Question My first audio system, please help.

[Ridder]

Hello, we are moving into a new build, and I want better sound. I am an undemanding user and absolutely clueless about audio. Currently, we have Microlab FC330, so any upgrade is guaranteed to be an improvement 😀

Room: Approx. 6x4m, in an apartment building (we do not want to annoy the neighbors).

The sofa will be all the way to the patio doors. The room is further open and continues. The picture only shows the living area.

TV: Sony XR-75X90J.
Usage: Mostly Netflix, YouTube, and a TV streaming service.
Expectations:A truly immersive 5.1.2 surround sound system (for Dolby Atmos) to create the feeling that the film's action is happening all around me, and a sound quality that I will enjoy for years to come.
Budget: I am looking for a good price-to-performance ratio, ideally sticking around €2,000 – €4,000, and this budget must include the AV receiver.
Design: Design is crucial for my wife. She prefers either maximum built-in speakers or some aesthetically pleasing/designer ones (e.g., thin floorstanders).

I will be grateful for any advice.

 

[daytona600]

Wife Friendly think French
Focal 1000/300/100 series on or inwall
Elipson Planets - stands/wall/in wall/ceiling
Quality Atmos receiver Denon / Marantz// Yamaha
7.2/9.2 ideal on receiver as you can add extra speakers / subs in the future

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

Listening area is approximately 4x4 if I'm reading the plans correctly. My advice would be to get a Sonos Arc Ultra; and to the extent you can wire in speakers by virtue of the new build status, a couple of in ceiling surround speakers fed by a Sonos Amp. To the extent you have budget / feel the need, add a sub.

Yes - identical to my system in a like for like listening area; and it works well, extremely well.

As an added bonus, I've probably kept you under the minimum spend; and managed the wife's expectations.

 

[Ridder]

@daytona600 I will check Focal. Elipson Planets have been rejected by the boss 🙂

@Juzzie Wuzzie Sonos and soundbar would be preferred by my wife, and it is my backup plan.

Thank you both.

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

An alternative, but at best would be 2.1 would be something like a WiiM Amp Ultra with some Dali Kupids. You could ask the wife what colour she would like!

 

[Ridder]

I am thinking about KEF T305 set. It looks great because it is slim 🙂

I was thinking about this layout. The left surround will be a challenge for our designer.

What do you think?

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

If you want my (brutal) honesty. Overkill for the space. I'd go 5.1 with the ceiling speakers being the surround. But that's me. If you have your heart set on such a set up, and the budget to match it, go for it.

 

[daytona600]

7.1 with 3 Speakers
in wall / in ceiling , paint the grills to match your walls & invisible for the Boss

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3vtHV-0E70

 

[Ridder]

@Juzzie Wuzzie I am thinking a lot about the 5.1 solution you mentioned.

@daytona600 I am sorry I haven't mentioned I am from Europe and TDG is not present here 🙁 I mean, I found one distributor from the UK, I think, but they don't even have an e-shop. The warranty would be complicated; otherwise, it looks good!

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

I would have you builder install two ceiling speakers (I used Cambridge Audio Minx C46) and run the cable to where you intend your electronics to be. Then you have the option of A/V Receiver with 5.1, or (like me) run a Sonos Arc and amplified surround speakers.

I'd also suggest (if budget allows) putting ceiling speakers in your kitchen (which I expect is the other half of the above picture) which would allow you to run these separately if you just want background music / radio whilst cooking, etc. In for a cent, in for a Euro.

 

[Leon74]

Everybody makes his own choices, but if I were you, I would buy an excellent soundbar for watching movies and an excellent amplifier with streamer and/or cd player for listening to music. For your budget, you cannot have all in one and yet have excellent sound.
With what I propose, you'll pay around 3300 euros, depending on what you want (including both streamer and cd player. Without cd player around 3000). Your wife wants thin floor standers. Don't expect the same sound quality as from normal size floor standers.
Mine are width=25 cm, depth=31 cm heigth=92 cm.
It is a lot of money you are going to spend. And you will want to enjoy it for many years to come. COMPARE. Not in a shop but in your own new home. For example start with buying (from internet) two or three soundbars and listen and choose one, send the others back.
Do the same with amplifier/streamer/cd and loudspeakers. Shop from several shops so you won't getting complaints for sending back too much.
Another important thing: Read up a bit in internet about room accoustics. It makes 50% of your sound quality.

 

[Ridder]

I took some time to visit several specialized shops to form a clearer opinion on my needs and budget. We are sure now we want in-wall/ceiling solution + stand alone subwoofer.

I consulted two in-wall system specialists. The first was unhelpful and far above my budget. The second offered me two specific solutions:

• Sonance VX62, LCR, R
• JBL STAGE 280W, 250WL, 280C

Both told me to install surrounds into ceilings which made me and my wife happy 🙂

Crucially, after listening to a friend's Klipsch R-600F HTS SW system, I realized I am absolutely satisfied with that level of quality. This significantly lowers my required grade of equipment and will help keep the budget realistic.

Through extensive consultation (including multiple AI models), the consistently recommended solution based on my use case is KEF due to its Uni-Q technology.

I am now leaning towards KEF.

-	Variant 1
Channel	Product	Price
L	KEF Ci 160QL	9 000 Kč
R	KEF Ci 160QL	9 000 Kč
C	KEF Ci 160QL	9 000 Kč
Sub	SVS SB-1000 Pro	20 000 Kč
LS	KEF Ci 130QR	6 400 Kč
LR	KEF Ci 130QR	6 400 Kč
TFL	KEF Ci 130QR	6 400 Kč
TFR	KEF Ci 130QR	6 400 Kč
Kitchen 1	KEF Ci 130QR	6 400 Kč
Kitchen 2	KEF Ci 130QR	6 400 Kč
AV Receiver	Denon X3800H	28 000 Kč
Total CZK		113 400 Kč
Total EUR		4 629 €

What do you think, guys?

 

[htadd1ct]

You're getting a **** ton of bad information here.

First things first. Straight couch only. Sit away from walls. Bookshelf speakers for fronts and surrounds.

Don't listen to anyone that says ceiling for surrounds. This is downright disrespectful for home theater and I consider it a serious crime. See my picture attachment on how critical it is to have ear level 5.1 and ceiling for Dolby atmos.