Minimum room size for 5.1 cinema?

ghutchison14078

ghutchison14078

ghutchison14078

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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 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.
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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.
 
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.
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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.
 
sprite- said:
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.
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I settled on the Denon AVR-X3300W receiver, ordered it earlier today.

Got a bit of work to do in the room that I'm building my cinema setup in; having to relocate the radiator as it's currently on the wall that the projector screen is going on so I'm tackling the plumbing for that tomorrow. Also changing the standard ceiling lamp to recessed low wattage spots.

After that the A/V company is coming to confirm what will need done to install whichever speaker system I choose then book a date to come in a cut all the holes and runs for the cabling for the speakers and ceiling mounted projector and wire everything up for me.

Then it should just be a case of redecorating, putting the carpet in and mounting the 93 inch screen.
 
sprite- said:
Ah. Good receiver choice bud!

Bet you can't wait to get it all setup. You may aswell get in-ceiling speakers in if you've got somebody professional coming in, get it done all at once. Goodluck with your speaker choice.

If it was me personally (just my tastes) and I didn't have the KEF 3005SE already... I would purchased the KEF E305 5.1 (Seen couple of open box on eBay for £599) and some KEF CI106QR ceiling speakers (£200 each).

Get yourself down a demo room and try a bunch of stuff out. Is what I did before I got my KEF 3005SE a few years ago.
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What do ceiling speakers add to the experience over and above a 5.1 setup? Are they specialist speakers or do you just get an extra 2 of the same satellites in your 5.1 and mount them above?
 
sprite- said:
Atmos allows content creators to map sound in a 3D space. So if you're watching a film and a helicopter is above in the scene, you'll hear it like it's above your head... If bullets are whizzing past the characters head, it'll feel like they're whizzing past yours. I've experienced it twice at a friends setup, it was a truely mind blowing experience. Reminded me of the first time I tried a proper 5.1 and could hear the sound of a car traveling by me with the rears. I plan to put ceiling speakers in soon.
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Yep, need that in my life!! Hard to believe this cinema room plan started off with a tv and sound bar concept....right out the window.
 
Calm down lads! I appreciate everyones input, im a newbie to all this A/V stuff so i appreciate different advice and points of view.

My A/V installer is popping round today to discuss speakers.

He is a Monitor Audio dealer so it's likely that if he can do me a decent deal on the speakers plus fitting it will be a Monitor Audio solution I end up with.
 
My A/V guy came round today; had a good look at the room, asked me what I planned to do and what experience I wanted to get from it all.

I told him about the Denon AVR-X3300W I'd ordered, he also commented as per Sprite did that it was an excellent choice.

So we talked speaker options and budget, as a Monitor Audio dealer is could beat most online prices by about 10% if I was buying through him and he was doing the installation.

Ceiling speakers were discussed but I'll have to forego them for the moment due to budget, I do plan to add them in the future as I will be swapping my current projector to a 4K when they become a bit more affordable- when this happens I will likely have to change the ceiling mount location as my current projector is short throw, at this time it would make sense to carry out ceiling speaker installation as i would have to cut holes etc for mounting a new projector.

As it turns out my A/V guy was about to commence a job at another customers last week but they had some sort of flooding issue so had to cancel their plans with him, so he offered me the speaker package he had purchased for that job and was now stuck with for a knocked down price.

They are the Q Acoustics Q7000i Plus, in black finish. I could have them for £600, which after doing some price Googling does look like a good deal.

Opinions?
 
hornetstinger said:
Have you heard the Monitor Audio or Q Acoustics with your Denon? Have you listened to what I recommended a,b,c,d?
The Q Acoustics sub doesn't look anything amazing. Two 6.5" drivers.

Have you demoed a pair of bipole speakers? Standmount 6.5" driverand center with 6.5" driver
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No I haven't had the time to go listen to any kit demos yet. I've just been trawling through reviews of speakers that fall within my budget, on that basis the Q Acoustics kit he offered seems like a winner.
Musical performance isn't particularly a priority, my A/V use is probably going to be about 70/30 movies/console gaming. I've always preferred music through headphones, I've got a nice DAC and Philips Fidelio X2's and that keeps me happy with music listening.

But I take your point regarding demoing the speakers, I'll ask the installer if he can arrange a demo of the Q7000's on my Denon receiver.
 
First of two DPD deliveries arriving today...new toys!!!

Monitor Audio Bronze 2 Fronts, Centre and Bronze FX bi/dipole rears.

Denon receiver and Bronze W10 subwoofer arriving later.

24pl103.jpg
 
hornetstinger said:
"Bronze FX dipole rears."

Dipoles should be used on the sides, not the rear wall. Also make you use the correct speaker as one side is out of phase.

I own a set of dipoles. If those speakers can be switched to bipole, do so (I see they can)

But try the following

7.1
Dipole side with bipole rears
Bipole side & rears

5.1
Bipole mode on rear wall
or
dipole mode on side wall
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Will do, thanks for the info.

It just going to be 5.1 for the time being.

I intend to add ceiling speakers in the future as I will be getting a 4k projector when they get a bit more affordable, at which point I'll have to relocate the projector ceiling mount, so I'll have the ceiling in pieces, perfect time to put the speakers in then.

Plus 5.1 only for the time being has kept me on budget...well, sort of!!
 
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