Getting your first home audio system? Read this.

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Inspect Your Gadgets > Getting your first home audio system? Read this.

Ornery and Hornery: Oct 22, 2020

Is there a goon approved workhouse 3.1 for movies?

I have a Samsung 65" Class OLED S90C

For different topics (tvs, monitors, etc.) there was a clear goonsensus on different tiers and best values.

I�m also curious about whether or not there�s a noticeable increase in experience between a 3.1 for the tv or if a 2.0 will get most of the way there.

E: tv is mounted over the mantle because it�s an old dwelling unit and that was the only spot for the tv. Does that make a difference?

Ornery and Hornery fucked around with this message at 05:51 on Sep 23, 2025

# ¿ Sep 23, 2025 05:47

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# ¿ Nov 8, 2025 22:06

Ornery and Hornery: Oct 22, 2020

HKR posted:

put the tv in front of the fireplace you're never going to use so you don't have to pay someone to fix your neck in 20 years

Comrade, we are of the same mindset.

We had the TV on a console in front of the fireplace that we never, ever, ever used. My partner hated how it looked.

So it's mounted above the fireplace for now with a Mantel Mount. It's still not as low as I want, but at least it's not a bajillion feet in the air.

# ¿ Sep 23, 2025 16:26

Ornery and Hornery: Oct 22, 2020

qirex posted:

If you put the speakers in a good spot where they sound best your brain will usually do a decent job making it seem like it's coming from the TV.

For an amp for 3.0/3.1 you need an AVR [get a refub from AC4L] and some speakers [or the very expensive new Bluesound Powernode]. For stereo/2.1 you have more options for the electronics at various levels of price and complexity, like a Wiim amp, a Fosi ZD3 plus amps, etc.

There is no tier list or anything for speakers, it depends on your budget, the room and how much flexibility you have for positioning. I mean I'm sure someone has made one but there's too many models and too many variables for me to take one seriously.

The tariffs have hit subwoofers hard, what was a $400-600 model from Hsu, Rythmik, SVS, etc. a few years ago are largely $700-1k now. You can still get a RSL Speedwoofer for $500 or a refurb Polk or Klipsch though.

Listerine posted:

I bought a cheap 3.0 setup to start, the center channel was not great and when I upgraded to a really nice pair of speakers it was markedly improved. Moved the original front pair to rears for surround sound, added a subwoofer and do not feel the need at all to get an updated center, I'm perfectly fine with 4.1.

Olympic Mathlete posted:

TV being mounted high makes it awkward to get a nice looking setup but doesn't stop you from having a good sounding one. I suppose it depends on how you feel about wall mounted speakers. Though some tall floorstanders would work tbh.

2.0 vs 3.1 you'll definitely notice the lack of a sub with the 2.0, like yeah you can get some nice big floorstanders that do a solid job of providing low end but a sub really shines digging deep for films etc. Personally I've never thought a centre was essential but then I've always had semi-decent L/Rs and was happy with their performance.

Hmmm okay, sounds like given the space considerations of my room, that a 2.0 system is a good place to start.

Recommendations on $400-$600 2.0 L/R brands/models?

Also a 101 resource on system setups on 2.0 system considerations? Will the speakers themselves need a direct wire connection to the TV?

# ¿ Sep 23, 2025 16:51

Ornery and Hornery: Oct 22, 2020

aparmenideanmonad posted:

Passive speakers that will work great now and also function well in other systems in the future: KEF Q1 Metas (upgraded version of the old Q150s) are on sale for $400/pair at all the major retailers right now ($300 off MSRP).

That leaves you $200 for your amp/preamp. I'm an AVR guy myself because I like more options, but they are large and more than you'd need to run 2.0/2.1. Other posters will have better advice on other options.

How you set things up will depend on what you end up with, but there's 2 major ways to do it with your TV, which appears to only have HDMI for audio out. RCA and optical outs seem to be getting rare these days.

1. Run your media sources (console, BR player, fire stick, etc.) into your TV and then send the audio from there to your sound system via HDMI (your sound system is some combo of DAC/preamp, active speakers, amp + passive speakers).
2. Run your media sources into your AVR and then send the video to your TV via HDMI and the audio to passive speakers via speaker wire/RCA/etc.

Thank you for the effort post, I will reflect and strategize.

# ¿ Sep 24, 2025 06:59

Ornery and Hornery: Oct 22, 2020

This is great content my friends and that 5.1 setup above seems wildly powerful for the price.

It�s been an exhausting two weeks.

I grabbed these.

https://www.polkaudio.com/en-us/product/home-speakers/bookshelf/monitor-xt20/300151-new.html

What else do I need to buy to get a setup going?

Please help I am over worked and under slept and over caffeinated and need to get everything installed before my partner gets back from their business trip.

Edit: HKR, in the post below, raises a good point! The goal is a 2.0 system for a Samsung TV. Primarily for tv/movie streaming. On game nights the tv is used for Spotify / music.

Two speakers now. Possibility of a subwoofer in the future.

Ornery and Hornery fucked around with this message at 05:46 on Oct 15, 2025

# ¿ Oct 15, 2025 05:03

Ornery and Hornery: Oct 22, 2020

HKR posted:

what are you goals? Home Theater? Music? Analog Audio? Streaming?

2 speakers now, subwoofer possibly in the future. Primarily for tv/movie streaming but occasionally music.

Whatever wires, base equipment, etc., is appreciated. Will wires have to run through the wall where the TV is?

# ¿ Oct 15, 2025 05:48

Ornery and Hornery: Oct 22, 2020

mariooncrack posted:

What's your budget for the rest of the system?

I�d like to spend less than $600 on the receiver.

I have the two speakers. I need the AV receiver with HDMI ARC/eARC support.

However, if there�s a big quality spike at some slightly higher price threshold, then I�ll do that.

Thank you all, posting friends, for the help :unsmith:

I�m gonna sleep like the dead on Saturday night, if the gods are kind.

# ¿ Oct 17, 2025 16:39

Ornery and Hornery: Oct 22, 2020

aparmenideanmonad posted:

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/avreceiver/home-audio/receivers-amps/home-theater-receivers/1.html

In that price range you aren't going to get Dirac (the best room calibration) so it's mostly a question of how much future proofing vs. price do you care about.

Any of the ones on that list will drive your bookshelves and do up to 5.1 eventually. Some will support 7.2 or even 9.2. The more expensive ones will have more connectivity and built in streaming options etc..The Yamaha options for 500-600 there will provide pre-outs for normal channels which is typically a higher end feature. There's a Marantz slim line which will be physically much shorter and fit into more consoles/cabinets but also has a weaker amp in it (fine for your speakers). Denon is a bit of a thread darling.

Thank you for the actionable resource and clear feedback.

Hmm the only Dirac stuff appears to be ONKYO, not anything from Denon�

I appreciate the support. At a doctor�s office now and getting this audio stuff sorted is a nice thing to get off the to-do list.

# ¿ Oct 20, 2025 18:50

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# ¿ Nov 8, 2025 22:06

Ornery and Hornery: Oct 22, 2020

qirex posted:

Generally whatever the receiver costs plus $200 for the license [if the receiver cost over 2 grand they might be generous enough to include it]

Okay because the feature filter on that resource list has two different Dirac options:

1. Dirac live included
2. Dirac live upgradable (fee)

Edit: we have purchased the Denon x3800. Thank you again, posting comrades

Ornery and Hornery fucked around with this message at 19:26 on Oct 20, 2025

# ¿ Oct 20, 2025 18:53

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Inspect Your Gadgets > Getting your first home audio system? Read this.