2.1 or 5.1 decision

[admin_exported]

Hello,

I'm looking to get into home cinema for the first time with a budget of up to £400 and am currently looking at home cinema in a box solutions. The layout of my room means that I will need to have all speakers either side of my tv, so originally I was looking at 2.1 systems. I have since been told that you can still use a 5.1 system with the surround speakers next to the tv and it will sound better than 2.1 although you will obviously lose some of the surround effect. I'm tempted to go for the 5.1 system but worried in case it all sounds muddled and out of balance. Can anyone help or advise on their experiences with surround speakers at the front of the listening area?

I'm currently looking at 5.1, BDV E370(Sony), SC-BT230(Panasonic) and 2.1, HT-C5200 (Samsung), BCS-FS500 (Pioneer)

Thanks, in anticipation.

 

[Messiah]

Go for 2.1.

Those surround speakers are for the rear and the sound that comes out of them is intended to come from behind you (or from the side).

If they are at the front it will sound a mess.

 

[The_Lhc]

mjenkins:The layout of my room means that I will need to have all speakers either side of my tv,

You have a two dimensional room? Cool!

You could of course go for 3.1, the centre channel is supposed to go at the front as well.

 

[bigboss]

the_lhc:mjenkins:The layout of my room means that I will need to have all speakers either side of my tv, You have a two dimensional room? Cool!

I'm sure 3D TV is of no use to you then!

 

[Anonymous]

With young kids in the house, I need to keep all my AV equipment in one place, so I suppose you could say the kids make the room two dimensional lol!

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, thanks for the advice Messiah

 

[Anonymous]

wall mount your rear speakers ? higher than the kids can get to...

 

[The_Lhc]

Or wallmount the kids and leave the speakers on the floor...

 

[bigboss]

My rear speakers are mounted close to the ceiling (check my home cinema pics).......in fact none of the speakers are within reach of a child (not that I have a child, but it's future proof atleast

) & the subwoofer is too heavy for any child to move it!

 

[TKratz]

the_lhc:Or wallmount the kids and leave the speakers on the floor...

Couldn't help from laughing heavily in the open office! To great amusement for my colleageus...

 

[shado]

You could try a Sound Bar or Digital Sound Projector from the likes of Yamaha. This one box solution simulates 5.1 sound quite successfully and one of their models should be within your price scale. Q Acoustics allows you to drape speakers either side of the TV and the subwoofer hides behind the TV - this is the 2.1 version which has won an award.