Best Home Theatre Speaker Series
N1ckBurns
Posts: 3
Need some advice...I'm putting together a new media room with 7.2.4 Atmos (75% movies, 25% music). A Yamaha CX-A5200 pre/pro and MX-A5000 amp running the audio. Room is 14' W x 27' L (seating is 2 rows between 10' and 20') x 9' H.
I'm struggling between the Signature Series and RTi-A Series speakers. For fronts, it would be S60s vs. RTi-A7s. For the center, I'm a little concerned that the S30/S35 would be too small compared to the A6. Depending on the recommendation, I'd do matching surrounds and rears in whichever series. Overhead, I'm probably looking at 80F/X-RTs...I believe these are voice matched to the RTi's, but don't know matching in-ceilings for the Signature series.
Given the usage and room, which series do you think is better for my needs? Also, looking for recommendations for subs.
I'm struggling between the Signature Series and RTi-A Series speakers. For fronts, it would be S60s vs. RTi-A7s. For the center, I'm a little concerned that the S30/S35 would be too small compared to the A6. Depending on the recommendation, I'd do matching surrounds and rears in whichever series. Overhead, I'm probably looking at 80F/X-RTs...I believe these are voice matched to the RTi's, but don't know matching in-ceilings for the Signature series.
Given the usage and room, which series do you think is better for my needs? Also, looking for recommendations for subs.
Comments
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Wow that looks like sweet amp and pro combo! For HT I would definitely recommend the RTiAs. Your definitely want the bigger center channel. For music it might be a bit fatiguing, but that depends on how warm that amp is and what you are used to...
For subs, HSU is the best bang for your buck below a grand, if your budget is more then SVS has some killer big boy subs as well...Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1 Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer -
That's what I figured...the S30/S35 just seem a bit undersized. Definitely will check out the subs. Thanks!!
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Hey @N1ckBurns welcome! Be sure to post some pics of your setup!
Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD. -
What ever you decide, stick to speakers intended to work together.
I may take a little heat for this but stay in the same product line (e.g. RTi A*) for all channels, especially your LCR.
If you decide*, your room size suggests using the ‘A6 for your center & F’6s or ‘A3s for surrounds assuming a 5.X “backbone,” building/adding from there. Can’t help ya w/a height channel recommendation.
Your .X choice or choices (SVS or HSU) are critical in a room of that size. Many will weigh in: do NOT compromise here - will make or break your satisfaction level watching ANY action/adventure flick. Better to over-buy than under.Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
*soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s -
What ever you decide, stick to speakers intended to work together.
I may take a little heat for this but stay in the same product line (e.g. RTi A*) for all channels, especially your LCR.
If you decide*, your room size suggests using the ‘A6 for your center & F’6s or ‘A3s for surrounds assuming a 5.X “backbone,” building/adding from there. Can’t help ya w/a height channel recommendation.
Your .X choice or choices (SVS or HSU) are critical in a room of that size. Many will weigh in: do NOT compromise here - will make or break your satisfaction level watching ANY action/adventure flick. Better to over-buy than under.Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga: LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
*soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop) LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - 981, connected w/Monoprice Premiere ICs
Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s -
For subs, HSU is the best bang for your buck below a grand, if your budget is more then SVS has some killer big boy subs as well...
I actually just picked up 3x RTi A7 in Cherry for Left Center Right channel.
A HSU Research sub is on the ticket. I am still deciding what I want to run for the rest of the system. In the past I have run a CSi5 as the surround back center (6.1) firing upwards and it was good, but I am seriously considering doing RTi A7s all around, possibly A5s. The RTi A7 is a great speaker. The CSi A6 images well with the A7s, but I went for a 3rd A7 to have an exact match of tone. -
The more research I do with HSU and SVS, these both seem like really solid options and seems to be a consensus here...appreciate it!
Going the RTi route for my surrounds and rear surrounds, I'm a little skeptical on the FXis...they seem very specific for surround (which it fine, but maybe tricky to setup?), but would I be better off just wall mounting the more conventional A3s or even going around with A5s? Anyone have good/bad experiences with the FXis?
For in-ceiling Atmos, the 80FX-RTs are supposedly matched to the RTis, but Ive read mixed reviews about how well they really do their Atmos duties. Kind of the same question here...would these make better sense for Atmos, or a more conventional speaker like 70/90RTs?
