of some kind.

Quote:
- Is where I watch tv from a problem? I hear that having a system where youre viewing position is against the wall presents some problems.

The main issue is that you can’t get the rear speakers behind you, and that sitting close to a boundary the bass frequencies are reinforced. The latter can be dealt with by turning down the subwoofer a bit.

Also, in a room that small, a big problem is that the rear speakers are located so close to you that they are easily localized, and that’s a distraction. Mount them on the 13 ft. wall firing towards your seating position. Experiment with different heights, to minimize the localization. Another option might be to place the face-up on shelves on the wall, so the sound could bounce off the ceiling

Quote:
Right now Im looking to get a home theater in a box, thinking of getting a SONY HT-SS360 (looking at the ONKYO HT-S3200 aswell) I dont mind spending some more $ though. I know buying everything separately is the way to go but Im not ready to do that yet.

Look up on-line reviews, get the best system you can afford. Consumer Reports recently gave the Onkyo S5200 a top rating, if that helps; the S3200 appears to have the same speakers, but a different sub.

Regards,

Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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miltcharlie

· #3 · Feb 16, 2010

Go 3.1

5.1 is overrated.

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bluesky636

· #4 · Feb 16, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by miltcharlie /forum/post/18145554

Go 3.1

5.1 is overrated.

That's about the dumbest statement I have ever heard. When you go to the movies do you demand that the theater turn off the surround speakers?

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miltcharlie

· #5 · Feb 16, 2010

With his space and his back to the wall. getting the full effect will be hard to get. As for SS the rear effects are a small part of the experience.

A 3.1 will give him a nice comfortable system that will not cost him an arm and a leg.

What you can do is buy a 5.1 receiver. Hook it up 3.1 and then decide if 5.1 is needed. That way you have a system to work with instead of wasting money on a HTB.

I will not reply to your rant>

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craig john

· #6 · Feb 16, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by miltcharlie /forum/post/18146680

With his space and his back to the wall. getting the full effect will be hard to get. As for SS the rear effects are a small part of the experience.

A 3.1 will give him a nice comfortable system that will not cost him an arm and a leg.

What you can do is buy a 5.1 receiver. Hook it up 3.1 and then deside if 5.1 is needed. That way you have system to work with instead of wasting mony on a HTB.

I will not reply to your rant>

His LP is basically centered between the side walls. Therefore, he could get good effect with 5.1 by placing the side surrounds on the side walls. I would discourage 7.1 due to his against-the-back-wall LP, but 5.1 should work fine:

Craig

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bluesky636

· #7 · Feb 16, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by miltcharlie /forum/post/18146680

As for SS the rear effects are a small part of the experience.

Guess you haven't listened to much surround sound lately because that statement is completely false.

I concur 100% with Wayne and Craig's advice.

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miltcharlie

· #8 · Feb 16, 2010

Here's a good example of a 3.1

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bluesky636

· #9 · Feb 16, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by miltcharlie /forum/post/18146919

Here's a good example of a 3.1

I'll stick with my 7.1 system.

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miltcharlie

· #10 · Feb 16, 2010

End..

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taoggniklat

· #11 · Feb 16, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by bluesky636 /forum/post/18145811

That's about the dumbest statement I have ever heard. When you go to the movies do you demand that the theater turn off the surround speakers?

While the exaggeration that 5.1 is overrated is a bit much and not true in all cases, it is true that some rooms and setups are just bad for surround sound. I would rather have a good 3.1 system over a poorly setup 5.1 system any day.

If the OP is able to make it work, than great. 5.1 is fun and a great movie experience.

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