Non-Audiophile Looking For Advice

phuggins

Greetings,

I am in the process of building a new house and designing a Living Room HT. I'll have a Flat Screen Plasma mounted over the gas fireplace and would prefer in-wall/in-ceiling speakers. The room will be used for TV and Movie viewing and occasional music listening. I have a plan to build a more formal media room in the basement next year, so would like to keep this one under $2K for speakers. The room is about 21x17 with a vaulted 2 story ceiling and windows on one side (I've tried to add a layout plan below).

I'd like some help with the selection of the Fronts, Center, sub as well as options for rear surrounds. I was thinking of mounting the center under the TV and the Fronts at either side. I have selected a receiver yet, so any advice on that would be great too.

I'm completely new at this, so please let me know if there is other info that will be helpful.

Thanks in advance,

Phil

madmax

The polk LSi series sounds reasonable for this. There are several possibilities as you can mix and match all of the series. For example you could use an LSiC (center channel) and 4 LSi7's for everything else. This is the cheapest option but still actually gives quality sound! You could substitute the slightly larger LSi9's for the fronts. You could also substitute the fx surrounds for the rear. Polk even makes in-wall speakers and subs which have quality sound if you want to hide the speakers. Lots of options here.
madmax

cfrizz

Welcome Phuggins.

Max has given a good choice. However, the LSI's are 4ohm speakers and require lots of power to utilize them to their full capability and to put less strain on a receiver that can't really push them well. So make sure you budget for separate amplification as well.

phuggins

Thanks for the quick responses. I definitely would rather have at least the fronts, center and sub hidden, which would be a good choice amongst the in-walls that Polk offers ? Also, what should I do about surround, since the room is so open and the ceiling is vaulted, would I need to go with standing or bookshelf ?

bikezappa

Phuggins

Since you want to hid the speakers I am guessing that you would also like to also hid the electronic equipment. It's to bad you don't habe a closet in the room to put all the wires and equipment it.

Consider having an opening, small doors, into the closet next to the fire place to get axcess to the equipment. You can remote control all the equipment in the closet even with the doors closed. The closet would openings on both sides. Women like the approach. Don't forget to add a fan into the room to keep the equipment cool.

Have a blast and don't forget a big sub woofer.

madmax

cfrizz wrote: »

Welcome Phuggins.

Max has given a good choice. However, the LSI's are 4ohm speakers and require lots of power to utilize them to their full capability and to put less strain on a receiver that can't really push them well. So make sure you budget for separate amplification as well.

This is correct. You need a receiver which will output to a 4 ohm load. Not all will and it will be listed in the specs if it does. The lightweight ones will say 6 or 8 ohm loads. (4 ohms pulls more current out of an amplifier than 6 or 8 ohms does). I heard polk in-wall speakers at polk headquarters in Baltimore. They were fantastic sounding! Not like the crappy things you find at most stores. These are "real" speakers, most with their own box which gets mounted behind the drywall. Of course the bookshelf speakers are easier to mount on the wall, but of course you see them.
madmax

Someone else can address a few receivers which would work well. I'm really not into receivers and am not familiar with the best choices. (I'm mostly a 2 channel audio person).

McLoki

Personally for someone claiming to not be an audiophile that wants inwalls for a basic setup used for watching TV, Movies and some basic music listening (I assume fill music, not critical listening) I would recommend the RTi series of speakers. They sound good and are pretty easy to drive. (non-audiophiles usually don't want to deal with amps)

The in-wall version of the TCi series is located on this page....

The LCi series on that same page, is the inwall version of the LSi series mentioned above. It does provied a warmer, more laid back sound that will work better for most music listening, but the down side is that it does require better amplification that most basic recievers can provide.

I have the LSi series and love the sound, but for more of a slant twords movies and less critical music listening - especially if you want a more basic install ($1,000 or less AVR with no outboard amplifiers) The RTiA (TCi series inwalls) is what I have to recommend.

Michael

madmax

Nothing wrong with RTi's for sure! And that could save some money on a receiver too, wouldn't have to worry about driving hard loads. I do tend to lean more towards the warm sound of the LSi's but thats just me.
madmax