Home audio for clueless derps

[Johnny_P]

just get a soundbar with a sub.

He said in his OP that he doesn't want a sound bar.

Clearly I am

[wap]

He said in his OP that he doesn't want a sound bar.

Clearly I am

Because DFD

[goIftdibrad]

just get a soundbar with a sub.

He said in his OP that he doesn't want a sound bar.

he is

[wap]

He said in his OP that he doesn't want a sound bar.

he is

[goIftdibrad]

he is

[Johnny_P]

So home audio is equivalent to river rock, yet potfillers are somehow worlds better than a faucet?

[goIftdibrad]

So home audio is equivalent to river rock, yet potfillers are somehow worlds better than a faucet?

without doing an 8 paragraph essay, i've been far down this rabbit hole. I know how the shit works.

you said you want a 5.1 system, but then described a 2.1 soundbar with ARC & bluetooth.

Buy a nice soundbar and go on with life.

[troyguitar]

What are you using now and what's the best system you've listened to? Do you use it more often for music or TV/movies? Everything's subjective but there are IMO serious diminishing returns past $1000 or so all-in for a 2.1 system in a small-ish room at reasonable volumes. Hell I can't really find fault with my stuff and it's more like $500 total, but I got both the sub and the bookshelf speakers used years ago.

Your source and your main speakers are the most important, the sub and DAC/amp stuff make less difference in most cases. I love my B&W bookshelf speakers and would suggest a midrange used pair of those every time, but I haven't explored higher end options. I'd grab something like these that you can use forever, whether they're your main speakers or the rear channels in a surround system or you move them to another room for a small stereo setup for a PC or whatever:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/B-W-Bowers-Wil ... Sw9GhbQ5ms

For a subwoofer, get a powered/active one so your receiver doesn't have to power it. For movies you'll want a bigger higher powered one, for music it doesn't matter as much unless you're into dubstep. The placement of the sub in the room also affects its sound - usually if you can put it in a corner it'll work more efficiently and you get more bass out of a smaller unit. I've never had a bad Yamaha product so I'm inclined to buy their subs and often their receivers. A sub like this is reasonably sized and should still kick some ass:

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Corporati ... B00009W8XH

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-YST-SW3 ... SwyD9bZG4O

For receivers/amps, get something with enough inputs/outputs for your use and get a good universal remote so you only need one remote - or probably two since Apple shit never plays nicely with anything else, I don't know anything about Apple TV but assume it's the same. That's harder to pick out and depends more on your specific desires. Some of the newer stuff has a ton of built-in shit. I went with a simple one that only has HDMI in/out and added an actual Windows PC next to it for the "smart" aspect of things, you might want to spend more on a fancier all-in-one type solution. This guy seems to have a lot of options for not a lot of money, including support for wireless surround speakers should you choose to add that in the future:

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V485BL ... B07CF9H3KW

Most of the good receivers will also have some kind of auto-calibration program that you run by setting everything up and then placing an included microphone where you expect your ears to be while listening, then running the program and it'll automatically figure out ideal EQ settings for your room+speakers. Do that.

Also use good cables for most of this stuff - anything that passes an analog signal can be fucked by using crap cables. HDMI/USB doesn't matter, but speaker cables and the subwoofer signal cable do matter at least a little bit.

Mostly TV/movies. If audio quality is then I'll probably bluetooth it for general music / background noise instead of using my bluetooth Bose speaker thing.

Thanks for the input dude. That looks like a pretty solid system for not an assload of money. I was leanig towards powered sub, just seems to make more sense. Good note on the speakers, makes sense that you'd want those to be higher quality. Bookshelf size is about all I can do right now, don't have the space for floor standing monsters.

Anything in this ballpark really should be completely compared to your current stuff. You might find that you like listening to music more often when it sounds that much better - and you can actually hear additional details like bass lines which are often lost in most systems.

All you really get out of going with the massive floorstanding stuff is more volume - and possibly the ability to skip the separate sub if you go with yuuuuuge ones. My little bookshelf pair, about the same size as those 686's I linked earlier, with a much smaller sub than the one I linked to you is already clear up to volumes loud enough to our stupid security system's glass breakage sensor if you crank it. It won't fill a movie theater or dance club, but it's plenty for a regular living room.

[Johnny_P]

So home audio is equivalent to river rock, yet potfillers are somehow worlds better than a faucet?

without doing an 8 paragraph essay, i've been far down this rabbit hole. I know how the shit works.

you said you want a 5.1 system, but then described a 2.1 soundbar with ARC & bluetooth.

Buy a nice soundbar and go on with life.

I want a 2.1 system. Receiver, 2 speakers, and a subwoofer. Ability to add to it later on would be nice.

[Johnny_P]

Mostly TV/movies. If audio quality is then I'll probably bluetooth it for general music / background noise instead of using my bluetooth Bose speaker thing.

Thanks for the input dude. That looks like a pretty solid system for not an assload of money. I was leanig towards powered sub, just seems to make more sense. Good note on the speakers, makes sense that you'd want those to be higher quality. Bookshelf size is about all I can do right now, don't have the space for floor standing monsters.

Anything in this ballpark really should be completely compared to your current stuff. You might find that you like listening to music more often when it sounds that much better - and you can actually hear additional details like bass lines which are often lost in most systems.

All you really get out of going with the massive floorstanding stuff is more volume - and possibly the ability to skip the separate sub if you go with yuuuuuge ones. My little bookshelf pair, about the same size as those 686's I linked earlier, with a much smaller sub than the one I linked to you is already clear up to volumes loud enough to our stupid security system's glass breakage sensor if you crank it. It won't fill a movie theater or dance club, but it's plenty for a regular living room.

[goIftdibrad]

without doing an 8 paragraph essay, i've been far down this rabbit hole. I know how the shit works.

you said you want a 5.1 system, but then described a 2.1 soundbar with ARC & bluetooth.

Buy a nice soundbar and go on with life.

I want a 2.1 system. Receiver, 2 speakers, and a subwoofer. Ability to add to it later on would be nice.

oh, well.....you definitely want a soundbar.

[Johnny_P]

I want a 2.1 system. Receiver, 2 speakers, and a subwoofer. Ability to add to it later on would be nice.

oh, well.....you definitely want a soundbar.

It would likely be a fine solution. Not interested in it

[SAWCE]

I should actually run my TV audio through my reciever. I only have my record player plugged into it now. TV I just use the built in speaker ZFG.

[troyguitar]

I should actually run my TV audio through my reciever. I only have my record player plugged into it now. TV I just use the built in speaker ZFG.

[SAWCE]

I should actually run my TV audio through my reciever. I only have my record player plugged into it now. TV I just use the built in speaker ZFG.

I"m such a pleb. I really just don't watch a whole lot of TV. Would be cool for when I am watching a movie though.

[wap]

I"m such a pleb. I really just don't watch a whole lot of TV. Would be cool for when I am watching a movie though.

Yea just watching regular TV I use the shitty TV speakers but if I'm watching a movie the Blu Ray goes through the receiver. I don't need to see Trevor Noah or Samantha Bee in 5.1 Digital surround.

[Johnny_P]

I"m such a pleb. I really just don't watch a whole lot of TV. Would be cool for when I am watching a movie though.

Yea just watching regular TV I use the shitty TV speakers but if I'm watching a movie the Blu Ray goes through the receiver. I don't need to see Trevor Noah or Samantha Bee in 5.1 Digital surround.

My shitty TV speakers are blown hence the desire to upgrade.

[wap]

Yea just watching regular TV I use the shitty TV speakers but if I'm watching a movie the Blu Ray goes through the receiver. I don't need to see Trevor Noah or Samantha Bee in 5.1 Digital surround.

My shitty TV speakers are blown hence the desire to upgrade.

[D Griff]

I"m such a pleb. I really just don't watch a whole lot of TV. Would be cool for when I am watching a movie though.

Yea just watching regular TV I use the shitty TV speakers but if I'm watching a movie the Blu Ray goes through the receiver. I don't need to see Trevor Noah or Samantha Bee in 5.1 Digital surround.

Even for the news, built in TV speakers are Here are the car comparisons to make sense for DFD.

Built in TV speakers are the equivalent of a Mitsubishi Mirage.

Sound bars are the equivalent of a Camry.

I have some M-Audio BX8a studio monitors which are basically the equivalent of a Saturn Sky Redline.

[D Griff]

TV speakers are on their way out. Finally got a "TV stand" so I have some more shelf space for an A/V receiver. Here's what I want:
-2 speakers and a subwoofer
-Some sort of bluetooth or wireless connection ability
-Audio sources will be cable TV box, Apple TV or maybe Roku in future, and bluetooth/network play from a computer or phone. Maybe an xbox style thing in the future.

Don't need to be wireless speakers or sub, I can wire it up.
Don't want a sound bar.

Do you use the receiver as the brain of the system? So everything plugs into it and it only shoots the picture to the TV?

Will I have to switch the input or will it figure it out on its own? I'd rather not add yet another remote control to the mix. It's a pain in the ass as is to use the apple TV since you have the cable remote for audio and apple TV remote for selecting stuff. Yet another remote for audio and then having to switch to the right source seems like an antiquated way of doing this.

Finally, any suggestions on a receiver/brain and speakers? Bonus points for vintage-looking hipster approved silver faced receivers. Lisa's brother suggested Audioengine speakers, I'd need something bookshelf size not floor standing. All in I'd like to be under $1500. I don't need the absolute best but I'd prefer better than Vizio walmart stuff and don't mind dropping some

What are you using now and what's the best system you've listened to? Do you use it more often for music or TV/movies? Everything's subjective but there are IMO serious diminishing returns past $1000 or so all-in for a 2.1 system in a small-ish room at reasonable volumes. Hell I can't really find fault with my stuff and it's more like $500 total, but I got both the sub and the bookshelf speakers used years ago.

Your source and your main speakers are the most important, the sub and DAC/amp stuff make less difference in most cases. I love my B&W bookshelf speakers and would suggest a midrange used pair of those every time, but I haven't explored higher end options. I'd grab something like these that you can use forever, whether they're your main speakers or the rear channels in a surround system or you move them to another room for a small stereo setup for a PC or whatever:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/B-W-Bowers-Wil ... Sw9GhbQ5ms

For a subwoofer, get a powered/active one so your receiver doesn't have to power it. For movies you'll want a bigger higher powered one, for music it doesn't matter as much unless you're into dubstep. The placement of the sub in the room also affects its sound - usually if you can put it in a corner it'll work more efficiently and you get more bass out of a smaller unit. I've never had a bad Yamaha product so I'm inclined to buy their subs and often their receivers. A sub like this is reasonably sized and should still kick some ass:

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Corporati ... B00009W8XH

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-YST-SW3 ... SwyD9bZG4O

For receivers/amps, get something with enough inputs/outputs for your use and get a good universal remote so you only need one remote - or probably two since Apple shit never plays nicely with anything else, I don't know anything about Apple TV but assume it's the same. That's harder to pick out and depends more on your specific desires. Some of the newer stuff has a ton of built-in shit. I went with a simple one that only has HDMI in/out and added an actual Windows PC next to it for the "smart" aspect of things, you might want to spend more on a fancier all-in-one type solution. This guy seems to have a lot of options for not a lot of money, including support for wireless surround speakers should you choose to add that in the future:

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V485BL ... B07CF9H3KW

Most of the good receivers will also have some kind of auto-calibration program that you run by setting everything up and then placing an included microphone where you expect your ears to be while listening, then running the program and it'll automatically figure out ideal EQ settings for your room+speakers. Do that.

Also use good cables for most of this stuff - anything that passes an analog signal can be fucked by using crap cables. HDMI/USB doesn't matter, but speaker cables and the subwoofer signal cable do matter at least a little bit.

Good advice here, not a bad path to take for a reasonable solution to what you're after.

If you're into music, I'd say def go 2.1 but since you say a lot of the consumption will be movies, I'd say definitely get a receiver capable of wireless surround speakers. I'm not a movie watcher, but if you're into movies/sportsball, surround is definitely the way to go. It'll make the entire experience way better and more realistic. Also, try to get one with built in Bluetooth, a decent receiver will have a WAY better DAC and analog output than your iTrude, so it will sound better streamed that way than out of the phones headphone jack (or lack of.....). Anything will be fine for your needs, Yamaha or whatever decent manufacturer. You don't need any boutique shit, but just "better than phone" will go a long way.

Cables... I'm going to go ahead and kinda disagree here, you want decent units but in the 10 feet or whatever you're going it doesn't matter all that much, I would just go with Monoprice or Amazon Basics or some other fairly cheap stuff.

Placement: the sub placement can indeed effect its perceived output. Low frequencies aren't directional, so worry less about where in the room it is and more about if it's against a wall or in a corner as Troy pointed out. The more walls it's next to, the louder it will be, so start it next to a wall, if you want more out of it, move to a corner, less out of it, move it away from the wall. Your main speakers will be much more directional, so try to place them so they're making an equilateral-ish triangle with where your head(s) will be on the couch and have them at an equalish height.

[goIftdibrad]

Yea just watching regular TV I use the shitty TV speakers but if I'm watching a movie the Blu Ray goes through the receiver. I don't need to see Trevor Noah or Samantha Bee in 5.1 Digital surround.

Sound bars are the equivalent of a Camry.

GOOD sound bars are actually pretty good these days. At least give them CUV status

[Johnny_P]

What are you using now and what's the best system you've listened to? Do you use it more often for music or TV/movies? Everything's subjective but there are IMO serious diminishing returns past $1000 or so all-in for a 2.1 system in a small-ish room at reasonable volumes. Hell I can't really find fault with my stuff and it's more like $500 total, but I got both the sub and the bookshelf speakers used years ago.

Your source and your main speakers are the most important, the sub and DAC/amp stuff make less difference in most cases. I love my B&W bookshelf speakers and would suggest a midrange used pair of those every time, but I haven't explored higher end options. I'd grab something like these that you can use forever, whether they're your main speakers or the rear channels in a surround system or you move them to another room for a small stereo setup for a PC or whatever:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/B-W-Bowers-Wil ... Sw9GhbQ5ms

For a subwoofer, get a powered/active one so your receiver doesn't have to power it. For movies you'll want a bigger higher powered one, for music it doesn't matter as much unless you're into dubstep. The placement of the sub in the room also affects its sound - usually if you can put it in a corner it'll work more efficiently and you get more bass out of a smaller unit. I've never had a bad Yamaha product so I'm inclined to buy their subs and often their receivers. A sub like this is reasonably sized and should still kick some ass:

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Corporati ... B00009W8XH

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-YST-SW3 ... SwyD9bZG4O

For receivers/amps, get something with enough inputs/outputs for your use and get a good universal remote so you only need one remote - or probably two since Apple shit never plays nicely with anything else, I don't know anything about Apple TV but assume it's the same. That's harder to pick out and depends more on your specific desires. Some of the newer stuff has a ton of built-in shit. I went with a simple one that only has HDMI in/out and added an actual Windows PC next to it for the "smart" aspect of things, you might want to spend more on a fancier all-in-one type solution. This guy seems to have a lot of options for not a lot of money, including support for wireless surround speakers should you choose to add that in the future:

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V485BL ... B07CF9H3KW

Most of the good receivers will also have some kind of auto-calibration program that you run by setting everything up and then placing an included microphone where you expect your ears to be while listening, then running the program and it'll automatically figure out ideal EQ settings for your room+speakers. Do that.

Also use good cables for most of this stuff - anything that passes an analog signal can be fucked by using crap cables. HDMI/USB doesn't matter, but speaker cables and the subwoofer signal cable do matter at least a little bit.

Good advice here, not a bad path to take for a reasonable solution to what you're after.

If you're into music, I'd say def go 2.1 but since you say a lot of the consumption will be movies, I'd say definitely get a receiver capable of wireless surround speakers. I'm not a movie watcher, but if you're into movies/sportsball, surround is definitely the way to go. It'll make the entire experience way better and more realistic. Also, try to get one with built in Bluetooth, a decent receiver will have a WAY better DAC and analog output than your iTrude, so it will sound better streamed that way than out of the phones headphone jack (or lack of.....). Anything will be fine for your needs, Yamaha or whatever decent manufacturer. You don't need any boutique shit, but just "better than phone" will go a long way.

Cables... I'm going to go ahead and kinda disagree here, you want decent units but in the 10 feet or whatever you're going it doesn't matter all that much, I would just go with Monoprice or Amazon Basics or some other fairly cheap stuff.

Placement: the sub placement can indeed effect its perceived output. Low frequencies aren't directional, so worry less about where in the room it is and more about if it's against a wall or in a corner as Troy pointed out. The more walls it's next to, the louder it will be, so start it next to a wall, if you want more out of it, move to a corner, less out of it, move it away from the wall. Your main speakers will be much more directional, so try to place them so they're making an equilateral-ish triangle with where your head(s) will be on the couch and have them at an equalish height.

Speakers will end up being about a TV's width apart, about 3-4'. Don't have room for more than that with the room in it's current configuration. Sub can be in a corner, good idea. Don't have anywhere to put rear speakers right now but pretty sure any receiver I get will be able to support rears. Could add a center channel I guess but IDK if it's worth it. I imagine even just a 2.1 system will be loud to annoy the shit out of my neighbors if I were to crank it (rowhome, ).

[Johnny_P]

Sound bars are the equivalent of a Camry.

GOOD sound bars are actually pretty good these days. At least give them CUV status

CUVs

[goIftdibrad]

GOOD sound bars are actually pretty good these days. At least give them CUV status

CUVs

i couldn't make my point my perfectly than with that reply

[Johnny_P]

CUVs

i couldn't make my point my perfectly than with that reply

Look. The Rav4 is the car that everyone needs. It'll fulfill everyone's basic requirements and do a good job 98% of the time. But sometimes you get tempted by a Z4 and just gotta go with your