[sbinkley]

I really want Atmos. Unfortunately I am on an extremely tight budget. Current setup is Emotiva B1s/C1 in the front, cheap JBL's in the rear, and dual SVS 12" subwoofers. The receiver is Onkyo TX-NR777 so I can add one pair of Atmos speakers. The room has just shy of 8' ceilings (basement), 15' wide, and 20' deep with the couch being about 2' from the back wall. The C1 is mounted right below the tv at about ear level and the bookshelves are mounted about 1' below the ceiling angled down and toward the listening position. This is 90% movies, 10% music.

Going in the ceiling is not an option for Atmos (for me) so I am relying on upfiring speakers. Option 1 would be to sell my Emotivas and get and new LCR setup with bookshelves that have an upfiring woofer already in them. I was looking at a couple options from Pioneer, the first being the NON-Elite SP-BS22A-LR paired with the center. Would these be enough to fill my small room? I could go the Elite option but that adds a good amount on to my tight budget.

If I went with an add-on option, what would be a good one to go with? Also, since they wouldn't sit on the speaker would I need to make a shelf for them? I am very confused as to how high Atmos speakers should be to bounce sound correctly. I included a picture of the front of room so any thoughts what would be the best option at an affordable price I would appreciate it. I know building a home theater system with a budget is probably not the ideal way to do it, but with two little ones and one due at the end of the month, gotta be smart too

 

[Zorba922]

I really want Atmos. Unfortunately I am on an extremely tight budget. Current setup is Emotiva B1s/C1 in the front, cheap JBL's in the rear, and dual SVS 12" subwoofers. The receiver is Onkyo TX-NR777 so I can add one pair of Atmos speakers. The room has just shy of 8' ceilings (basement), 15' wide, and 20' deep with the couch being about 2' from the back wall. The C1 is mounted right below the tv at about ear level and the bookshelves are mounted about 1' below the ceiling angled down and toward the listening position. This is 90% movies, 10% music.

Going in the ceiling is not an option for Atmos (for me) so I am relying on upfiring speakers. Option 1 would be to sell my Emotivas and get and new LCR setup with bookshelves that have an upfiring woofer already in them. I was looking at a couple options from Pioneer, the first being the NON-Elite SP-BS22A-LR paired with the center. Would these be enough to fill my small room? I could go the Elite option but that adds a good amount on to my tight budget.

If I went with an add-on option, what would be a good one to go with? Also, since they wouldn't sit on the speaker would I need to make a shelf for them? I am very confused as to how high Atmos speakers should be to bounce sound correctly. I included a picture of the front of room so any thoughts what would be the best option at an affordable price I would appreciate it. I know building a home theater system with a budget is probably not the ideal way to do it, but with two little ones and one due at the end of the month, gotta be smart too

I wouldn't bother with an integrated upfiring speaker, esp. not the original Pio AJ series which are known for a crappy/fuzzy tweeter ill-suited for your 90% HT usage.

ANY speaker can work for Atmos, I'd just go with NHT SuperZeros due to their compact size, sealed cabinet design, and incredible pricing on Amazon.

You could mount them on the wall just below the ceiling, angled downwards similar to the SVS Prime Elevations (which wouldn't be a bad option if you want to pay 4x more to get a more aesthetically pleasing look).

 

[smithsabom]

an alternative, to the super zero, is the boston acoustics soundware 4.5 which have a very flexible mounting system. They can be easily aimed at your MLP. Although new from A4L, still slightly more expensive than the super zero from Amazon

https://www.accessories4less.com/ma...atmos-dts-x-on-wall-speaker-black-each/1.html

 

[sbinkley]

I wouldn't bother with an integrated upfiring speaker, esp. not the original Pio AJ series which are known for a crappy/fuzzy tweeter ill-suited for your 90% HT usage.

ANY speaker can work for Atmos, I'd just go with NHT SuperZeros due to their compact size, sealed cabinet design, and incredible pricing on Amazon.

You could mount them on the wall just below the ceiling, angled downwards similar to the SVS Prime Elevations (which wouldn't be a bad option if you want to pay 4x more to get a more aesthetically pleasing look).

I imagine the SVS Primes are going to put out a lot more sound as well? I did not know you could mount them shy of the ceiling angled downward...I thought they had to bounce sound off the ceiling in order to create that "effect."

 

[sbinkley]

Do my bookshelves need to be remounted a couple feet lower...more in line with ear level, or is how I have them ok? I am worried if I add Atmos that my bookshelves will be too high and they will blend together.

 

[Zorba922]

I imagine the SVS Primes are going to put out a lot more sound as well? I did not know you could mount them shy of the ceiling angled downward...I thought they had to bounce sound off the ceiling in order to create that "effect."

The SVS Prime tweeter is quite bright/loud so it would be a better choice than the Pio AJ one, direct opposite in fact. The NHT would be in the middle, more neutral/accurate and probably a better match (if you believe in the whole "matching" thing) for your Emotivas.

No, they're designed to sit on the wall just under the ceiling and come pre-angled that way.

Reflecting off the ceiling is more of a last-ditch option, mainly marketing driven to sell more speakers to people who don't have the luxury of doing in-ceiling Atmos speakers. It's only a half-assed half-option by most accounts.

If I were you I'd do the Atmos speakers in the back, above your surrounds.

 

[sbinkley]

The SVS Prime tweeter is quite bright/loud so it would be a better choice than the Pio AJ one, direct opposite in fact. The NHT would be in the middle, more neutral/accurate and probably a better match (if you believe in the whole "matching" thing) for your Emotivas.

No, they're designed to sit on the wall just under the ceiling and come pre-angled that way.

Reflecting off the ceiling is more of a last-ditch option, mainly marketing driven to sell more speakers to people who don't have the luxury of doing in-ceiling Atmos speakers. It's only a half-assed half-option by most accounts.

If I were you I'd do the Atmos speakers in the back, above your surrounds.

I appreciate the advice! I actually really preferred to mount them in the rear but everything that I have read said that if you just have one pair of height speakers you mount them in the front. Those NHT look pretty affordable on Amazon so I will give them a go. I realize I'm not going to get the true effect of Atmos the way I am doing it, but hoping for some of the effect.

So when I order the Super Zeros I will want to get brackets as well so I can angle them extremely downward correct?

 

[gajCA]

Do my bookshelves need to be remounted a couple feet lower...more in line with ear level, or is how I have them ok? I am worried if I add Atmos that my bookshelves will be too high and they will blend together.

Yes, lower them.

 

[pase22]

Do my bookshelves need to be remounted a couple feet lower...more in line with ear level, or is how I have them ok? I am worried if I add Atmos that my bookshelves will be too high and they will blend together.

Lowering your front speakers is a good idea regardless, but yes you would have to bring them down. Putting at the back as previously suggested would work too.

 

[Zorba922]

So when I order the Super Zeros I will want to get brackets as well so I can angle them extremely downward correct?

Yes.

Lots of options due to their small size and low weight.

 

[tinhvo]

Before mounting Atmos speakers permanently, I would suggest you try rear-height option as well and see which one gives you the most effect.
Your MLP is about 2' off the back wall which is 20' deep, it seems too far to me, espeically your front-height is 8' max.

I have my Atmos speakers on the front wall, at 9' high, seating 12' away.
Atmos effect is so so, NOTHING impressed.
I'm too lz to try the rear option but don't want you to have the same impression that I have with front-height Atmos speakers.