Sonos beats in-ceilings any day. Not even close.
However, if you have $2K you can get an EXCELLENT 3.1 or 2.1 system ... skipping surround speakers means no tripping hazards anyhow.
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Should i go with sonos set or start opening ceiling with speakers?
Moving into new house and I want to set something up for the living room. The room is open concept so there's no left or right wall and putting speakers around will just be odd and people might trip over.
I have 2 options-
1. Sonos route with arc,2 ones on the back and a sub. Total around 2k i think.
2. Get sub, receiver and install ceiling speakers - 4 or 6? Maybe 2k plus installation?
I am coming from listening audio through TV so either is a step up. The latter probably will cost me ~1k installation fees.
Not sure which is better choice. Definitely 1 is less intrusive and minimalistic. If I go with 2 what can I get in terms of receiver and sub and speakers? I think sonance, bw and Logan are some popular brands.
Advice? Thanks.
I have 2 options-
1. Sonos route with arc,2 ones on the back and a sub. Total around 2k i think.
2. Get sub, receiver and install ceiling speakers - 4 or 6? Maybe 2k plus installation?
I am coming from listening audio through TV so either is a step up. The latter probably will cost me ~1k installation fees.
Not sure which is better choice. Definitely 1 is less intrusive and minimalistic. If I go with 2 what can I get in terms of receiver and sub and speakers? I think sonance, bw and Logan are some popular brands.
Advice? Thanks.
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
However, if you have $2K you can get an EXCELLENT 3.1 or 2.1 system ... skipping surround speakers means no tripping hazards anyhow.
But the sonos setup has atmos no? For a 3.1 that means everything in front right? Like what the products and setup would be?Sonos beats in-ceilings any day. Not even close.
However, if you have $2K you can get an EXCELLENT 3.1 or 2.1 system ... skipping surround speakers means no tripping hazards anyhow.
The whole point of Atmos is to create a believable separation between ear level vs overhead sounds. That means using ear level speakers (in-wall, on-wall, or in-room) WITH overhead speakers (in-ceiling or on-ceiling, or "height" speakers as an ok-ish compromise if the former are not possible).But the sonos setup has atmos no? For a 3.1 that means everything in front right? Like what the products and setup would be?
"Upfiring Atmos" speakers which claim to bounce the sound off your ceiling from below, are one of the biggest marketing gimmicks / frauds / scams in the whole audio hobby (and there are tons of those already).
So if you decided to have ALL of your speakers in-ceiling, forget about doing Atmos.
Similarly, if you are unable to even do "height" speakers, forget about doing Atmos.
If you were able to do 3 front speakers in-room AND combine that with 2-4 in-ceiling Atmos speakers, that would actually be a pretty nice setup. (3.1.2 or 3.1.4)
If you're OK with Sonos Ones as surround speakers, would you consider other wireless speakers?
Sonos soundbar's Atmos capabilities are probably bested by standalone up-firing modules, let alone ceiling-mounted speakers, since anything on a soundbar would be very small and locked into the placement of the soundbar. As good as the Sonos soundbar is supposed to be, the speaker size and separation of a standalone system should be a notable improvement in sound, if that's the priority.
If the priority is minimalist looks over best possible sound, Sonos may be the way to go.
For <= $2200 + installation, you could get a pretty good 5.1.2 system
Yamaha TSR-700 7 channel receiver at Costco (it has to be the Yamaha in this case instead of the Denon or Onkyo for wireless surrounds)
2x Yamaha MusicCast 20 as wireless surrounds (that's why it has to be a Yamaha receiver. They're pretty expensive though)
Infinity Reference R263 Towers (currently on sale) + refurbished RC263 center or Emotiva T-Zero+ + C1+
SVS Outlet PB-1000 subwoofer
Angled ceiling speakers such as Monoprice Alpha or Caliber or splurge for RSL or other upscale brand + installation
You could find some up-firing Atmos modules for less money, but it's debatable if it's worth it. Even so, they should be better than anything in a soundbar.
If aesthetics are important, you'll have to spend more to get similar sound quality
Sonos soundbar's Atmos capabilities are probably bested by standalone up-firing modules, let alone ceiling-mounted speakers, since anything on a soundbar would be very small and locked into the placement of the soundbar. As good as the Sonos soundbar is supposed to be, the speaker size and separation of a standalone system should be a notable improvement in sound, if that's the priority.
If the priority is minimalist looks over best possible sound, Sonos may be the way to go.
For <= $2200 + installation, you could get a pretty good 5.1.2 system
Yamaha TSR-700 7 channel receiver at Costco (it has to be the Yamaha in this case instead of the Denon or Onkyo for wireless surrounds)
2x Yamaha MusicCast 20 as wireless surrounds (that's why it has to be a Yamaha receiver. They're pretty expensive though)
Infinity Reference R263 Towers (currently on sale) + refurbished RC263 center or Emotiva T-Zero+ + C1+
SVS Outlet PB-1000 subwoofer
Angled ceiling speakers such as Monoprice Alpha or Caliber or splurge for RSL or other upscale brand + installation
You could find some up-firing Atmos modules for less money, but it's debatable if it's worth it. Even so, they should be better than anything in a soundbar.
If aesthetics are important, you'll have to spend more to get similar sound quality
The room is open concept so there's no left or right wall and putting speakers around will just be odd and people might trip over.
1. Sonos route with arc,2 ones on the back and a sub. Total around 2k i think.
2. Get sub, receiver and install ceiling speakers - 4 or 6? Maybe 2k plus installation?
Just my $0.02 but based on my experience and mistakes.
Don’t do in-ceiling surrounds and atmos. I tried with a 7.2.2 setup and it was horrible. Huge mistake. No separation of layers like atmos is designed for. Side note, I did correct it by repurposing the rear in-ceiling surrounds as rear atmos. The side surrounds were turned into in-wall surrounds with a little more speaker wire a a few holes in the drywall.
I’ve heard Sonos sound bars with their sub. They do sound good and work well. However, the trade off is the separation of channels. It’s not quite like having separate speakers, no sound bar really is (I had a few over the years).
Don’t do in-ceiling surrounds and atmos. I tried with a 7.2.2 setup and it was horrible. Huge mistake. No separation of layers like atmos is designed for. Side note, I did correct it by repurposing the rear in-ceiling surrounds as rear atmos. The side surrounds were turned into in-wall surrounds with a little more speaker wire a a few holes in the drywall.
I’ve heard Sonos sound bars with their sub. They do sound good and work well. However, the trade off is the separation of channels. It’s not quite like having separate speakers, no sound bar really is (I had a few over the years).
I don’t understand the tripping hazard I’ve never seen anyone fall over a correct set up 🆙 speaker. You could also do on wall speakers, but ceilings are trash for anything except atmos ... Sonus definitely easier , better that depends if you need more dynamics or just more volume for tv .
Good luck tripping on a floor stander....
Or wall mount bookshelves / center
Good luck tripping on a floor stander....
Or wall mount bookshelves / center
In that situation, I'd probably skip Atmos, do Sonos up front along with a sub, and do in ceiling for surrounds. Sonos plus in ceiling surrounds will be better than Sonos with Atmos and no surrounds, IMO. I'm with you about not having surround speakers standing around in the middle of the room. I was lucky enough to be able to use in wall for my surrounds, as even with walls, surrounds on stands were a no go aesthetically.
Hmm,In that situation, I'd probably skip Atmos, do Sonos up front along with a sub, and do in ceiling for surrounds. Sonos plus in ceiling surrounds will be better than Sonos with Atmos and no surrounds, IMO. I'm with you about not having surround speakers standing around in the middle of the room. I was lucky enough to be able to use in wall for my surrounds, as even with walls, surrounds on stands were a no go aesthetically.
would the in ceilings be another brand that connects with sonos or sonos speakers but stationed up there?
Ah yeah, to maintiain the simplicity of Sonos I'd probably use Sonos and just mount them on the ceiling. Should be fairly unobtrusive in white. This would also allow you to angle them properly.Hmm,
would the in ceilings be another brand that connects with sonos or sonos speakers but stationed up there?
Wait so I run wires on the two ones and set them on the ceiling vs putting the 2 ones on back left and right side walls? Aren't they same surround?Ah yeah, to maintiain the simplicity of Sonos I'd probably use Sonos and just mount them on the ceiling. Should be fairly unobtrusive in white. This would also allow you to angle them properly.
The room is open concept so there's no left or right wall and putting speakers around will just be odd and people might trip over.
No side walls but you could put the surrounds behind you on the rear wall? That could be an option…obviously, beside the MLP is optimal but we have to find the best compromise. Putting them behind you would leave you with the option to use real Atmos speakers mounted in the ceiling. I don't think Sonos can do real Atmos i.e. discrete channels mounted properly(overhead). So if you stick with Sonos, surrounds behind you, no Atmos.Wait so I run wires on the two ones and set them on the ceiling vs putting the 2 ones on back left and right side walls? Aren't they same surround?
If you want to do Atmos, I think you have to go the AVR route and scrap the Sonos idea. In that case, Denon X3700, and decide on what passive speakers you want. Start by understanding how to select well designed speakers:
Spinorama for speakers
Use sites like ASR, Audioholics, Stereophile(measurements section), and SoundStageNetwork to help select from well designed speakers, then get some in your house and see how you like them. Perhaps even compare a couple of options if you'd like and are willing to go through the trouble of purchasing and returning multiple speakers and perhaps eating some return shipping. Chances are, if you choose very well designed speakers, they will all sound very good but there can still be room for preference due to various factors.
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
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