Minimum room size for 5.1 cinema?

ghutchison14078 · 21 Jul 2017 at 12:34

Hi guys,

Hoping someone in the know can tell me if the room I'm planing a projector cinema setup in is too small to justify a 5.1 setup.

Room dimensions are 3.0x2.8 ceiling is 2.5.

92 inch fixed frame screen on the wall sitting directly across from the sofa on the 2.8 width, so actual viewing distance from screen to face is approx 2.5.

The room is a blank canvas just now,so ripping holes in walls to wall mount the speakers and run/hide all the cabling is not a problem.

5.1 or good soundbar???

Cheers

hornetstinger · 21 Jul 2017 at 12:36

FurryLemon · 21 Jul 2017 at 12:44

5.1

Soundbar sjould never be paired with a projector setup.

I'd suggest bookshelves and bi/dipoles for the surrounds. Room is too small for floorstanders.

ghutchison14078 · 21 Jul 2017 at 12:45

How do in-wall speakers perform compared to bookshelfs wall mounted?

I'm looking at Dali speakers - the Zensor 1 5.1 package has caught my attention.

MrRockliffe · 21 Jul 2017 at 12:48

Soundbars are heavily reliant on good placement and small, non-decorated rooms. You're paying for the convenience of the speakers taking up less room and being active.

For pairing with a projector, you definitely want a 5.1 system.

hornetstinger · 21 Jul 2017 at 12:49

You pay a lot more for inwall speakers, plus have to factor in extra work and the boxes that fit in the wall (wall mounts come in two types)

ghutchison14078 · 21 Jul 2017 at 12:55

Looks like a resounding vote for 5.1!

hornetstinger · 21 Jul 2017 at 12:55

MrRockliffe said:
Soundbars are heavily reliant on good placement and small, non-decorated rooms. You're paying for the convenience of the speakers taking up less room and being active.

For pairing with a projector, you definitely want a 5.1 system.

Don't know why high end soundbards don't exist. Instead of crappy little drivers, 6.5" and 8" woofers plus subwoofer lfe output. Basically like a 5' floorstanding on it's side.

https://ibb.co/bybfS5

ghutchison14078 · 21 Jul 2017 at 13:10

This was the combo I was considering...thoughts?

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-19105-denon-avrx3300w-with-dali-zensor-1-51-speakers.aspx

Hope the shopping link is ok...OCUK dont sell this gear so hopefully no forum infingement here.

spoffle · 21 Jul 2017 at 13:13

hornetstinger said:
Don't know why high end soundbards don't exist. Instead of crappy little drivers, 6.5" and 8" woofers plus subwoofer lfe output. Basically like a 5' floorstanding on it's side.

https://ibb.co/bybfS5

Because if you've got one, you may as well get two and the rest of the set up. It's not that hard to find the space for them. I've got KEF Q900s in my living room (plus the rest of the range to make up 5.1 and Q500s as rears) and it was fairly easy to make the space in my modesty sized living room.

MrRockliffe · 21 Jul 2017 at 13:13

hornetstinger said:
Don't know why high end soundbards don't exist. Instead of crappy little drivers, 6.5" and 8" woofers plus subwoofer lfe output. Basically like a 5' floorstanding on it's side.

https://ibb.co/bybfS5

When companies have attempted to make larger soundbars, they've sounded good, but are so big you may as well just get a 2.1 setup :/ The B&W Panorama was a lovely piece of kit.

hornetstinger · 21 Jul 2017 at 13:13

I would recommend bipoles for your room (I have a small room also) With them very close bipoles are a better choice than standard speakers.

You could get slightly bigger speakers for the fronts. I use floorstanders and tbh they work fine in my room too, although ideally better to have bigger room.

ghutchison14078 · 21 Jul 2017 at 13:19

hornetstinger said:
I would recommend bipoles for your room (I have a small room also) With them very close bipoles are a better choice than standard speakers.

You could get slightly bigger speakers for the fronts. I use floorstanders and tbh they work fine in my room too, although ideally better to have bigger room.

Thanks for the info; could you possibly link me some 5.1 bipole systems? Looking to spend around £1500 for the full package, so roughly £1000 for speakers and £500 for the receiver.

Sorry, I'm new to all this home cinema / hi-fi stuff.

hornetstinger · 21 Jul 2017 at 13:28

These

201955947036

£50 bargain. I use the larger BP-2X

signs · 21 Jul 2017 at 15:08

ghutchison14078 said:
This was the combo I was considering...thoughts?

http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-19105-denon-avrx3300w-with-dali-zensor-1-51-speakers.aspx

Hope the shopping link is ok...OCUK dont sell this gear so hopefully no forum infingement here.

great amp

hornetstinger · 21 Jul 2017 at 19:29

ghutchison14078 said:
Thanks for the info; could you possibly link me some 5.1 bipole systems? Looking to spend around £1500 for the full package, so roughly £1000 for speakers and £500 for the receiver.

Sorry, I'm new to all this home cinema / hi-fi stuff.

Buy second hand?

You're not going to buy a better set of speakers for £300. These were £1600 when new.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/speakers/superb-pair-of-celestion-a2-speakers/1247021101

You'll need a good amp for them though, as they're 4 ohm. I have the standmount and larger floorstander versions of these speakers, they're fantastic.

There's a few M&K speakers going on gumtree and the auction site, they're sealed box and little speakers so will work well in a small room. Again 4 ohm so you need a decent amplifier.

sprite- · 22 Jul 2017 at 16:51

With room size, i'd personally recommend this;

http://petertyson.co.uk/index.php/denon-avr-x2300w-av-receiver-monitor-audio-mass-av.html?___SID=U

Couple of others on here have purchased the same bundle as it's simple insane value (I dont have it but have listened to the MASS 5.1 before and it's fantastic, i personally have the KEF 3005SE 5.1). I still cant believe they're selling it at this price tbh, literally no other bundle of AVR and Speakers come close price / performance wise. They'll also take up little room on stands or can be wall-mounted.

You could put bookshelf speakers in the room - but considering the size i'd avoid it - unless you have a preference for bookshelf speakers. I generally steer towards style speakers though, as i like a more subtle look.

As always, go down to somewhere like Richersounds and demo some sets. Gives you an idea on sound and also size.

ghutchison14078 · 22 Jul 2017 at 18:26

sprite- said:
With room size, i'd personally recommend this;

http://petertyson.co.uk/index.php/denon-avr-x2300w-av-receiver-monitor-audio-mass-av.html?___SID=U

Couple of others on here have purchased the same bundle as it's simple insane value (I dont have it but have listened to the MASS 5.1 before and it's fantastic, i personally have the KEF 3005SE 5.1). I still cant believe they're selling it at this price tbh, literally no other bundle of AVR and Speakers come close price / performance wise. They'll also take up little room on stands or can be wall-mounted.

You could put bookshelf speakers in the room - but considering the size i'd avoid it - unless you have a preference for bookshelf speakers. I generally steer towards style speakers though, as i like a more subtle look.

As always, go down to somewhere like Richersounds and demo some sets. Gives you an idea on sound and also size.

Thanks for that Sprite; the guy who will be installing the system for me is a Monitor Audio specialist - he mentioned the MASS kit would be a good match for the small cinema room - definitely considering them.

hornetstinger · 22 Jul 2017 at 19:58

I'm using speakers far larger than those Monitor Audio Mass and it sounds great. I certainly would buy bigger speakers than that. I'd be looking at speakers around 350 x 200x250mm, or thereabouts, with 6.5" driver- standmount sized.

FYI I'm using Celestion A3. They're massive and they dwarf the room but I don't care

sprite- · 22 Jul 2017 at 22:14

ghutchison14078 said:
Thanks for that Sprite; the guy who will be installing the system for me is a Monitor Audio specialist - he mentioned the MASS kit would be a good match for the small cinema room - definitely considering them.

No problem mate. It's stonking good value, also nice to know the audio specialist gave same recommendation. Big bookshelf speakers are great - but in a smaller room their primary advantage is irrelevant. Also don't think you'll find anything that'll challenge the MASS with the bundle price. Just think, with the money saved you could afford and put a couple of in-ceiling speakers for an Atmos setup

Ultimately it's a taste thing, it'll depend what kind of speaker you prefer. I started with Q Acoustics 5.1 bookshelf set many years ago, after that I moved into KEF / style sat speakers. They offer fantastic sound, especially for movies and TV. They give that intense attacking sound which enhances a big action flick. I also personally don't like a set that dominates a room.