Issaquena
I am building a house and the contractor has suggested Sonance Symphony speakers for the in-ceiling home audio system. Sonance apparently only deals through installers and all of their products available from online vendors are not covered by their warranty. I am still considering Sonance as they appear to be very high end speakers (although expensive). I would like to know the best in-ceiling audio speakers and tuner for a budget of $2000-$3000 (not including installation). I will need to cover 3 rooms and a back porch.
Answer
Get the contractor to pre-wire for 7.1 and monitor and mark the locations (so you can find them when it is finished), or better yet, have them wire and install speaker connection plates for a finished look > for regular floor standing speakers (they will always sound better , and you can up-grade them easier, and take them with you when you move). And if you sell the house it is a cleaner look to simply have connector boxes in the walls > at outlet height! (it looks finished).
All in-wall speakers have trade-offs as they are dependent on the space in the wall that is the ENCLOSURE (your contractor is much less scientific at getting GREAT sounding enclosures than say Yamaha or JBL!, rattles and buzzs can be impossible to fix, and your walls have a hole in them that can not be easily removed if the location either changes or is not optimal in the first place. And a poorly placed nail > to hang a picture can disable or even short out electronics, and be difficult to repair!
After installers (an electrician can do the pre-wire) are gone, get Yamaha, Klipsch, JBL, Sonnance (yes they are expensive, are they worth it?), or any reputable brand.
Go to some installers showrooms and demo them, and make a choice there, but install after they are done.
Get an Receiver that is capable of multi-zone speaker support and place it where it can receive the Remote Controls IR Signal from any area you will most likely use it. You can Distribute the sound to other rooms from that second zone output.
In each room it is wise to have an in-wall volume control for that area, to get the right level for that area (balancing the whole house for listening/partying), for when the phone rings and the remote either does not reach or is in the other room!.
It is also important to be able to turn down/off the porch speakers so you do not wake the neighbors during a late night Blast!
If you must have in-ceiling, or in-wall type speakers, request they use factory baffle enclosures (same as manufacturer of speakers for best sound, as it makes the speaker enclosure what the manufacturer recommends for proper acoustics and makes them a matched size, [and keeps dust and dirt out of inside of the coil area> especially important for ceilings]).
I used to work for an installation company, and as a musician, they usually have NO CLUE at what makes best placement or a great sounding room.
So not building them in, is always the best choice as I can up-grade if I'm not happy with my first choice or specifications change (which they will), & I can fine-tune their placement, 'cause furniture size and placement may change, or that screen may get a lot bigger real soon (projector) and those built-in speakers are then in the viewing area!
Newegg.com has purchasers feedback on many of the current brands, models, and options available, so check out what real buyers are saying about the different things you may consider before buying!
It has saved me from making a bad purchase or two, and many times you find that while a product may be good, if their support sucks you would buy another brand!
Also in-ceiling speakers are not optimal for Home Theatre set-ups, though they work well in other areas, like kitchens, baths, etc.
And at last, Home Theatre speakers need to be pointed at the listening area at ear level,(ie: directional, and line of sight) to get the most accurate imaging (in-wall >Mediocre to OK, but in-ceiling > NO!!!!!)
You do not want to look at the ceiling every time a loud passage that originates at the screen happens!
Check out the AUDIOHOLICS.com web-site for many tips on placement, best product ratings, and tips to help you spend money on the best products that will enhance the experience, NOT just drain your wallet > like Monster Cables will.
Happy Viewing & Listening!!!
unknownsoundman@yahoo.com
Get the contractor to pre-wire for 7.1 and monitor and mark the locations (so you can find them when it is finished), or better yet, have them wire and install speaker connection plates for a finished look > for regular floor standing speakers (they will always sound better , and you can up-grade them easier, and take them with you when you move). And if you sell the house it is a cleaner look to simply have connector boxes in the walls > at outlet height! (it looks finished).
All in-wall speakers have trade-offs as they are dependent on the space in the wall that is the ENCLOSURE (your contractor is much less scientific at getting GREAT sounding enclosures than say Yamaha or JBL!, rattles and buzzs can be impossible to fix, and your walls have a hole in them that can not be easily removed if the location either changes or is not optimal in the first place. And a poorly placed nail > to hang a picture can disable or even short out electronics, and be difficult to repair!
After installers (an electrician can do the pre-wire) are gone, get Yamaha, Klipsch, JBL, Sonnance (yes they are expensive, are they worth it?), or any reputable brand.
Go to some installers showrooms and demo them, and make a choice there, but install after they are done.
Get an Receiver that is capable of multi-zone speaker support and place it where it can receive the Remote Controls IR Signal from any area you will most likely use it. You can Distribute the sound to other rooms from that second zone output.
In each room it is wise to have an in-wall volume control for that area, to get the right level for that area (balancing the whole house for listening/partying), for when the phone rings and the remote either does not reach or is in the other room!.
It is also important to be able to turn down/off the porch speakers so you do not wake the neighbors during a late night Blast!
If you must have in-ceiling, or in-wall type speakers, request they use factory baffle enclosures (same as manufacturer of speakers for best sound, as it makes the speaker enclosure what the manufacturer recommends for proper acoustics and makes them a matched size, [and keeps dust and dirt out of inside of the coil area> especially important for ceilings]).
I used to work for an installation company, and as a musician, they usually have NO CLUE at what makes best placement or a great sounding room.
So not building them in, is always the best choice as I can up-grade if I'm not happy with my first choice or specifications change (which they will), & I can fine-tune their placement, 'cause furniture size and placement may change, or that screen may get a lot bigger real soon (projector) and those built-in speakers are then in the viewing area!
Newegg.com has purchasers feedback on many of the current brands, models, and options available, so check out what real buyers are saying about the different things you may consider before buying!
It has saved me from making a bad purchase or two, and many times you find that while a product may be good, if their support sucks you would buy another brand!
Also in-ceiling speakers are not optimal for Home Theatre set-ups, though they work well in other areas, like kitchens, baths, etc.
And at last, Home Theatre speakers need to be pointed at the listening area at ear level,(ie: directional, and line of sight) to get the most accurate imaging (in-wall >Mediocre to OK, but in-ceiling > NO!!!!!)
You do not want to look at the ceiling every time a loud passage that originates at the screen happens!
Check out the AUDIOHOLICS.com web-site for many tips on placement, best product ratings, and tips to help you spend money on the best products that will enhance the experience, NOT just drain your wallet > like Monster Cables will.
Happy Viewing & Listening!!!
unknownsoundman@yahoo.com
Best 7.1 speaker system with Sony STR-DH810 receiver?
Lanny L
Answer
I would go with Klipsch, Polk Audio, or even Sony speakers. They don't a have 7.1 speaker system on the market that I know of. They do have a handful of nice 5.1 systems and you could just go and buy to extra speakers. Personally I'd stay with 5.1 surround sound because there isn't much content in 7.1 channel surround sound. I'd go with a 5.1 for now and wait till 7.1 gets a lot more content, but that's just me. If your decide to go with 5.1 and are wiring your room for surround sound wire it for 7.1 as well for the future so when you do switch to 7.1 the wires well be up and you can just connect two more speaker calibrate the receiver and be done with it.
I would go with Klipsch, Polk Audio, or even Sony speakers. They don't a have 7.1 speaker system on the market that I know of. They do have a handful of nice 5.1 systems and you could just go and buy to extra speakers. Personally I'd stay with 5.1 surround sound because there isn't much content in 7.1 channel surround sound. I'd go with a 5.1 for now and wait till 7.1 gets a lot more content, but that's just me. If your decide to go with 5.1 and are wiring your room for surround sound wire it for 7.1 as well for the future so when you do switch to 7.1 the wires well be up and you can just connect two more speaker calibrate the receiver and be done with it.
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