Question Hifi Setup suggestions

[Jules12]

Hey, i would like to hear your opion or suggestions about a few speakers/system that ive listed i would only use it for movies my room is approx
20 square metres, for now i would only get L&R + Center and will upgrade in the future with a sub and rears.

as a Receiver i would use the Denon x1800H, as a Sub: SVS 1000 (that i would add later)

Option 1: L&R KEF Q350 (320 Euro), Center: either another Q350 (163 Euro) or Q650 (420 Euro)

Option 2: L&R Q Acoustics 3030i (350 Euro), Center: Q Acoustics 3090i (220 Euro)

Option 3: L&R Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 (350 Euro), Center: Diamond 12.C (200 Euro)

Option 4: L&R Monitor Audi0 Bronze 50 (355 Euro), Center: Bronze C150 (300 Euro)


i also heard that 2 Way Center Speakers are not "great" and only Option 1 has a "better" center in terms of off axis listining and overall clearity.
what would be the most "engaging" "fun" sounding speaker or setup for movies that still provides good clearity but is not to flat or harsh sounding out of these options?

if u have any other suggestions around the budget i would be happy to hear them, thank you

 

[Al ears]

For a centre speaker it's best to budget for an actual centre speaker that is designed just for this purpose.
Your options do not have this as far as I can see. Think KEF Q250c for example.
You might also get more responses if this was moved to the Home Cinema subforum

 

[Messiah]

I also heard that 2 Way Center Speakers are not "great" and only Option 1 has a "better" center in terms of off axis listening and overall clarity.

Dedicated (2 way) centre speakers are designed to be exactly that, centre speakers. I would not be concerned about that.

As for the speaker packages, all of them would be solid choices.

If possible (and I know this is said a lot and rightly so), it would be best for you to listen to the various speakers and decide which ones YOU like the sound of best.

 

[Al ears]

Dedicated (2 way) centre speakers are designed to be exactly that, centre speakers. I would not be concerned about that.

As for the speaker packages, all of them would be solid choices.

If possible (and I know this is said a lot and rightly so), it would be best for you to listen to the various speakers and decide which ones YOU like the sound of best.

Correct. Centre speakers are primarily designed for dialogue and do not usually have the same design as as surround speakers for this very reason.
A good centre speaker is crucial to a home cinema set-up.

 

[Jules12]

Correct. Centre speakers are primarily designed for dialogue and do not usually have the same design as as surround speakers for this very reason.
A good centre speaker is crucial to a home cinema set-up.

i know that, but there are alot of videos and tests "why 2 way centers suck" they dont produce the same dialog and clearity also u have to sit right infront and cant go much if at all off axis the Q650 KEFF ive listed is a 2,5 Way center for example, the other options all have a "worse" 2 way center.
thats why a bit unsure if i should go for any other setup since the centers arent great on option 2,3 and 4

 

[Messiah]

Go with the KEF option then?

I have read similar thoughts on ASR but the reality for me is that centre speakers, in a properly calibrated set up, do the job they have been designed/built to do, very well.

You have to ask, if the design is compromised, why do the majority of manufacturers use it? Why have reviewers like What HiFi? and Home Cinema Choice not picked up on this issue? This design has been around for decades now.

Anyhow, the best solution is to demo a few options and make up YOUR mind on what you like the sound of best. 😁

 

[Kefref]

I have a similar setup, and can tell you I have no regrets going with Kef, I did strongly consider monitor audio but decided to stick with kef Q (I got a set of Q550 for £550 new from amazon so that swung it.

Denon AVRX3600
Tibo 2 channel Power Amp
Panasonic dp-ub9000eb1
Kef Q650c, Pair Kef Q550, 2 x pairs Kef Q350 2 x Pairs Kef Ci160.2cr Ceiling Speakers
SVS Pro-1000PB

Best advice, make sure you buy all the same manufacurer speakers, don't be tempted to mix manufacturers for speakers. Keep it cohesive with the same manufacturer (preferably same range to match timbre)

The SVS Pro-1000PB is a monster, definitely worth buying ( Just watch the neighbours)

Buy the best centre you can, it is the most important speaker in your setup and the heart of a surround system. (warning the Q650 is a big speaker, I had to build a custom unit for to take it under my screen as its a big beastie. And definitely buy a dedicated centre, not sure a q350 would work as a centre (right tool and all that 😀)

The Q350 work very well as surrounds, sure they will work superbly as fronts, did you consider a set of floor standers for fronts? If you have the space it works very well, although this could always be added later demoting the q350's to surrounds.